Editor’s note: The pandemic especially hit the restaurant business hard, as many places had to close or place extra restrictions on their customers. Local eateries are beginning to show a resurgence and Saline River Chronicle wishes to salute them with this series of stories, “Bradley Bites.“
James Tenner attributes his cooking skills to his mother Madea. His wife Anita Shaw Tenner attributes her cooking skills to her mother, who just so happens to be named Madea as well. So it seemed natural for the pair to call their recently opened Warren restaurant, Madea’s, in honor of their mothers. The new Warren eatery is in the former Anne’s building in the southern portion of town.
James’s mother Madea was a part of the Bradley County Home Extension Office and helped to teach women to cook. Anita’s mother was a CNA at the Bradley County Medical Center for over 30 years.
By Tim Kessler
Saline River Chronicle Contributor
The restaurant is one of Warren’s newest as it opened earlier this year. In September 2022, James married Anita Shaw, then found the building for sale and decided to start the restaurant together. They both attended school in Warren and were members of the class of 1976. James was a letterman in all sports.
This is actually James’ second restaurant, as he still operates Margo’s Catfish and Deli in Little Rock after 37 years. The specialty there is spicy catfish with a recipe. Margo’s will have a food truck at the Warren All-School Reunion on Aug. 11-12 at the Bradley County Fairgrounds.
“We’re the opposite of each other – he likes it mild and I like it spicy,” Anita said about their other food preferences.
Madea’s motto is “food that feeds the soul.” “We wanted to give people the opportunity to get food that feeds the soul,” Anita said.
Although their menu features fish, burgers and a salad bar among other items, specials are available on Wednesdays and Thursdays that include meat loaf, pulled pork nachos, chicken spaghetti, chicken dumplings and chicken pot pie. Earl also grills ribs and pulled pork, and Anita does some of the cooking.
Most of the rest of the cooking is done by chefs Ms. Carla Hampton and Earl Charles, who is known for winning the tomato-eating contest at the Bradley County Pink Tomato Festival several times. Hampton is responsible for the major dishes cooked during the day. Earl makes the majority of the desserts served at Madea’s.
“The rest is homestyle cooking. We make sure we put seasoning in our food,” Anita said. She said Charles has a “secret ingredient” in his meat loaf.
Anita’s favorite item at the restaurant is the burgers and James likes the dressing served on Sundays. The burgers are made fresh, never from frozen patties.
They have three full-time workers, Airya Williams, Gwen White and Chasity Hines. Anita also has been a University of Arkansas at Monticello School of Nursing instructor since 1991.
Madea’s also has a meeting room available for birthday parties and meetings.
Madea’s Restaurant is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, open 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sundays.
It is located at 1439 S. Main St. and its phone number is 870-466-4526.