Passion, wit, and training braid the three-fold cord that forges a great chef and succulent food

From age 7, Lashon Mays had the passion to cook. When relatives gathered together for fun, food, and family days, Lashon was in the kitchen learning everything he could.

Thus, he soaked up cherished family recipes, techniques, and insights on how to make foods taste better.

It didn’t seem like work; it was a fun time, says Lashon with a broad smile. The ever-present urge to cook and serve others became Lashon’s calling card and his hallmark.

When Lashon was old enough to feel the keen need for cash, he took a sabbatical from cooking and worked for stints at work in other fields.

The ever-present urge to cook and serve reemerged in about 2013. Lashon and his wife talked about his childhood dream of running his own catering business.

With his wife fully onboard, he launched his first venture in 2013. The catering business produced a robust following of loyal clients.

Wanting more, eager clients persuaded Lashon to open his own restaurant.  So, in 2018, he did it with the help of his wife and two children.

Lashon, then, moved to a much larger building on Woodruff Road for a time.  That was when he saw the opportunity to move into the Phillis Wheatley Center at 335 Greenacre Rd, Greenville.  He has been there since December 2024.

Lashon’s motto is simple and straight from the heart.  He says, “We love to cook. And we don’t serve anything that we won’t eat.

I asked Lashon, How did he become so popular? His response rings true: be consistent in giving customers what they deserve and treat them like family.

That is what they are, my culinary family.  Sharing a meal has always been synonymous with friendship. And we have seen enduring friendships bud, flower, and grow over the years.

It all starts with good food.

After finding a culinary school that suited his taste, he undertook formal studies in  2021.  The outcome of his collective life experience and formal schooling results in what customers taste today.

The tiny family-operated catering business has mushroomed into a restaurant with 15 associates.

Finding and selecting suitable vegetables and meats is tedious and time-consuming. But customers enjoy the end results.  That makes it all worthwhile, Lashon says..

Lashon says that he has to serve a range of menus for the public. Tastes and preferences differ widely.

You can see his offerings at his website.

www.justshons.com

Once school starts, hours will be Tuesday-Friday, and Sunday 11:30-5 to accompany the after-church crowd.

Don’t be surprised to see Lashon singing in various church choirs. Although he mainly sings tenor, he can also do baritone and soprano. Reportedly, he can even hold his own when on stage with the legendary James Hall, who is coming to Greenville soon.