Mr. B’s Southern Kitchen – Restaurant Impossible Update (OPEN)

Status: OPEN

Mr. B’s Southern Kitchen in Tampa, Florida is a sibling success story. After Restaurant Impossible helped brother and sister team Ninkia and Calvin find respect for each other, this soul food spot has become Tampa’s go-to destination for “Soul Food With A Twist.”

Siblings in Conflict

Mr. B’s Southern Kitchen has been at 3401 N Nebraska Avenue since 2015, owned by sister and brother team Ninkia Green and Calvin Jefferson. Running a business with family can be challenging – running one with a sibling can be war.

By 2020, the restaurant was losing between $2,000 and $3,000 per week. The pandemic hadn’t helped, but the real problem was the sibling relationship. Slow service, mediocre food, and few repeat customers followed.

The Episode (Season 19)

Title: “R.E.S.P.E.C.T.”
Location: Tampa, FL

The episode title said it all. Robert Irvine found a failing restaurant being torn apart by sibling dysfunction. He needed to help Ninkia find a way to stand up for herself and convince Calvin to respect her role in the business.

The Transformation

Over two days, the restaurant received $10,000 worth of rehabilitation. But the bigger transformation was between Ninkia and Calvin. Robert addressed the struggles that were preventing them from co-managing effectively.

The result: a profitable enterprise honoring the history of family and community.

Media Recognition

Since the makeover, Mr. B’s Southern Kitchen has been featured on:

• Food Network
• Bay News 9
• Fox 13
• WFLA

That kind of local media attention shows the restaurant has become a Tampa institution worth covering.

Soul Food With A Twist

Mr. B’s positions itself as “Your source for Soul Food in Tampa, FL” with the tagline “Soul Food With A Twist!” The restaurant maintains an active social media presence and continues serving the community Ninkia and Calvin set out to feed.

Visit Information

Address: 3401 N Nebraska Ave, Tampa, FL
Established: 2015
Cuisine: Soul Food

View Mr. B’s Southern Kitchen on Google Maps →

Mr. B’s proves that siblings can run a business together – once they learn to respect each other.

Last verified: January 2026