Status: TRANSITIONED
Mizz Juju’s in Huntsville, Alabama represents one of Restaurant Impossible’s most unusual outcomes. After Robert Irvine helped rocket scientist-turned-restaurateur Daniel get his soul food spot running, the business has evolved from a struggling diner into a food distribution and catering operation with 38,000 Instagram followers.
Rocket Scientist to Restaurateur
Daniel’s story is unique in Restaurant Impossible history. He was a former NASA physicist working in Huntsville, Alabama – the city known as “Rocket City” for its aerospace industry. He thought his scientific mind could tackle the restaurant business.
He named the soul food restaurant after his mother and grandmother: Mizz Juju’s. But rockets and restaurants require very different skill sets.
The Episode (Season 20, Episode 11)
Title: “It’s Not Rocket Science”
Air Date: March 24, 2022
Filming: November 2021
Location: 2022 Jordan Ln NW, Huntsville, AL
Robert Irvine arrived to find a soul food spot that had opened and closed multiple times, never made money, and barely had working equipment. Daniel had the brains to work at NASA but couldn’t figure out why his restaurant kept failing.
The episode title said it all: running a restaurant isn’t rocket science – but that doesn’t mean a rocket scientist can automatically do it.
The Transformation
Restaurant Impossible gave Mizz Juju’s a complete overhaul, teaching Daniel the fundamentals he’d been missing. The soul food was good – the operations were the problem.
The grand re-opening in November 2021 showed promise, with the community turning out to support their neighborhood soul food spot.
An Unusual Evolution
Mizz Juju’s didn’t follow the typical “open or closed” path:
- The original cafe location appears closed
- Business transitioned to “Mizz Juju’s Food & Beverage Distribution”
- Now specializes in office catering
- 38,000+ Instagram followers and active social media
- 2,500+ Instagram posts showing continued activity
Daniel seems to have figured out that his talents were better suited to the distribution and catering side of food service rather than running a traditional dine-in restaurant.
A Different Kind of Success
Is Mizz Juju’s a success or failure? It depends on how you measure it. The dine-in restaurant concept struggled, but the brand lives on through catering and distribution. Daniel’s soul food still reaches customers – just not the way he originally planned.
Sometimes Restaurant Impossible helps owners discover what they’re actually good at, even if it’s not what they originally envisioned.
Current Operation
Name: Mizz Juju’s Food & Beverage Distribution
Address: 2022 Jordan Ln, Ste B, Huntsville, AL 35816
Focus: Office Catering
Social: @mizzjujus on Instagram (38K followers)
View Mizz Juju’s on Google Maps →
Mizz Juju’s proves that success can take unexpected forms. The rocket scientist found his path – it just wasn’t the one he originally launched.
Last verified: January 2026
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