Kindness Begets Kindness: The Story of Drexell & Honeybee, A Donations-Only Restaurant in Alabama

Several years ago, I came across a YouTube video that changed the way I viewed the world.

After watching the video, I concluded that “Humanity still has a beating heart, and it is up to us to keep fueling it with kindness.” We have all heard of and perhaps many of us have performed acts of kindness before. Whether it’s exchanging smiles with a stranger, helping carry heavy bags for an elderly person, holding the door for someone, or buying a stranger coffee, these random acts can impact someone’s life in a positive way. 

Of course, some people go above and beyond to show kindness to others. And those folks are the real superheroes of this world. I had the pleasure of talking to one of those heroes and that is Mrs Lisa Thomas-McMillan, co-founder of Drexell & Honeybee’s, a donations-only restaurant in Alabama. Not only is this hidden gem restaurant helping the Brewton, Alabama, community by “feeding the need,” but it’s one of the best places to get a home cooked meal for cheap. It's a truly unique dining experience in Alabama.

Since the restaurant operates on this rare donations-only model, there are no menu prices available. If you can leave a donation, that’s wonderful, but if you can’t, that’s perfectly fine too. There is a discreet donation box inside the restaurant, where patrons can leave money (if they have it) or submit a note to the owners. The McMillans enjoy receiving thank you letters for their service, so that alone would be enough payment for your meal. 

“When people come to our restaurant, they receive more than just a meal—they regain a sense of dignity and community.” The McMillans are changing people’s lives by feeding the needy one plate at a time. Since it opened in 2018, it has served over 120,000 meals, but most importantly, it has touched the lives of so many. According to a customer testimonial, “Your restaurant was a blessing to me. I was pregnant and basically homeless and would walk a mile or 2 to get a hot meal. Today I’m in a better place and will be sending a donation. The food and atmosphere was amazing!”

Weekly volunteers are always available to give a helping hand to the McMillans. Some have even traveled across the country to volunteer. Others who can’t help physically have made online donations to support the cause. One of the beautiful things about the restaurant is that Lisa and her husband Freddie are always present to interact with the folks that they feed. It’s like an extended family atmosphere and there is a true sense of community here.

In a world that sometimes looks desolate and unforgiving, it’s good to know that people like the McMillans are on a mission to save us with kindness and restore dignity in others.

Open Monday to Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., diners are served a delicious meal made with love that will literally cure their soul. Every day, Lisa, Freddie, and volunteers prepare the food from scratch, which means patrons are getting a meal made with fresh ingredients.

With the help of local farmers as well as food donations from the community, and items that are on sale at the local grocery store, the restaurant always has enough to feed its over 100 daily patrons. Some of the items served includes meatloaf, chicken, ribs, mac and cheese, greens, mashed potatoes, and yummy desserts. During the holidays and on special occasions, the restaurant also hosts dinners for the folks in Brewton. 

While feeding the community is the ultimate mission, the McMillans love bringing people together. As stated by Freddie, “We have a bunch of people who wouldn’t socialize with each other and now they’re friends.” On any given day, you’ll find people from all walks of life. No matter their race, age or economic status, they gather for this unique dining experience in Alabama. It’s truly a heartwarming and inspiring place.

There are many budget-friendly restaurants in AL as well as throughout the country, but only a handful are operating on a model where cash is not the motivation. In a society where most restaurants are for profit, it’s a beautiful thing to see that the McMillans are feeding folks who suffer from food insecurity without pursuing or asking for much in return. 

Did you know that food insecurity impacts over 47 million people - that’s approximately 14% of the population. Knowing that so many people are in need is a driving force for Lisa to execute her mission. Her deep love for altruism has kept her going for all these years. And proving that kindness begets kindness, Lisa has inspired countless others, including me, to help in any way that we can. It’s so amazing to see people join forces to change the lives of each other. 

How Did Drexell & Honeybee's Get Started?

Not all superheroes wear capes, and Lisa’s superpower is kindness. At a very young age, she learned what it meant to be kind and to have compassion for others. Throughout her life, she always knew she wanted to serve humanity - it was her destiny. So, she spent years working in the service industry and eventually started her charity, Carlisa Inc., in 2002. 

Her non-profit, a “Meals on Wheels” style operation, focused on delivering food to the elderly in-and-around Brewton Alabama. Though it was hard work, Lisa managed to feed up to 80 people per day with the charity. However, deep down, she always wanted a place of her own, where people could come together to enjoy a home cooked meal. 

After running a cafeteria at a local college and realizing that even college students suffered from food insecurity, her mission to “feed the need” was validated. Through a series of serendipitous events along with divine intervention and with the help of her husband Freddie, Drexell and Honeybee's came to fruition in 2018. The rest was history!  

You may be wondering about the name Drexell and Honeybee's. Initially, I thought it was a family name, or it had meaning behind it. According to Lisa, the name came to her in a fleeting moment while she was daydreaming of owning her own little space. The quirky name is a perfect representation for the restaurant. After all, as illustrated on their book cover “The Busy Bees,” the McMillans along with volunteers are busy little honeybees who gather to feed the needy.

Where Does Lisa Get Her Inspiration?

I believe that when we discover our purpose here on this Earth, there is always an unseen force or someone that guides our actions. As a young child, Lisa was inspired by her kindhearted parents, and throughout her life, her unbridled faith kept her focused and grounded. As an adult, a few people who inspired her the most were Sister Josephine Margaret Bakhita, Jimmy Carter, and Mother Teresa. She views them as compassionate and devout humans who gave so much of themselves to help others. 

In 2004, Lisa walked from Brewton to Montgomery and later walked all the way to Washington DC to raise awareness for her mission. On her journey, her relentless spirit kept her going and her kind nature attracted support from tons of people along the way. Drexell and Honeybee's is not just a restaurant, it's a movement to help restore faith, kindness, and dignity back to humanity. Lisa has never given up on her missions and dreams, and she encourages others to find our passions, take some action and “don’t be shocked when joy finds you along the way.”    

Address: 109 Lee St, Brewton, AL 36426 

If you would like to visit the restaurant in the small town of Brewton, you’ll need to plan ahead. It’s only open for lunch service from Monday to Wednesday. Be sure to visit the Drexell and Honeybee's website to learn more about this movement and to donate. Follow D&H on Facebook for upcoming events and for more information about this donations-only restaurant in Alabama.