Inside LeBron James’ first restaurant, where the mission matters as much as the menu
Staffed by students, parents, and graduates of the LeBron James Family Foundation’s I Promise School, the restaurant serves as a hands-on hospitality training ground.
Key Points
- LeBron James is opening Buckets, a fried-chicken–focused restaurant in Akron, Ohio, located inside House Three Thirty, a multi-use space run by his foundation.
- The restaurant employs students, parents, and graduates connected to the LeBron James Family Foundation’s I Promise School, many of whom are new to hospitality.
- Pricing and menu choices are designed to be accessible, with options like combo meals and local beers from Ohio breweries.
LeBron James is stepping into a new arena: The Los Angeles Lakers superstar is opening his first full-service restaurant.
The four-time NBA champion has offered glimpses of his culinary preferences over the years, from his viral “Taco Tuesdays” — a phrase he once attempted to trademark — to his well-documented love of wine. Now, he’s bringing that interest into the hospitality world with his debut restaurant,
Fittingly for the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, the restaurant is called Buckets. (He's made nearly 16,000 in his career — and scored more than 43,000 points, and counting.) But the venture is about more than stats: The restaurant is one more step in James’ efforts to support families, children, and community development in his hometown of Akron, Ohio.
The new restaurant is set to open on April 1 inside House Three Thirty — named in honor of Akron’s area code — the LeBron James Family Foundation’s multi-purpose facility that features everything from a theater for shows and events, as well as a cozy, living room-inspired space for students to work in. House Three Thirty and Buckets are just two parts of the foundation’s efforts to support people in Akron.
James’ work in his hometown is monumental, and much of it centers around education. The NBA player’s I Promise School welcomes a new class of third-grade students each year, helping children at risk of falling behind in school by providing the resources they need to succeed. From toothpaste to temporary housing and even medical care, the program offers students and their families much more than just textbooks.
"It’s a special place that provides opportunities for our families to learn new skills, gain experience, and create a better future for themselves."
LeBron James
This community-driven ethos extends well beyond the school James founded. At House Three Thirty, you’ll meet staff — such as the manager of the building’s retail store — who are parents of former students from the I Promise School. Teachers from the school often participate in other aspects of the foundation’s work, and graduates of the program frequently end up working for the foundation or at one of its facilities, creating a tightly knit support system that helps set people up for long-term success.
As another link in this chain, LeBron James tells Food & Wine that “Buckets is a full-circle moment for our foundation in a lot of ways. We have kids from our very first class of I Promise students now working their first full-time jobs here. One of my first 330 Ambassadors is our line chef, and another is the assistant general manager. We have parents working alongside their kids throughout the building.”
Buckets is designed to create job opportunities and hands-on training for families connected to the I Promise Program, turning community support into long-term career pathways. Credit: Courtesy of the LeBron James Family Foundation
Besides House Three Thirty’s culinary director, Aaron Blank, and its line chef, the kitchen at Buckets isn’t staffed by classically trained chefs. Instead, it’s centered around people connected to the I Promise Program, offering hands-on training and job opportunities alongside the food it serves.
“It’s a special place that provides opportunities for our families to learn new skills, gain experience, and create a better future for themselves and their families, all while serving their community and providing an incredible experience for everyone who walks through the door,” says James. “It’s a pretty cool thing and something I’m incredibly proud of.”
Every employee at Buckets, from the front-of-house to the kitchen, has spent weeks training in the basics of hospitality — many of them learning to cook for the first time — as they prepared for opening day. From former teachers to current students, every member of the staff has touched the I Promise School in some way, and that shared background gives the restaurant a distinctly familial feel. The welcome is warm, the soul-food-inspired menu is comforting, and the execution is especially impressive for a team with little hospitality experience.
Fried chicken is the star of the show at Buckets. Crispy bone-in fried chicken or tenders are served with a side of coleslaw, fries, and mini cornbread muffins that are moist and sweet. That’s not where the chicken offerings end; wings are also on the menu, available in ten different flavors, from Buffalo to mango habanero. If you’re feeling brave, the spiciest item is called “Dream Crusher,” a wing order that I’ve been warned is not for the faint of heart.
 Buckets of fried chicken are served with fries, coleslaw, and corn muffins.Credit: Courtesy of the LeBron James Family Foundation Buckets of fried chicken are served with fries, coleslaw, and corn muffins. Credit: Courtesy of the LeBron James Family Foundation |  The Buckets menu includes a lineup of wings in nine different flavors.Credit: Courtesy of the LeBron James Family Foundation The Buckets menu includes a lineup of wings in nine different flavors. Credit: Courtesy of the LeBron James Family Foundation |
Buckets offers plenty beyond fried chicken. The smashburgers here are excellent — fitting, considering Ohio lore claims hamburgers were invented in the state — with crispy, lacy edges and an array of topping options. The Poblano Promise is a standout, topped with sweet grilled onions, fire-roasted poblano peppers, and a generous layer of creamy queso.
The appetizers stick to crowd-pleasing classics, from mozzarella sticks to crispy brussels sprouts. My favorite was, undeniably, the Yo Prometo Cheese & Fried Crackers. Served with toasty fried Saltines on the side, this rendition of pimento cheese hits all the tangy, rich, and savory notes a Southerner could hope for in a cheddar-based dip.
James’ first restaurant also features a full bar, so you can stop by for a drink and watch basketball on one of several large screens scattered throughout the space. Wine, cocktails, and mocktails are all on the menu, in addition to a selection of Ohio-made beers. Brews like the Hoppin’ Frog Turbo Shandy (Akron, Ohio) and Great Lakes Dotmunder Gold (Cleveland, Ohio) are just two of seven local beers on tap.
 Metal buckets and bicycle wheels add playful touches to the restaurant's design.Credit: Courtesy of the LeBron James Family Foundation Metal buckets and bicycle wheels add playful touches to the restaurant's design. Credit: Courtesy of the LeBron James Family Foundation |  Buckets includes several televisions for watching live sports.Credit: Courtesy of the LeBron James Family Foundation Buckets includes several televisions for watching live sports. Credit: Courtesy of the LeBron James Family Foundation |  A warm skillet cookie with ice cream is a nod to LeBron's favorite dessert.Credit: Courtesy of the LeBron James Family Foundation A warm skillet cookie with ice cream is a nod to LeBron's favorite dessert. Credit: Courtesy of the LeBron James Family Foundation |
Like the food, the ambiance at Buckets isn’t fancy or fussy. It channels the energy of a sports bar and local tavern, with creative light fixtures made from metal buckets, worn leather booths, and bicycle wheels hanging from the ceiling — a nod to the mode of transportation that shaped James’ childhood in Akron.
The prices aren’t prohibitive either — think $14 for a choose-your-own salad that’s large enough to feed two people or $15 for a two-piece fried chicken meal — because the foundation wants the surrounding community to actually be able to dine there.
From the decor to the dessert — a replication of LeBron James’ favorite sweet treat, a chocolate chip skillet cookie with ice cream — the 41-year-old Akron native hopes diners notice that every detail inside Buckets tells a story. James emphasizes that “From the moment you walk in the door, you know you’re in for something pretty special… I’m excited for everyone to try the food, which is unbelievable.
“Most importantly, the service at Buckets is incredible. My team there has done an unbelievable job of creating an environment where everyone feels welcome and right at home. Buckets is so much more than a restaurant. It’s changing lives.”
