Veteran, teen son open seafood restaurant in Killeen

KILLEEN, Texas (KWTX) - An Army veteran with over a decade of military experience, along with her teenage son, officially opened Zay’s Steamhouse Lounge on Saturday.

”We have soft shell crabs, blue crabs, steamed blue crabs, garlic-butter blue crabs, fried blue crabs and spiced shrimp,” co-owner and veteran Aleta Eversley said.

The concept came after Aleta noticed a lack of East Coast-style seafood in the Killeen-area. Before enlisting, Aleta grew up in Virginia.

”The seafood here we steam everything, we don’t boil, so that concept pretty much came from me missing the Virginia seafood,” Aleta said.

Together Aleta and her 16-year-old son Isaiah Eversley are running the restaurant.

”He started out cooking at home and that’s when I saw the interest that he had in cooking,” Aleta said. “That’s what made me start thinking of the restaurant.”

Isaiah said he’s grateful about what his mom did for him.

”I didn’t see a restaurant coming, but it’s a blessing for my mom to do that for me,” Isaiah said.

Thanks to his mom, Isaiah is already taking steps to achieving his dream.

”I’ve learned to have patience with the other workers and just how to cook,” Isaiah said.

Zay’s Steamhouse Lounge offers employment opportunities to other youth as well.

”Each one of the teens we teach them about accountability, how to show up on time because once this is not their first and last stop,” Aleta said.

The plan is for Isaiah to one day fully take over the reigns of the restaurant.

”He’s supposed to be going to culinary school starting his junior year of high school, once he finishes that, I expect him to take it over fully,” Aleta said.

Zay’s Steamhouse Lounge is Aleta and Isaiah’s second restaurant. Back in 2021, the duo opened Zay’s Gourmet Dawgs, offering different versions of hot dogs from all around the country.