The reason Adrian Gilstrap finally got his own restaurant is tattooed on the inside of his right forearm. There, you’ll find an inked portrait of his older brother Eric inscribed with Eric’s nickname, “Big E.”

After six years in which they hadn’t spoken, the brothers reconnected in 2024. During their time apart, Adrian, who’d grown up working for his dad’s food ventures, had done a food trailer of his own on Huntsville’s Southern Parkway, Niyah’s Southern Cuisine, named after Adrian’s daughter.