08/11/2026
From prison commissary meals to a thriving St. Louis restaurant, Steven Gilliam, a 40-year-old entrepreneur who spent eight years behind bars for drug and gun convictions, turned his past into a business.
Stevie’s Jailhouse Kitchen is packed with jail-inspired meals like the Cheeto cheeseburger, topped with melted cheese and crunchy Cheetos, and served with fries dusted in flamin’ hot cheeto powder for $30. Then there’s the loaded jail nachos and the loaded seafood wweet and spicy bowl — of which you can get at three bowls for $50.
Gilliam said he’s recently been expanding his menu to include more traditional dinner options like lamb chops, fried chicken and fish and turkey legs.
But what makes some of the menu items at Stevie’s Kitchen unique beyond their jail-themed names is the fact that they’re actually made using commissary items from organizations like the Keefe Group, which sells a wide range of food products to correctional institutions.
“These brands (are) only in jail,” Gilliam said. “I did it for ex-convicts. People don’t really want to go to jail, but we understand that a three-second decision can turn into 40 years to life in jail. The food represents where we came from, and where not to go.”
Find the full story in the comments. ⬇️
