Rico Johnson opened Kornna Kitchen in Uptown Martinsville just over a year ago. Since then, his focus has been on serving the community—often feeding essential workers and hosting vibrant weekend events.
“My journey here has been amazing. I never thought when I opened the place in the middle of Preston, in the middle of nowhere, that it would take off this quickly,” Johnson said of the eatery that began in the county and then moved to Martinsville. With support from his wife, Johnson worked to promote the restaurant during its early days.
“I wanted a place where I could wave and say, ‘Hello, how are you doing? Welcome,’” said Johnson, recalling the warm reception the restaurant received. He attributes its success to the quality of its food.
“The food is prepared—there’s a difference between prepared food and cooked food, and that’s the difference at Kornna Kitchen,” Johnson said, explaining that many chain buffets simply reheat food, while his restaurant carefully prepares each dish. “Every tomato, onion, cucumber—it’s done here, prepared with care.”
Johnson emphasizes that preparing food requires time, love, and thought. “Every plate that goes out is a piece of us.” Even the staff at Kornna Kitchen are selected carefully, based not just on their work skills but on how well they work together. “I choose my employees based on how we work together because I’m passionate about food.”
Cleanliness and respect for food are essential for his team. “That’s why I teach SafeServ and FoodServ,” said Johnson, who has been working with food since the late 1980s.
“To think that Martinsville would bring me this much joy and fuel my passion—I never would’ve guessed it. This city means a lot to me,” he said.
Johnson often gives back to the community by offering free lunches to city employees, teachers, bus drivers, and various charities.
“It’s not about the money; it’s about dedication and how much you contribute to the people who matter,” said Johnson, who envisions Kornna Kitchen as part of the “evolution” of Martinsville. He believes it will help attract large businesses back to the area. “If you’re fun, exciting, new, and fresh, people will gravitate toward that.”
Kornna Kitchen aims to create a new vibe and energy daily. The restaurant is dedicated to drawing in a diverse range of customers and making Martinsville a livelier place. “We’ve tried different things and continue experimenting to figure out how to make this community a more vibrant place.”
Johnson says Martinsville needs both small businesses and corporate entities to thrive. “We have to trigger economic growth from the ground up.”
He’s also focused on making Kornna Kitchen a place where people of all backgrounds feel welcome. “This isn’t just my place—it’s our place. It’s not Rico’s place; it’s a community place.” Johnson believes Martinsville has the potential to grow and credits the supportive citizens for that.
Kornna Kitchen serves a variety of prepared dishes, with a special focus on seafood. The restaurant also offers Washington, D.C.’s signature Mumbo sauce, a nod to the capital’s cuisine.
Kornna Kitchen is open daily from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m., except Tuesdays. To stay updated on events, follow the restaurant’s Facebook page, where Johnson and his team regularly post updates.
