Let's be real for a second. If you follow the NFL, you know C.J. Gardner-Johnson isn't exactly the "quiet professional" type. He’s the guy who gets under people's skin. Usually, that happens on the grass between the whistles. But after Super Bowl LIX, things got weirdly personal, and the crosshairs shifted from the football field to a small family-owned business in Florida.
If you’ve been searching for the C.J. Gardner-Johnson mom restaurant story, you’ve likely seen some wild headlines. People were talking about review bombing, Taylor Swift fans, and a sudden closure. It’s a mess.
Honestly, the whole situation is a perfect example of how quickly the internet can turn a sports rivalry into a real-world headache for people who didn't even put on a helmet.
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The Restaurant at the Center of the Storm: King's Grill
For those who don't know the backstory, C.J.'s mom, Delatron Johnson, is an entrepreneur in her own right. She opened a spot called King's Grill in Rockledge, Florida. The name wasn't just some random branding choice—"King" was C.J.’s childhood nickname, and it’s also the middle name of his son. It was a family venture through and through.
Before the drama, King's Grill was known for being a local community hub. They served up the kind of comfort food you'd expect from a family-run Florida joint:
- Philly Cheesesteaks (a nod to C.J.'s time with the Eagles)
- Po’ Boys (likely inspired by his New Orleans Saints days)
- Loaded fries and wings
Delatron is a worker. She previously ran a coffee shop called Café Krewe 22. She’s gone on record saying her "hustle is personal" because she was told she wouldn't make it. But in February 2025, that hustle hit a wall of digital vitriol that had nothing to do with the quality of her food.
Why did the "Swifties" attack King's Grill?
So, why did a bunch of Taylor Swift fans—people who probably couldn't find Rockledge, Florida, on a map—decide to tank a restaurant’s Yelp rating?
It started with a post-game jab. After the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX, C.J. Gardner-Johnson took to Instagram. He posted a photo of himself and Travis Kelce with a caption that was... well, it was vintage C.J. He made a comment about Kelce’s ex-girlfriend, Kayla Nicole, suggesting Kelce "should've stayed" with her.
He used some pretty derogatory language to describe her, which immediately set off the "Swifties."
Within hours, King's Grill was being flooded with one-star reviews. People were claiming they got food poisoning. Others were making wild, unsubstantiated claims about the service. It got so bad that Yelp had to put an "Unusual Activity Alert" on the page and temporarily lock the comments. Google ended up scrubbing dozens of fake reviews.
The Twist: The Joke Was on the Internet
Here is where it gets kind of funny, or at least ironic.
While the internet was busy trying to "cancel" the C.J. Gardner-Johnson mom restaurant, Delatron and Brian Johnson (C.J.’s dad) were sitting back and watching. Why? Because King's Grill had already closed.
In an interview with TMZ Live shortly after the Super Bowl, Delatron revealed that she had actually shut down King's Grill in late January. They were already in the process of selling the business. All those "I just ate here and it was gross" reviews were coming from people who hadn't stepped foot in the building, mainly because the doors were locked and the ovens were off.
"The joke is really on the Swifties and everyone entertaining the reviews because Kings Grill is closed," Delatron told the media.
Basically, a bunch of people spent their Monday afternoon yelling at a ghost.
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Where is the family now?
If you’re looking to actually support the family or grab a meal, you won't find them at King's Grill anymore. The family has moved on to a new venture called the Village Bier Garten in Cocoa Village, Florida.
They’ve essentially traded the sports-grill vibe for something a bit different. The new spot is more of a traditional beer garden atmosphere. It’s a bigger venue, and by all accounts, they are leaning into this new chapter. Delatron seems pretty unfazed by the whole digital drama. She’s focused on the new opening and supporting C.J., who was recently honored with a key to the city in Florida following his Super Bowl win.
What we can learn from the King's Grill saga
This wasn't just a "sports story." It was a weird intersection of celebrity culture, parasocial relationships, and small business vulnerability.
If you're a business owner, the takeaway is a bit scary: you are one viral tweet away from a reputation crisis you didn't even cause. If you're a fan, it's a reminder that the people behind the "player" often have their own lives and businesses that have nothing to do with what happens on the field.
Actionable Insights for Navigating This News:
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- Check the Dates: If you see a restaurant getting slammed with 100+ reviews in a single day, it’s almost always a digital "hit job." Don't take those ratings at face value.
- Verify the Location: If you want to visit Delatron's current business, head to Village Bier Garten in Cocoa, not the old Rockledge location.
- Support Local: If you’re in the Space Coast area, the best way to see the "real" side of this story is to go grab a drink or a bite at their new spot and see the work they're putting in firsthand.
The internet moves fast. One day you’re a local hero, the next you’re being review-bombed by fans of a pop star. But at the end of the day, Delatron Johnson seems to have the last laugh—she's out of the old shop and into a new one, while the trolls are still arguing with a closed sign.