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                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.3

                   [LETTERHEAD OF J. ALEXANDER'S CORPORATION]


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THE RIGHTS OFFERING WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M. MIDNIGHT, CENTRAL DAYLIGHT
TIME, ON JUNE     , 1999 UNLESS EXTENDED OR EARLIER TERMINATED.  J.
ALEXANDER'S MAY WITHDRAW THE RIGHTS OFFERING AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO 5:00
PM CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME ON JUNE    ,1999. J. ALEXANDER'S RESERVES THE RIGHT 
TO EXTEND THE OFFER BY UP TO TEN BUSINESS DAYS AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO THE 
EXPIRATION OF THE RIGHTS.
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                                                                    May __, 1999

Dear Shareholder:

Enclosed are the Prospectus and other materials relating to the rights offering
by J. Alexander's Corporation (the "Company").

Please carefully review the Prospectus, which describes how you can participate
in the rights offering. You will be able to exercise your rights to purchase
additional shares only during a limited period.

You will find answers to some frequently asked questions about the rights
offering beginning on page __ of the Prospectus. You should also refer to the
detailed description of the subscription procedures in the Prospectus, which
tells how you can exercise your rights.

SUMMARY OF THE TERMS OF THE OFFERING

   . You will receive 1.0 non-transferable right for each share of the Company's
   common stock you owned on May __, 1999.

   . For each right you exercise, you may purchase 0.2 share of common stock at
   the Subscription Price of $3.75 per share. You will not be entitled to
   purchase fractional shares, but the Company will round any remaining
   fractional share you are entitled to purchase up to the nearest whole number
   of shares.

   . The rights offering expires at 5:00 p.m., Central Daylight Time, on June
   __, 1999. If you do not exercise your rights before that date, they will
   expire and will have no monetary value. The Company may withdraw the rights
   offering at any time before the rights expire. In addition, at any time
   before the rights expire, the Company may extend the rights offering by up to
   ten business days.

If your shares are held in your name, a Subscription Certificate is enclosed. If
your shares are held in the name of your bank or broker, you must contact your
bank or broker if you wish to participate in this offering.

If you do not exercise your rights, your ownership in the Company may be
diluted. Please see page __ of the Prospectus for a discussion of dilution and
other risk factors.

If you have any questions concerning the rights offering, please feel free to
contact R. Gregory Lewis, the Company's Chief Financial Officer, at (615)
269-1900.

                                        Sincerely,



                                        Lonnie J. Stout II
                                        Chairman, President and
                                        Chief Executive Officer







