When James Horton and Jamie Holland visited the Mayflower Restaurant on 12 November 2023, it would be their last visit, as this Athens landmark, the oldest restaurant in town in its original location, closed on that day. James wrote: “[We were] trying very hard to produce a smile on such a sad occasion as the last time this will ever be. Many other people were taking their last photographs that day, as well, and there was much talk inside the restaurant about memories of past times there. Rick and Lisa put out an empty notebook for customers to write their memories and thank-yous and to provide a way for customers to express their sadness about the loss. Special places like this disappearing leave a gaping hole in the lives of those who loved and appreciated them so much.“
The Mayflower Restaurant opened in 1941, “across from the arch”, and survived for 81 years. The Vaughn family purchased the business in 1963 and Rick and Lisa Vaughn operated the place for over 30 years after Rick’s parents turned over the business to him. Rick did the cooking and Lisa managed the dining room.
The Mayflower breakfast was an Athens tradition for many and the restaurant attracted people from all walks of life, students to lawyers and bankers. Tourists were always as welcome as regulars and Lisa Vaughn made sure no one felt like a stranger.
James and Jamie owned and operated the Wiregrass Restaurant in Quitman for 13 years, so James was amazed by the workspace in the Mayflower. He noted that the stainless steel food preparation counter equipped with refrigeration, a flat grill, fry station, sandwich board, coffee station, cold drink station, and soda fountain with ice cream freezer was a rare set up to still be in existence and fully functional in 2023.
A Chipotle restaurant now occupies the location. I’m sure Rick and Lisa wish them well, but it’s a bit sad to see a place like the Mayflower fade into history.
Memory: On one visit to the Mayflower, James Horton saw a lady come out from the back kitchen with flour all over her apron and he knew she was the biscuit lady – he stood up from his table and announced “Hey everybody, it’s the biscuit lady” and the whole restaurant cheered and clapped for her – she loved it. That lady could make some big, fluffy, hot, steamy biscuits that couldn’t be found anywhere else – this is the real Georgia way.
Though it isn’t a new story, I’m so grateful to James for sharing these photos and memories. I, too, was a big fan of the Mayflower and am sad to see it gone.
What a great photo essay! Sad that this beloved and iconic restaurant closed. So many treasured memories for the folks who loved eating there over the years!
They are ruining downtown with their chain restaurants, chain retail, and high rise apartments. The local retail and restaurants that use to make downtown so awesome have all but disappeared. It was the best part of Athens.
I resided in Athens from August 2005 to October 2021. I remember the Mayflower fondly and well.
That’s “flour”!
Tony’s Italian Restaurant and Alice’s Crazy Corner Cafe at the east end of downtown were the other two long-time downtown restaurants of many years that were favorites of mine when I was a student at UGA in the early 1970’s.
Tony’s had a railroad track mounted along the top of the walls, with a train circling the dining room. Mr. Tony or Mr. George were always at the register by the front door; I never knew if they were brothers or cousins, but they were always there. I only went on weekends.
Alice’s was unique at the time for including the sales tax in the purchase price. One could get a “meat & three” dinner plate, with tea, for $1.25 back then. It was also notable for having tables and chairs mounted to the ceiling, with mannequins attached, to look like upside-down diners! Sadly, that building was eventually demolished and a bank building built on that corner.
Those were the days!
l was a UGA student for 3 quarters in 1961-62 before transferring to GA Tech to study architecture. Outside football season weekends in Athens could be pretty slow. A couple of my fellow students and I established a weekend tradition…sausage, grits, eggs and biscuits for breakfast at the Mayflower and a steak at nearby Tony’s for “supper”! Those were the days
My daughter and I were up in Athens and ate breakfast at the Mayflower before we left town, we had no idea they were closing for good the same day! So many years of eating there as a student in the 80’s, what a loss for Athens. ❤️