Hartwell Commercial Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Jim’s Grill, Hartwell
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Tag Archives: Georgia Restaurants
Pope House-Lankford Manor, 1892, Tifton
Built for the Pope family in 1892, this was converted to a boarding house and restaurant in 1934 by the Lankford family. Pre-interstate, when US41 was a main north-south route to Florida, it was one of the busiest tourist sites in Tifton and known statewide, even nationally. After the boarding house ceased operation, the popular restaurant remained a Tifton landmark for many years.
Tifton Residential Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Billy’s Restaurant, Tifton
Several restaurants have been located here over the years. The old Billy’s Restaurant sign appears to date to the 1950s or thereabouts. It was most recently Hawk-Eye Bar-B-Que.
Armstrong’s Barbecue, Summerville
The first time I came through Summerville, on a mission to see Paradise Garden, it was lunchtime and I stopped at this place. It was packed to the rafters and like a step back in time. None of the interior has been updated since it was built, likely in 1965 when the business was established, but the place was warm and welcoming. And I loved their pepper-based sauce. A jar was purchased and guarded until the last drop was used. I wish I’d bought a dozen jars, because it was closed when I passed through a few weeks ago. And judging by comments online, it’s a real roll of the dice to find it open. Locals obviously love the place, too. I don’t know anything about their hours or why they’re so rarely open, but I do know that they have some of the best barbecue sauce I’ve ever eaten. If you’re lucky enough to be in Summerville when they’re open, make sure to stop by.
The Pirate’s House, Savannah
The history of the so-called Pirate’s House is as colorful as the history of Savannah itself, and like many landmarks in the city, its origins and history are often the subject of debate. I’ll open the proverbial can of worms here and note that though it often appears on superlative lists as the “oldest building in Georgia”, this claim is spurious at best. The Herb House, built in 1734 in General Oglethorpe’s Trustee’s Garden, has been absorbed into the structure you see today. Because its historic integrity has been almost completely lost by centuries of remodeling and expansion, though, the ‘oldest in Georgia’ qualifier is dubious to many, particularly architectural historians. I concur completely. This is not an attack on the present institution housed here but rather an attempt to consolidate disparate histories. Scores of websites, especially ‘ghost’-related sites, are driven by myth and therefore confusing to say the least.
The Pirate’s House Restaurant has been a leading tourist attraction in Savannah for decades, and though their website claims that it was built in 1753, the city’s own tourism website dates it to circa 1794. It’s clear that it had its origins as a tavern, frequented by sailors for its liberal atmosphere and proximity to the Savannah River. Tunnels were actually dug beneath the property in its early days with the purpose of smuggling rum and kidnapped sailors to the riverfront. The site gained literary immortality in Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island, as the scene of Captain Flint’s death. The character of Long John Silver noted that he was with Captain Flint when he died in Savannah. Of course this is a fiction, based loosely on stories a young Stevenson heard as a guest here in the early 19th century. The stories are harmless as long as they’re not posited as fact. And they are, often.
The house was purchased by the Savannah Gas Company in 1948 and subsequently restored and expanded to accommodate its present-day purpose.
Savannah Historic District, National Historic Landmark
The Varsity, 1963, Athens
Founded in Atlanta by the Gordy family in 1928, the first Athens Varsity opened in 1932, across from the arch. It remained open until at least the late 1970s. This location opened in 1963. Recent rumors suggest the property is to be replaced by a grocery store, but I cannot confirm.
It was confirmed on 13 May 2021 that the Varsity will be demolished for a new development on the property.
Update: Per a social media post by Historic Athens, The Varsity was demolished in November 2024.
Paul’s Bar-B-Q, Lexington
According to almost anyone you ask in Lexington, or any of the myriad barbecue “experts” out there, Paul’s was one of the best barbecue restaurants in Georgia over its long history. [I’ve eaten at many of the “best barbecue in Georgia” joints and very few have impressed me. My favorite remains Armstrong’s in Summerville and it’s not even on many of those lists. They seem to have issues with their hours, though]. Online reviews raved about the perfect vinegar-based sauce, the thick Brunswick stew and sweet tea better than your granny’s. Paul’s was only open from 9:30-2:00 on Saturdays and on Independence Day. They finally shut their doors on 4 July 2016, a day which made many people sad.
Luckily, the good folks at the Southern Foodways Alliance interviewed the owners in 2008 and recorded an oral history of the business. It began in 1929 when Clifford Collins started cooking and barbecuing whole hogs in Lexington. He and Fudge Collins sold their product under the shade of a Mulberry tree on Main Street for the next forty years. With the advent of health regulations, the business moved inside this building and they began smoking hams instead of whole hogs. Clifford retired when he was in his 90s and passed the business on to his nephew, George Paul, Jr. George was a farmer with no restaurant experience but he quickly learned the ropes. He and his son Jimmy operated the business from about 1979 until 2016, with George smoking the shoulders on a pit at his farm and Jimmy making the Brunswick stew.
The Rah Bar, Jekyll Island
I was surprised to learn that the Rah Bar is closing. Though not a landmark in the traditional sense, it’s become a bit of a local and tourist favorite for its welcoming, laid-back vibe. It’s not really a dive, but compared to many of the fancier establishments on the coast, it almost qualifies for that status. I’m saying that’s a good thing. Apparently, the restaurant with which the Rah Bar is associated, Latitude 31, is to be rebuilt. Let’s hope the atmosphere in the “new version” remains as cool as it was at the Rah Bar.
Poole’s Bar-B-Q & Pig Hill of Fame, East Ellijay
A favorite with tourists and locals alike, Poole’s Bar-B-Q has become a world-famous attraction in the mountain town of East Ellijay. Oscar and Edna Poole opened the restaurant in 1989. It started in a roadside shack but now occupies this building, known as the “Taj-Ma-Hog”.
Pig cut-outs, arranged in the shape of a pig, adorn the hill behind the restaurant known as the “Pig Hill of Fame”.
Pig-related names abound.
The Pig Hill of Fame started with just 300 cut-outs but now features over 3000.
Poole’s Bar-B-Q probably doesn’t need to advertise, but these crazy cars do a good job. The pig kitsch is a lot of fun. Like the old saying of eating everything but the squeal, Poole’s uses decorative pigs in every possible way.
Ganache Bakery & Bistro, Maysville
As I was walking around Maysville, Debbie Akins invited me into Ganache, the bakery and bistro she created out of an historic commercial space that would otherwise have been lost. She noted that the interior had to be completely rebuilt. It was a nice break and the place smelled wonderful. Her chef was preparing lunch and putting the finishing touches on the day’s fresh pastries. Debbie talked about the challenges of running business in a small town. She’s had several here in the past few years. She’s also restored historic houses and is presently working on the old Methodist church. Every small town should be so lucky as to have someone like Debbie working to revitalize their business districts.
As of 2022, Ganache has closed. But I imagine Debbie is pursuing more restoration efforts of some kind.
Maysville Historic District, National Register of Historic Places