Alabama
10 Alabama restaurant chains that began as mom-and-pop shops
Almost everybody has a favorite fast-food chain – a place to grab a quick burger for lunch or a drive-thru taco late at night.
While national brands abound to satisfy your cravings, Alabama has its fair share of homegrown chains, most of which started as small, independent “mom-and-pop” shops before branching out.
As part of our Beautiful Alabama summer project, we’ve put together this list of 10 such Alabama chain restaurants, all of which began in the state and many of which remain in the same family.
(Note: For this story, we did not include barbecue restaurant chains, which belong in a category unto themselves.)
Foosackly’s, famous for its fried chicken fingers, originated in Mobile in 2000 and now has 14 locations in Alabama and two in Florida. (Ben Flanagan / AL.com)Ben Flanagan
Foosackly’s
How it started: Co-founders Will Fusaiotti and Eric Brechtel, who went to LSU together, partnered to open their first Foosackly’s chicken tenders restaurant on University Boulevard in Mobile in April 2000. The chain’s unusual name was inspired by Fusaiotti’s hard-to-pronounce last name, and Fusaiotti figured “Foosackly’s” rolled off the tongue much better.
How it’s going: Although most of its 16 locations are concentrated in the Mobile and Baldwin County area, Foosackly’s has expanded into Tuscaloosa and Auburn, as well as neighboring Pensacola, Fla.
More info: foosacklys.net
One of the most popular chicken finger restaurants in the state, Guthrie’s has more than 30 locations in Alabama. (Ben Flanagan / AL.com)Ben Flanagan
Guthrie’s
How it started: In 1965, Hal Guthrie opened a drive-in restaurant in the Winston County town of Haleyville, but it wasn’t until 13 years later that Guthrie began serving the fried chicken fingers and signature dipping sauce for which his family would become famous. In 1982, Hal and Melissa Guthrie’s oldest son, Chris, who was a student at Auburn University at the time, talked his dad into helping him open a Guthrie’s in the Loveliest Village on the Plains.
How it’s going: Guthrie’s, which is headquartered in Auburn, now has nearly 50 locations in nine states – mostly in the Southeast but as far away as Idaho and Ohio.
More info: guthrieschicken.com.
Guthrie’s celebrates a golden anniversary
Hero Doughnuts & Buns began at a pop-up event in Birmingham in 2016 and now has eight locations around the Southeast, including this one near Birmingham’s Railroad Park, at 1701 First Ave. South, Suite 135. (Mary Colurso | mcolurso@AL.com)
Hero Doughnuts & Buns
How it started: Birmingham chef Wil Drake debuted his French brioche pastry-style Hero Doughnuts at a pop-up event at Seasick Records in 2016 and opened his first brick-and-mortar location in Homewood the following year.
How it’s going: After partnering with the Pihakis Restaurant Group, Hero has rebranded as Hero Doughnuts & Buns and expanded its menu to include not just doughnuts but also chicken sandwiches and one of the best cheeseburgers around. Hero now has nine locations in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee.
More info: eatahero.com.
Jack’s Family Restaurants, which began in Homewood in 1960, has grown to include almost 200 locations in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee. (Photo courtesy of Jack’s Family Restaurants; used with permission)
Jack’s Family Restaurants
How it started: Jack’s goes back, back, back to 1960 when founder and Birmingham burger king Jack Caddell, inspired by the growth of the McDonald’s chain, opened the first Jack’s Hamburgers in downtown Homewood.
How it’s going: Now known as Jack’s Family Restaurants but still headquartered in Homewood, the fast-food chain has grown to about 200 locations in big cities and small towns throughout Alabama and neighboring states Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee.
More info: eatatjacks.com.
Milo’s began in Birmingham in 1946 and now has 23 locations throughout Alabama.(Photo courtesy of Milo’s; used with permission)
Milo’s
How it started: Founder Milo Carlton, who served as an Army mess cook during World War II, and his wife, Beatrice, or “Mama Bea” to those who knew her best, opened their mom-and-pop burger shop in Birmingham’s Norwood neighborhood in 1946. Thirty-seven years later, the first Milo’s franchise opened near the UAB campus on Birmingham’s Southside.
How it’s going: Under the leadership of CEO Tom Dekle, the Milo’s brand — beloved for its burgers with pickles, onions and that magic sauce — has grown to include 23 locations around Alabama – mainly in the Birmingham metro area but also in Auburn, Montgomery, Jasper and Tuscaloosa.
More info: miloshamburgers.com.
The story behind Alabama’s famous Milo’s hamburger sauce
Sneaky Pete’s began in Birmingham in 1966 and now has about 30 locations in Central Alabama, many of which are in gas station convenience stores.(Photo courtesy of Sneaky Pete’s)
Sneaky Pete’s
How it started: Pete Graphos – from the legendary Graphos hot dog family that included his brothers Jimmy and Sammy — opened the original Sneaky Pete’s hot dog shop on Birmingham’s Southside in 1966. His brothers later joined him in the business before branching out on their own. At one time, Graphos operated 24 Sneaky Pete’s locations before selling the business in 1986.
How it’s going: Sneaky Pete’s, which is still based in Birmingham, has about 30 locations around Central Alabama, most of those in gas station convenience stores. Also, Sneaky Pete’s Hot Dog Sauce is available online and at grocery stores around the state.
More info: sneakypetes.com.
Although a few new items have been added over the years, the Taco Casa menu has pretty much remained the same since the first restaurant opened in 1974, with burritos, tacos, enchiladas and sanchos. (Ben Flanagan/bflanagan@al.com)
Taco Casa
How it started: Rod Wilkin, a Kansas native who came to Tuscaloosa to play football for the legendary Paul “Bear” Bryant in the late 1960s, followed up on his dream of starting a Mexican fast-food restaurant and founded Taco Casa in 1974, opening the original location on 10th Avenue, near what is now Central High School. The little restaurant “under the biggest cactus in town” fast became a favorite of University of Alabama students.
How it’s going: Wilkin and his three sons (Rod II, Ben and Brett) and his son-in-law (Shannon Formby) continue the Taco Casa tradition 50 years later. That original location has long since closed, but Taco Casa has six stores in Tuscaloosa and Northport and a seventh in the Wildwood Centre in Homewood.
More info: tacocasa.com.
An Alabama tradition: Tuscaloosa’s Taco Casa
Taco Mama opened its first location in Mountain Brook in 2011 and now has 27 restaurants in five Southeastern states.(Birmingham News file/Linda Stelter)
Taco Mama
How it started: Will Haver — who also owns Otey Tavern’s, a neighborhood bar and grill in Mountain Brook’s Crestline Village — opened his first Taco Mama not far from Otey’s in 2011. He had no plans to open a second one. But all that quickly changed.
How it’s going: After word got around about Taco Mama’s hearty burritos, tart margaritas and fun, family-friendly vibe, Haver started branching out all over Birmingham and throughout Alabama. Taco Mama is now up to 27 locations, including restaurants in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee.
More info: tacomamaonline.com.
Taco Mama started in Alabama and became a Southern sensation
Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe began in Birmingham, Ala., in 1998.(Joe Songer/jsonger@al.com)
Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe
How it started: Inspired by the small cafes they discovered on a trip to Greece, chef Keith Richards and his wife, Amy, opened the original Taziki’s Mediterranean Café in Birmingham’s Shops of the Colonnade in 1998.
How it’s going: From that one café, Taziki’s has grown far and wide to include about 90 locations in 16 states. Also, in 2015, Taziki’s became the first national franchise to receive the United States Healthful Food Council’s REAL Certification, which recognizes restaurants that go the extra step to serve their customers meals with nutrient-dense fruits, vegetables and whole grains; that emphasize local and organic ingredients; and that serve meals that are made from scratch using healthy cooking methods and a minimum of processed foods.
More info: tazikis.com.
Urban Cookhouse began in downtown Homewood in 2011, and that original location later moved just down the street into this space at 1920 29th Ave. South.(Bob Carlton/bcarlton@al.com)
Urban Cookhouse
How it started: The husband-and-wife team of David and Andrea Snyder started Urban Cookhouse – a “buy local, eat urban” fast-casual concept that emphasized wood-smoked meats and Alabama-grown produce – in downtown Homewood in 2011.
How it’s going: The Snyders still buy from many of the same farmers and makers they started with – including strawberries and heirloom tomatoes from Harvest Farm in Cullman County and orange rolls from Millie Ray’s in Birmingham – but Urban Cookhouse, which now has nine locations, has expanded beyond the Birmingham metro area into Cullman, Tuscaloosa, Huntsville and Nashville.
More info: urbancookhouse.com.