Popular Tuscumbia restaurant closing its doors after serving the Shoals for 6 decades

TUSCUMBIA, Ala. ( WHNT ) —It’s the place to be and eat in the Shoals and has been for over 6 decades: Jody’s restaurant.

Long-time customer Joey Plunk says he gets breakfast at least once a week.

“The food has always been good here. Their breakfast is amazing, the hashbrowns are the best in the Shoals,” Plunk said.

Terry Collier, another regular customer, told News 19 that Jody’s lunch and dinner are good but the breakfast is his favorite.

“It’s wonderful, it’s the best breakfast,” Collier said.

The restaurant has been serving meals since 1958, but Madelyn and Madison Price, who have been running their family’s business for the past couple of years, told News 19 that their family had to make the tough decision to close the doors.

“It’s really been tough staying on our feet since COVID, which I know a lot of people have dealt with that. It’s not just us but keeping up with the prices, keeping up with rent and keeping up with everything in general, you can’t keep putting that on customers. We can’t keep raising our prices,” Madelyn Price said.

For some customers like Shelia Robertson, Jody’s is more than a restaurant, it’s a close-knit community.

“This is my family, this is hurting, not only me, but a lot more people,” Robertson said.

Harold Gulley has worked at Jody’s restaurants for years and told News 19 he’s having a hard time processing that in just a few days, there will be no more Jody’s.

“I’ve been here since February 2002, so it’s very sad that we are closing,” Gulley said.

Madelyn and Madison Price say they are blessed and honored that they were able to take their family’s restaurant under the wing and say they will never forget the memories and friendships they have made along the way.

“It just feels like we have a bigger family than we could ever ask for,” Madison said.

But the two girls are also making their great grandparents who opened the restaurant, proud.

“I’m glad I kept doing this for him, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else,” Madelyn said.

The restaurant will officially close Sunday, August 4th. Madelyn and Madison said they will stay open longer on Sunday to be able to say their final goodbyes to customers.

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