Saturday, May 11, 2024

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Huddle House holds ribbon-cutting

Jan McDonald , ,

Now Demopolis knows how Huddle House got its name.

Huddle House empoloyees gather fora photo before the diner opens.

During the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Huddle House in Demopolis, Jeremy Lee, senior director of Field Marketing, explained the history, and it fits in with the city’s love of high school football.

The founder of the restaurant chain, John Sparks, was working at his Decatur, Ga., diner one evening in 1964 and thinking about his new idea for a chain of Southern-themed diners, but he didn’t know what he would call it. A group of high school boys came in, fresh from football practice, and gathered in the corner. As they leaned in together, talking and laughing, they looked like they were in a huddle. Sparks had the name for his chain.

Cutting the ribbon are, from left, David Lyons, director of the Demopolis Area Chamber of Commerce; Charles Jones Jr., mayor pro tem, and Jeremy Lee, senior director of Field Marketing for Huddle House.

Many Demopolis diners have been waiting for the Huddle House to open, if the long lines Wednesday were any indication. To help celebrate the grand opening, the restaurant hung red and black pennants and balloons, offered corn hole tossing to those waiting in line and welcomed Demopolis High cheerleaders and the Tiger mascot.

Five-year-old Mason Smith tries his hand at corn hole before Huddle House opens.

As patrons went inside to order, the restaurant followed COVID-19 protocols. Each person had a temperature check, a sanitizing station was just inside the door, certain tables were blocked to ensure social distancing, and all the staff members wore masks.

Huddle House patrons pick up call-in orders or wait to be seated.

City Councilman Charles Jones Jr., standing in as mayor pro tem for Mayor John Laney, said the city is very happy to welcome Huddle House. “We can’t wait.”