By Angie Thompson, Senior Reporter
TIFTON — Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q on U.S. Highway 82 West is now The Smokehouse Restaurant because local franchise owner Bill Davis refused to sell beer, wine or liquor in the “family restaurant.” Also, the Sonny’s corporation didn’t believe it was appropriate for employees there to wear “I Pledge...I Pray” T-shirts at work.
Rather than change his operation, Davis said Tuesday he decided to “stand up for God.” He said he has nothing against the Sonny’s organization and can’t understand why his decision has brought him so much attention.
“All I did was say I was standing up for God,” Davis said. “This should be a normal everyday thing. This should not be the event it has become.”
Davis said the company has been “super nice” over the 22 years he’s owned the Sonny’s Restaurant franchise in Tifton.
“They are very professional people and they have been very helpful, and they did a world of good for us and helped us build what we have today,” Davis said.
Davis said his 20-year license for his Sonny’s franchise expired two years ago. He drove to Orlando to the Sonny’s headquarters in February 2008 to meet with officials there; he said the company offered a new agreement with the stipulation that he sell beer, wine and liquor drinks in the restaurant.
“I just told them we didn’t want to,” Davis said. “They didn’t understand because they acted like that was the future of restaurants.”
The Sonny’s president, according to Davis, backed off the mandate that the Tifton restaurant sell liquor and offered Davis a two-year contract extension to decide if he would sell wine and beer. The president also told Davis that he might want to consider selling the restaurant, closing it or turning it into another business.
Then Davis received a letter dated Oct. 20, 2009, stating that his franchise agreement with Sonny’s would end Dec. 31. There were specifically two issues in the letter, Davis said, that he couldn’t agree with.
In the “Notice of Default and Notice of Termination” letter, the company stated that it had sent Davis a letter in April giving him time to sell the franchise and that “All system standards,” including beer and wine sales, would continue through the end of the year.
Davis also takes issue with Sonny’s disapproval of employees wearing clothing with American flags and Christian logos on them and with such items in the restaurant.
One paragraph in the letter reads, “Team members at the Tifton Sonny’s Store #92 were wearing white T-shirts with an American flag that stated on the front, ‘I Pledge...I Pray.’ There was also a ‘Jesus’ memento/trinket on the shelf at the cash register. The T-shirts are not an approved uniform along and the ‘Jesus’ memento/trinket are not within Sonny’s System Standards, which states as follows: Politics and Religion: Where we realize you are individual business owners with your own view on politics and religion, the Sonny’s brand must remain non-partisan. No political or religious signage is allowed on the property where a Sonny’s is located. This includes non-partisan races such as city and county government as well as holding religious services inside the restaurant. Any cash and food donations are at your discretion.”
“That’s where being politically correct came in and I really don’t care a rat’s a-- about being politically correct,” Davis said. “I’d much rather have God than any politician I know.”
James “Coach” Vickers, a frequent early lunch patron at the restaurant, said he will continue to support the business. He’s been eating there “since Moses was little.”
“It’s a great place,” Vickers said. “It doesn’t make any difference to me what it is called. He (Davis) stuck to his convictions. He’s a fine man.”
Another regular, Ron Fritz, said that he understands “there’s a lot of profit in selling alcohol, but you’d think the profit he (Davis) makes would be fine.”
“It sounds like they (Sonny’s) are cutting their own throats,” Fritz said. “It’s a shame.”
Michelle Hanson, the restaurant’s manager for 13 years, noted that “we’re standing behind our beliefs.”
“This is something we wanted and hope everyone supports what we’re standing for and that they continue to come and eat here,” Hanson said. “Nothing’s changed. We’re still going to be here serving great food.”
Kathy Zinn, who has been a waitress at the restaurant for 12 years, said she is proud of her boss.
“I have a lot of respect for him,” Zinn said. “Any change is a little scary but we just all keep a positive attitude and God has taken care of us so far. He’s taken care of this restaurant for 22 years and I have no doubt he will continue to take care of us.”
Zinn said she can’t recall any customer leaving because the restaurant does not sell alcoholic beverages. Her hope is that “the neighbors bring in their relatives and friends and that they just keep coming.”
Sonny’s officials came into the restaurant Monday and removed all of the company’s logos, including the sign by the highway. On Tuesday, Zinn was familiarizing newer waitresses with The Smokehouse menu.
“The Smokehouse will not be a barbecue house,” Davis said. “We will have a good line and slowly but surely we will be going into seafood and are using King & Prince Seafood Company. We’ve also joined the Black Angus Association.”
Davis said the luncheon and dinner plates will still include pork and baby back ribs, turkey, smoked and grilled chicken, sliced and pulled pork and a variety of sandwiches and the salad bar — and the restaurant will bring Brunswick stew back to the menu.
Davis said he looks forward to adjusting the menu to suit his clientele and having the freedom to do so.
“What works in Tifton won’t work in New York City, but in a franchise they expect you to work that way,” Davis said.
To contact senior reporter Angie Thompson, call 382-4321.
