TIFTON – Things have changed over the years at the Tifton Shoney’s. In the early days, after Julie Hunt and her late husband, John, opened the restaurant’s doors, there was curbside service and no breakfast bar. The restaurant was “the” place to be.

In more recent years, I-75 has pushed growth up all around the Tifton landmark, and Julie and her son, Dallas, who now runs the family businesses, say things have slowed down.

The restaurant will close its doors today, after decades of more than just hot fudge cakes. In the booths at Shoney’s, there have been family reunions, first dates, business meetings and more. The restaurant has been not just another business in town – it’s been a part of the family.

“I wrote the insurance on this place the first day it opened,” said Sonny Hamilton, who eats at the restaurant each Friday with his Sunday School class.

In the past week, the Hunts say many have come to have one more meal and one more hug – to say goodbye to the place they’ve gathered happily for so long.

Rev. Jimmy Hinson has been eating at least once a day – sometimes twice – at Shoney’s for years, and when asked what he’s liked about it, he just smiles.

“All of it,” he said. “I like the people and I like the food. I always saw somebody that I knew.”

Hinson thought a lot of the staff at Shoney’s, and the feeling was clearly mutual, as they also spoke fondly of “Mr. Jimmy.”

Julie said the staff has been very special to them.

“This is the best part of this place,” she said, referring to the employees.

Many of those employees have worked at the restaurant for a lot of years. One such employee is Eddie Pettiford, who began working there in 1979. Since then, he’s become like family to the Hunts, and Pettiford even refers to himself as “John’s other son.” Pettiford has been a valued part of the team, helping to open other stores for the Hunts and train employees. He’s been popular with customers as well.

“Customers come from all over the place to make sure they speak to Eddie,” said Dallas.

As for the restaurant closing, Dallas said Pettiford was the first person he told. And Pettiford will continue to work for the Hunts at one of their other businesses, like many the Shoney’s crew.

“As long as he will come and get me, I’ll work,” Pettiford said, laughing.

Another long-time employee is Vivian Rayburn, who has worked at Shoney’s since 1998. She began to cry when asked about her time at the restaurant, and said she will miss the customers, particularly the elderly ones. The Albany resident added that she’ll miss Tifton and the people here.

“People are more laid back in Tifton,” she said. She also thanked the Hunts “for the years we’ve had.”

Mary Alice Smith has been working at Shoney’s for seven years, and enjoyed meeting new people and talking to them.

“I liked making the people smile and making them feel better,” she said, after coming in to pick up her coworker, Mary Jordan, who has worked in the kitchen for 19 years. Both women smiled and joked with Dallas, and it’s clear they’ve enjoyed a great working relationship.

“We’ve had great employees who truly wanted to take care of their customers,” Dallas said. “I know Shoney’s is a national chain, but for us, it’s a community restaurant. The community has supported us well through the years.”

“It didn’t feel like a business,” Julie said.

Of the closing, Dallas said it’s just time, and that there have been issues with the building.

“We’ve got major HVAC equipment issues. There’s things that need big money spent on them,” he said. “Really, the building is just too tired. The building couldn’t really stand up with us being here any longer. So the building will come down.”

Dallas says he doesn’t have firm plans for what will happen on the property.

“I know there’s a lot of talk out there, but the reality is that it’s not firm, what’s happening,” he said.