Four Jack’s restaurants planned in Albany area; first location opening in Dawson

ALBANY — For Anthony Jones, mention of a Jack’s restaurant is a trip down memory lane. The Dougherty County commissioner remembers eating there as a kid in the 1960s when hamburgers were 15 cents.

Jones even belted out the jingle he remembers from when he was a child: “‘It’s so good good good, you go back back back, to Jack’s Jack’s Jack’s, for more more more.’ That was their song.”

Jack’s isn’t coming back back back to southwest Georgia, it’s just arriving, with the first location in the area opened recently in Dawson.

A second Jack’s is nearing completion in Camilla, and two are slated for Albany.

The first Jack’s opened in Homewood, Ala., in 1960, and it has about 220 locations in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee. But until just a few days ago, the nearest location to Albany was in Montezuma.

During a recent trip to Alabama, Jones said he stopped at one of the restaurants.

“I became acquainted with them as a kid growing up in Birmingham,” he said. “Just getting reacquainted with Jack’s was a lot of fun and brought back my growing up in Birmingham. Jack’s and Milo’s were the hamburger chains in Alabama at that time, in the late ’60s and early ’70s.”

Jack’s menu contains the usual fast-food offerings of other chains like hamburgers, chicken sandwiches and fries. But it also has more Southern-style items including mashed potatoes, buttered biscuits, green beans and coleslaw. And its breakfast menu includes grits and biscuits and gravy.

“We’re excited about Jack’s and becoming reacquainted with their hamburgers,” Jones said. “It’s coming soon. When it does get here, it’ll be a welcome sight.”

In Albany, one of the planned Jack’s locations is at 210 Marie Road in east Albany, a short distance from the Love’s truck stop. The second is slated for North Slappey Boulevard.

Not only will the Jack’s bring new economic opportunities for the eastern part of the city, but the location chosen will mean removing some dilapidated buildings, Ward I Albany City Commissioner Jon Howard said.

“It certainly will remove an eyesore, those apartments that were there since the late ’40s,” Howard said. “I went by there yesterday where they’re going to build it. I hope another business will go into two other properties next to it.

“We need restaurants and we need commercial, and we need more industry to come to the city.”

The commissioner also noted that a Zaxby’s location also will be opening on East Oglethorpe Boulevard in the Rose’s shopping center near the bypass.

The Dawson Jack’s opened on Monday with a ribbon-cutting and grand opening ceremony.

“We are thrilled to become a part of the Dawson community and are excited to bring the flavors and traditions of Jack’s Family Restaurant to this wonderful town,” Matthew Pruitt, Jack’s district manager, said of the occasion. “Our team has worked tirelessly to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere where families and friends can gather for great food and great times. We can’t wait to meet more of our new neighbors and share our passion for delicious Southern-inspired cuisine.”

The arrival of Jack’s to southwest Georgia and other businesses popping up in and around Albany show that companies have confidence in the area, Albany Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Barbara Rivera Holmes said.

“We’ve long known that Albany is an important location for retail, for restaurants, for commercial and industrial activity,” she said. “We’re encouraged by the investments, the regional investments, in Albany. We’re an ideal location.”

The recent activity is partially a component of the recovery from the COVID-19, pandemic, she said. Albany and Dougherty County have had a number of commercial as well as new industry announcements and expansions of existing industries recently.

“You’re seeing an infusion in investment across the state,” she said. “You’re seeing an incredible acceleration of expansion. There was a lot of activity that was put on hold by COVID, so you’re seeing that activity. It’s good to see this confidence in the local economy.”

File Photo: Alan MauldinAlanMauldin[email protected]
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