Over 9 years ago, Courtney’s opened up next to Shiloh’s Music, where it quickly became a fixture in our town. Large portions of perfectly prepared meat and three options, delectable desserts and the obligatory glass of sweet tea make it the ideal place to eat dinner when you don’t feel like messing up the dishes at home. I know I have never managed to roast my pork shoulder quite as tenderly, anyway.

Tom Courtney says he has been in the restaurant business “all my life, basically. My parents owned a restaurant the day I was born.” He grew up making food and serving it to the customers. That being said, it didn’t necessarily come easily to him. When he was in college, he started a full-service restaurant in Portland, TN which failed almost as soon as it began. It seems his youthful idealism, rampant creative ambition and a tendency to have a little bit too much fun was getting in the way of business. We all take time to grow into ourselves.

Before opening Courtney’s, he became a partner in some Domino’s franchises with his brother, but he was ready, as Tom puts it, “To get back to full service, like I was born to do.”

Our beloved Courtney’s has now changed its name to TJ Courtney’s, and a new logo will be coming with the new branding. But, it will continue to be the great local gathering place we have all grown to love under Tom’s talented supervision.

Look forward to attending the new writers night and joining in on karaoke, open mics and live bands with the sound brought to you by the fine people at Shiloh Music Center, just two doors down.

You also might have noticed that TJ’s Pizza is coming soon, so I expect parking spaces will soon be hard to find. Better claim your spot.