Johnny Ray's

Johnny Ray's was a chain of barbecue restaurants operating in the Birmingham area]] from 1953 to 2022. The first location opened by Johnny Ray moved into the newly-opened Roebuck Shopping Center in 1957. A second location at the Midfield Park Shopping Center opened before 1960. Ray moved the main restaurant to Valley Avenue in 1985.

The chain was known for its pulled pork and chicken barbecue (offered in "blonde" or "brunette" for white or dark meat) and for its signature "Honey's Pies" (banana, chocolate, coconut and lemon cream pies).

Ray's daughter, Dee Wood, opened a second location with her husband, Gary, and son, Chad, on Gadsden Highway in Trussville in 1990. That location closed temporarily after Wood retired in 2009.

Most Johnny Ray's locations were operated by The Johnny Ray Companies, Inc., headed by Alton Shields. The Chelsea location was bought by Jack and Michelle Donovan in 2017. It closed during the COVID pandemic. The last Johnny Ray's location, at the Shops of the Colonnade, closed on May 21, 2022.

Locations

• original store:
  • Roebuck, 1953–1957
  • Roebuck Plaza Shopping Center, 1957–1985
  • 316 Valley Avenue, 1985–2009
• other locations
  • Midfield Park Shopping Center, 1960
  • 1860 Center Point Parkway, Center Point, 1990s
  • 3040 Allison Bonnett Memorial Drive, Hueytown, 1990s
  • 2910 Morgan Road in Bessemer, 1994–2009
  • 1460 Montgomery Highway in Vestavia Hills
  • 2252 Pelham Parkway, at Oak Mountain Marketplace in Pelham
  • 7268 Gadsden Highway in Trussville, opened 1990, reopened 2009
  • 10569 Old Highway 280 in Chelsea, opened 2004, reopened 2017, closed 2020
  • 309 Huntley Parkway, Pelham Towne Center in Pelham
  • 3431 Colonnade Parkway, Shops of the Colonnade, closed 2022

References

• Natta, André (July 1, 2009). "Farewell, Johnny Ray's." The Terminal
• Cooper, Lauren B. (June 13, 2011) "Cellular Sales to take space in Vestavia." Birmingham Business Journal
• Kortright, Amelia (August 24, 2017) "Chelsea Johnny Ray’s celebrates new ownership." 280 Reporter
• Rebman, Stephanie (June 10, 2020) "BBQ joint to close location in Shelby County." Birmingham Business Journal
• "Johnny Ray’s in Colonnade closing permanently." (May 15, 2022) WBRC.com

External links

• Johnny Ray's website