From The Trussville Tribune staff reports
TRUSSVILLE — After decades of serving people from all around the southeast, Joel’s Restaurant is apparently closed, according to the owner of the building. A sign on the door states that “We will be closed today due to electrical issue,” but the sign has remained in place since last week.
Joel Rickles, who owns the property but not the business, said right now, he is unable to say much about what’s happening with the restaurant.
“They have walked away and pretty much abandoned the place,” said Rickles. “I don’t expect it to open back.”
Joel’s Restaurant in Trussville
Sign on door reads, “We will be closed today due to electrical issue.”
According to former employees, the owner of the restaurant called a meeting to announce the closure on Monday, Sept. 9. Two former employees who spoke with the Tribune said they had not received their final paychecks. Former cashier Amy Briggs said she is owed two paychecks. According to Briggs, the current Joel’s owner, Billy Spruiell, told employees that he was no longer able to financially keep the restaurant open.
Several calls and emails to Spruiell have received no response.
Back in February, after the restaurant scored 69 on its food service score from the Jefferson County Health Department, Spruiell said he had no plans to leave Trussville.
“We love Trussville,” said Spruiell in February. “This restaurant, it’s a staple, it’s been here since 1983. We’re not planning on leaving Trussville. We have a good business here, we have a great local following and some very loyal customers. They’re good to us and we feel like we provide a quality product and quality food items and we don’t see us ever leaving Trussville.”
The restaurant acted swiftly to improve the food score and on the next inspection, the health department gave scored Joel’s Restaurant with an 86.
Joel’s opened in 1983 in the city of Trussville. It since expanded to include locations in Pinson, Vestavia Hills, and a franchised location in Brewton, Alabama. The only location that is still open is the restaurant in Vestavia Hills.
