By Shaun Szkolnik
For The Tribune
TRUSSVILLE — After receiving a low score on a county inspection on Feb. 13, Joel’s Restaurant took immediate action to address concerns while continuing to provide customers the experience, food and fun that they’ve come to expect from this staple of Trussville dining. Within an hour and a half, most of the issues had been corrected and upon reinspection, the restaurant received a score of 86.
See Related: Joel’s restaurant scores 69 on Feb. 13 county health inspection
CEO of the Joel’s/Golden Rule restaurant group, Billy Spruiell, personally oversaw the restaurant’s quick response.
“We had a visit from the health department (and) we got some unfavorable ratings, we corrected that within an hour and a half,” said Spruiell. “They came back and automatically rescored us, it was a lot higher score. We had a couple of minor items and those were fixed…one of the issues is the way we prepped one piece and we got that worked out with them. We have had a whole new kitchen change. We have a new kitchen manager…we felt like we needed to do that.”
Spruiell took this quick action because of what Joel’s means to the Trussville community and what the Trussville community means to Joel’s.
“We love Trussville,” said Spruiell. “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.”
In many ways, the growth of Joel’s forms a striking parallel to the growth of Trussville.
“There is a tremendous opportunity for us with the explosive growth of Trussville,” said Spruiell. “Joel’s being a staple with anybody coming into Trussville, word of mouth being your best advertising. The locals are going to tell them about Joel’s. We feel like we’ve got a great future here and a great growth pattern for this particular restaurant.
While Joel’s restaurant is committed to remaining a vital part of the Trussville landscape, the restaurant has branched out to other communities as the parent restaurant group continues to expand the Golden Rule brand, as well.
“This is an exciting time for us right now. We’re growing the Golden Rule brand and the Joel’s brand with four to five new restaurants going in by the end of the year…we see this as an exceptional, phenomenal, exciting time for the restaurant business to grow. That is what we’re here for.
For Spruiell, it is about more than just the mechanics. He sees past the nuts and bolts and into the hearts of Joel’s customers and those that he would like to be Joel’s customers.
“The people, the customers, the loyal customers and even the new customers that have never been here,” said Spruiell. “We had several on Sunday, we had a really great Sunday. We thanked all our customers. We’re doing a Facebook giveaway right now, we’re gonna run every week for the next four or five weeks $20 gift certificates, (so) like and share with our Facebook and you’ll be in the drawing. We draw on Friday. We try and give back to our customers. We would love the public to try us one time. If they try us one time, they will never leave us.
Part of catering to the clientele is giving the customers a place that feels an awful lot like home.
“Joel’s is a southern family sit down restaurant. It’s where a lot of people know your name. Most of our locals, we know what they drink when they come in. Everybody knows our menus…everybody has faith in us. Joel’s is just a staple for this community and we expect to keep it that way.
“Our most popular dish, I would say, is grits and greens casserole. It’s comprised of turnip greens, grits and many other items. I’m not a turnip greens or grits fan and I’m a big fan of our grits and greens. It has just got a totally different taste. Once anybody tries it one time, every time they come back, they get grits and greens. And we serve that at least two days a week.
Spruiell has a personal favorite dish from Joel’s.
“My favorite is either the chicken and dressing or the cabbage and sausage, but please don’t forget our fried chicken. It is a staple in Trussville, we are known for our fried chicken.
In addition to the Facebook giveaways, Joel’s is participating in a special dessert giveaway in the months of March and April.
“Joel’s is a family atmosphere restaurant, we take that very seriously from our servers to our cooks to our cashiers,” said Spruiell. “We would like for everybody to give us a try. Come in March and get a free dessert on your plate with your meat and three. We appreciate the opportunity to serve you and we look forward to tremendous growth in Trussville.”