From The Trussville Tribune staff reports
TRUSSVILLE –A landmark restaurant in Trussville is continuing to expand into new markets.
Joel’s Restaurant, a 35-year-old cafeteria style meat and three, has been a fixture in the Trussville dining market. The most recent expansion to the Pinson area gave the eatery a total of four locations. A fifth is planned for Brewton, which will be a franchise.
According to the company website, Moody and Gardendale will get the next two locations. No specific site or date for opening is listed.
Joel and Peggy Rickles opened Joel’s Restaurant in Trussville in 1983 and spent over three decades building the business into a local meat and three landmark that still draws long lines of diners for lunch.
In 2016, the Rickles retired and sold the popular eatery to longtime restaurateur Charles Matsos and family who trace their food roots back to the original Golden Rule BBQ and Michael’s Steakhouse.
Under the guidance of Charles Matsos, Joel’s has expanded beyond Trussville and opened a fourth location in the Pinson area just south of the city.
After taking over the Trussville location, Matsos opened a Joel’s Restaurant in Vestavia Hills on Montgomery Highway with a Pensacola, Fla. Joel’s soon following.
All of the food offerings at Joel’s are traditional Southern cuisine. The restaurant offers a daily selection of meats, vegetables, and homemade desserts.
Joel’s grits and greens were the subject of One Hot Dish, a popular Tribune Digital Media series. You can watch that video below.