BY MICHELLE KEY
MICHELLE@OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM
OPELIKA —
Opelika has lost one of its popular meat-and-three, country-style restaurants.
Susie K’s, owned by Suzanne and Timothy Lowery, decided to shutter its doors at the end of the year.
New Year’s Eve was the final day for its in-restauarant food service.
The Lowerys opened Susie K’s in August 2017 and it has served thousands of breakfasts and lunches since that time.
The restaurant served dinner for almost a year in 2018, but reverted back to serving just breakfast and lunch in January 2019.
Suzanne cited the rising food costs, staffing challenges and the slow economy as the main reasons for the decision to close the restaurant at this time.
“Sometimes pulling back and refocusing is needed,” Suzanne said.
As word spread that last Saturday would be the final day for in-restaurant dining service, crowds filled the business with patrons looking to get one last “fix.”
The restaurant’s menu was deeply rooted in Southern cuisine and culture. Included within the meat-and-three specials were Southern staples like fried chicken, meatloaf and pork chops, and sides like cabbage, cornbread, field peas and fried okra. Local favorites included the cinnamon roll pancakes, grilled biscuits and more.
“To end the year, we had brunch at Susie K’s on their last day as a brick and mortar establishment, making sure to get our fill of the famous cinnamon roll pancakes,” said Erin Beaver. “It was a bittersweet meal, for sure. I have known Suzanne for the better part of a decade, and soon after the restaurant opened five-plus years ago, Susie K’s became a part of our weekly Saturday morning routine.”
At times on Saturday morning, every table in the restaurant was full and people were waiting to be seated. Nearly 200 people were served during breakfast and lunch.
Suzanne said she will miss the people that made Susie K’s a regular part of their week.
“The relationships I have built with customers have been some of my favorite parts of operating Susie K’s,” Suzanne said. “Some of them have basically become family and many of them know my children, too, and have watched them grow up in the restaurant over the last five years.”
Suzanne said that she is grateful for all the people who have visited the restaurant over the past five years and that she will miss the daily interaction with them.
WHAT’S NEXT
Suzanne said she plans to remain in operation as a catering company and will continue to offer the same catering options as the restaurant had offered.
“We will continue to offer catering services through Next Level Cafe,” Suzanne said. “Catering and cakes has always been my favorite part of Susie Ks.”
Next Level Cafe is also owned by the Lowerys. It was formerly operated under the name Jim Bobs, but underwent re-branding last year.
It is located at 1006 First Ave. near downtown Opelika.