News, RSS Facebook, RSS General, RSS Twitter, Russellville
 By  Nathan Strickland Published 
7:57 am Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Landmark restaurant celebrates 50 years

 

The Frosty Inn in Russellville has been a city landmark since its opening in 1960. There will be a 50th anniversary celebration at the Frosty Inn all day Saturday, May 1, featuring local entertainment. | Nathan Strickland/FCT

 

The delicious “secret sauce” on the burgers and the huge brown barrel with “Frosty Inn since 1960” plastered across it has kept locals and tourists coming for a bite to eat at one Russellville landmark for the past half-century.

Former Frosty Inn owners Raymond and Betty Grissom said they had no idea how to run a restaurant, but thought it was a good idea and wanted to give it a try when they opened the restaurant in 1960.

“My brother, Homer, saw a Frosty Inn in Bay St. Louis, Miss., and told me about it and suggested it would be a good idea to open one up here in Russellville,” Raymond said.

“The blueprint for the building was released from a company out of Memphis, Tenn., and by the time I graduated from Auburn University, Betty and I moved back here and it was built.”

As the years began to fly by, Raymond and Betty found a sense of acceptance from the community and business began to pickup, making the restaurant a success.

“In the beginning, we made root beer in a stainless steel barrel-like container and distributed it through a carbonation dispenser into a frozen novelty mug,” Raymond said. “We did the same with Coke and I believe the mugs are what set us a part from other restaurants. People would keep coming back, wanting an ice cold beverage in either a 16 ounce or eight ounce frozen mug.” 

As the time passed and things changed, Betty said the best thing for them to do was to “change with the times to survive.”

“We use to sell the small mugs for a nickel, the big mugs for a dime, two ounce burgers were five for a dollar and the big burgers were 40 cents,” Raymond said, laughing. “I remember when we had a 13th birthday for the restaurant. We had a special where everything was only 13 cents. Police had to direct traffic that day because we were so busy.”

The Grissoms kept the cozy, historic restaurant running for 42 years until selling it to their daughter Ramona and husband, Jeff Robinson.

“We worked seven days a week from opening time to closing time,” said Betty.

“The one thing I miss the most is the people. Raymond worried about me retiring because I am such a people person, but he says I’m doing pretty good.”

Raymond said if it wasn’t for the customers and employees the Frosty Inn would have never made it.

“We had a lot of good people to work for us through the years and the customers were always supportive of the food and restaurant,” he said. “If it wasn’t for the hometown folks and solid employees the Frosty Inn wouldn’t have ever made it and we would like to thank them from the bottom of our hearts.”

The brown barrel with the Frosty Inn logo on top of the restaurant, renovated in 2000, is one of the attractions that draws customers to come and grab a bite to eat. | Nathan Strickland/FCT

 

Jeff and Ramona Robinson have now been in charge for eight years and Jeff says he hasn’t had to do any changes other than maintenance since they have became owners.

“The place is in pretty good shape and customers still come and place orders,” he said. “We had one lady to drive up and just take a picture of the barrel on top of the roof because she thought it was neat and drove away. I plan to keep this place running until I pass away, I guess.”

A celebration featuring Russellville’s own Buford Parker and Brooklyn Hall, along with a few other performers, will be held from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. in the Frosty Inn parking lot this Saturday.

Also on Franklin County Times
Thorpe to play at Blue Mountain Christian
High School Sports, News, Russellville, ...
Brannon King For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE – Brennon Thorpe made his plans official to attend Blue Mountain Christian University and play baseball for the Toppers during a recent s...
Russellville High Class of 1967 gathers, reminisces
Columnists, News, Opinion, ...
HERE AND NOW
July 16, 2025
You can’t really go back to the good old days of high school, but you can pay them a visit now and then. That’s exactly what the RHS Class of 1967 has...
Former Cypress Lakes official to lead Guntersville State Park
Lifestyles, News
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
GUNTERSVILLE — Heath Puckett had an Auburn University degree and golf course superintendent certification in his pocket when he arrived at Cypress Lak...
European travel builds bonds across cultures
Lifestyles, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE -- A group of Franklin County travelers spent nine days this summer walking through catacombs, exploring castles and standing in places w...
Little Free Library welcomes readers in East Franklin
Lifestyles, News, Phil Campbell
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
PHIL CAMPBELL — Eleven-year-old Aiden Hall is an avid reader, but he doesn’t just want to read books. He also wants to share them, and the way he deci...
King becomes elementary curriculum director
Lifestyles, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELVILLE — Molly King says every child can learn, though not necessarily in the same way or on the same day — a belief she plans to carry into her ...
New Junior Leaders begin their training
Franklin County, News
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
FRANKLIN COUNTY — Forty-two high school students from across Franklin County are beginning 10 months of hands-on leadership training and community ser...
Fire destroys 2-story garage, guest suite
Main, News, Russellville, ...
Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
R U S S E L LV I L L E – Jason Gist leaned against the wall of his home with a look of disgust while dozens of firefighters worked to extinguish a fir...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Stories
July 4, 2025Augusto Simon Diaz, 42, of Russellville, passed away July 4. Visitation and funeral were held at Spry Memorial Chapel on July 12 from 2pm ...
July 16, 2025
July 8, 2025Jamie Kerby Cummings, 41, of Russellville, passed away on July 8. Visitation took place July 13, at Spry Memorial Chapel from 1 pm to 3pm....
July 16, 2025
July 11,2025Julie “JuJu” Welch Black, 63, of Russellville, passed away on July 11.Graveside service was held at 1pm on July 13, at Belgreen Cemetery w...
July 16, 2025
July 9, 2025Scott Noel Benford, age 58, of Muscle Shoals, passed away on July 9. Visitation was held at Pinkard Funeral Home in Russellville on July 1...
July 16, 2025