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Miss Mary Bobo's Celebrates 100 Years of Southern Hospitality
LYNCHBURG, Tenn.-(Business Wire)-May 20, 2008 - Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House in Lynchburg, Tenn. will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2008, marking a century of providing traditional southern cooking to visitors from around the world. The Jack Daniel Distillery will celebrate the historic restaurant's centennial with special events, special guests and of course, special dinners featuring home-cooked southern fare served family-style with plenty of southern charm and hospitality.
Mary and Jack Bobo opened the Bobo Hotel in September, 1908 in the stately white Federal-style house on Main Street, just off the town square. Miss Mary quickly built a successful business, popular with single school teachers, traveling salesmen and federal revenuers stopping by to check on the local distillery. The tax man didn't have to go far - Mr. Jack himself often took his noonday meal at the boarding house.
"Dinner at Miss Mary Bobo's may have been the early 20th century version of a power lunch," Lynne Tolley, proprietress of Miss Mary Bobo's and great-grandniece of Jack Daniel said. "Jack Daniel and Lem Motlow were both frequent guests, and the local bank president, Tom Motlow, lived here. No longer a boarding house, we like to focus more on hospitality and good food, but we still hear a little business being discussed around the tables from time to time."
Miss Mary Bobo actively managed the boarding house until a hip injury slowed her down at the age of 98. With the help of her staff, she continued to serve a midday meal until her death in 1983, just shy of her 102nd birthday.
The Jack Daniel Distillery bought the historic boarding house in 1984 to preserve one of Lynchburg's oldest establishments. Today it is one of the South's most famous family-style restaurants, with reservations required well in advance and sold-out dinners most days of the week. However, should you find yourself near Lynchburg unexpectedly, please give us a call and see if there is a spot at the table. Walk-in guests are welcome and will be accommodated if space is available; visitors should always check availability by calling ahead.
"Gathering around the table for dinner at Miss Mary's today is not that different than it was when Miss Mary started her business 100 years ago," Tolley said. "Our guests may call ahead and travel a little farther to get here, but they leave with the same appreciation for good, Tennessee cooking, as well as at least a dozen new friends."
Throughout 2008, the Jack Daniel Distillery will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House with several activities and events focusing on the history and heritage of this National landmark. The celebration will also pay tribute to the unique talents, groundbreaking business acumen and shear tenacity of Miss Mary Bobo herself.
Midday dinner is served at Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House at 11a.m. and 1p.m. Monday through Saturday and during the summer, an additional seating at 3 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. The menu varies daily but always includes generous helpings of meat, vegetables, cornbread or biscuits, freshly brewed iced tea and homemade desserts. In addition, a dish prepared with just a touch of the "hometown product" regularly graces the table. Even with the additional seating, reservations are required and can be made by calling 931-759-7394.
To get to Miss Mary's from Nashville, take I-24 East to Murfreesboro (exit 81A). Take Highway 231 south to Shelbyville. Take Highway 82 South from Shelbyville until it ends. Turn right on Highway 55 to the first (and only) street light. Take a left at the light and then an immediate right onto the Lynchburg town square. After turning right at the gazebo, Miss Mary's is the third house on the left with a white picket fence.
Officially registered with the U.S. government in 1866, Jack Daniel Distillery, Lem Motlow, Proprietor, is the oldest registered distillery in the United States and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Based in Lynchburg, Tenn., the Jack Daniel Distillery is the maker of world-famous Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey, Gentleman Jack Rare Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey and Jack Daniel's Country Cocktails.
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