Joey + Rory’s Family Restaurant, Marcy Jo’s, Closes Permanently After 17 Years

“It’s incredibly difficult to say goodbye to something that has had such a big impact on all of our lives,” Rory shared.

By

Lauren Jo Black

| Posted on

January 25, 2024

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7:49 pm

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Joey + Rory, Marcy Jo’s Mealhouse: Photos Courtesy Facebook

Marcy Jo’s Mealhouse, a family restaurant owned by the late Joey Feek, of country music duo Joey + Rory, and her sister-in-law Marcy Gary, has permanently closed its doors.  

Who owned Marcy Jo’s?  

Rory Feek, who was part of the duo along with his wife, Joey, shared the disappointing news in an emotional blog post late Thursday (Jan. 25). 

“After much thought, prayer, and deliberation, our family restaurant Marcy Jo’s Mealhouse has closed its doors permanently, after 17 years of being in operation,” he shared on Facebook. 

Why Did Marcy Jo’s Close?

In the blog post, Feek admitted that the lingering effects of the Covid pandemic, escalating food costs, the deteriorating condition of the building, and numerous other factors led to the closure of the Marcy Jo’s. 

“We made the decision a few days ago that the restaurant is closed for good and the land and building will be going up for sale,” he wrote. 

Feek went on to detail how the restaurant impacted not only his life, but his sister’s life and the lives of the local community in Columbia, Tennessee where the restaurant was located. 

Marcy Jo, Joey Feek; Photo Courtesy Facebook
Marcy Jo, Joey Feek; Photo Courtesy Facebook

“It’s incredibly difficult to say goodbye to something that has had such a big impact on all of our lives. When Marcy and Joey opened Marcy Jo’s in January 2007 and began using their well-known slogan ‘changing lives… one bite at a time’, I don’t think they, or any of us had any idea how much that little restaurant was going to change our own lives,” he emotionally shared. “Truly, none of us are the same, and none of our lives have been the same since.”

Feeling Mixed Emotions

He admitted that while they are sad to say goodbye to Marcy Jo’s there is a bit of relief that comes with the closure of the restaurant as well. He explained that they felt a sense of a “heavy weight” lifted off their shoulders. “Especially my sister Marcy who has carried the majority of the load since my wife Joey (her sister-in-law and business partner) passed away in early 2016,” he explained. “And sadly, after many years of the restaurant being a blessing to her, the Mealhouse had become a tremendous burden for Marcy. The joy that she had known in running the restaurant, seemed harder and harder to find without Joey by her side. And so like all good things, this too has found its end.” 

Joey + Rory; Photo Courtesy Marcy Jo's Facebook
Joey + Rory; Photo Courtesy Marcy Jo’s Facebook

The idea to open Marcy Jo’s Mealhouse was born in the fall of 2007. According to the restaurant’s official Facebook page, the restaurant operated within the building of a general store that was originally built in 1891. In the early days, Marcy Jo’s served breakfast and desserts and later offered a full menu to patrons from all around the world. The restaurant was known for its famous sticky buns and cinnamon rolls. The menu featured items such as Mom’s Meatloaf, Rory’s Overall Breakfast, Rita’s Pork Tenderloin Sandwich, Fried Chicken, and much more. Marcy Jo’s was located at 4205 Highway 431 Columbia, Tennessee. 

Who Is Joey + Rory?

Joey + Rory rose to fame on CMT’s singing competition show, Can You Duet. After coming in third place, they landed a recording contract and later released songs such as “That’s Important to Me” and “Cheater Cheater.” In 2014, Joey welcomed the couple’s only child, Indiana. Indiana, whose nickname is Indy, was born with Down Syndrome.  

Joey Died In 2016

In 2016, Joey Feek passed away at the age of 40 following a fight with terminal cancer. Throughout her treatment and final days, the couple was very open with fans about the battles they were facing and shared her story with hopes of inspiring others who may be facing similar situations. 

“Sometimes there just aren’t enough surgeries – or doctors – or chemotherapies – or prayers,” Rory admitted in a blog where he often shared updates about his wife’s health. “And you have to wipe the tears from your cheeks and say the words that you were hoping to never have to say … enough.” 

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In the height of their career as a country music and gospel duo, Joey + Rory filmed music videos at the March Jo’s and it’s the spot where they filmed nearly fifty cooking segments for their TV show, The Joey + Rory Show, between the years 2012 and 2014. The restaurant was featured in Overstock.com commercials and was also the set of a TV show featuring Heidi Klum and Seal that never came to fruition.

He Has Hopes For The Future  

While reflecting on Marcy Jo’s and what’s next, Rory remained optimistic about the future. 

“Joey would be proud of Marcy and how hard she worked to keep it open, even after her heart was no longer in it. And I believe that if she were here, Joey would make the same decision. The world has done a lot of turning since 2007. All of our lives and our priorities have changed, and we have to have the nerve to do hard things, even when the unknown up-ahead is a bit scary,” he wrote, later adding,  And so as we let this dream go, we are anxious to see what God has in store.” 

Fans can follow Rory Feek on Instagram for continued updates.

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Lauren Jo Black

Written by

Lauren Jo Black

Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.