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.
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.
“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.”
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.”
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.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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