By Thomas Sellers Jr.
At A&J’s Catfish Station in Millington you can enhance your fish experience by ordering it on a loaded salad.
Small businesses are the backbone of the U.S. American economy.
With millions out of work since March because of the COVID-19/coronavirus crisis, an unfortunate spotlight has been placed on the importance of small businesses. Survival has been the main agenda of these small businesses since the pandemic.
Small businesses are privately owned corporations, partnerships or sole proprietorships that have fewer employees and/or less annual revenue than a regular-sized business or corporation. Close to half of the U.S. American workforce are employed by small businesses.
Once the country had to shut down “nonessential” businesses to help with social distancing, many small businesses were forced to lose a chunk of revenue. To the rescue for most of these businesses was the CARES Act.
With small businesses facing an unprecedented economic disruption because of the COVID-19 outbreak, on March 27 President Donald Trump signed into law the CARES Act, which contains $376 billion in relief for American workers and small businesses.
This act is timely with the first week in May being Small Business Week. This week was found to recognize the importance and excellence of small businesses. Visit sba.gov to nominate your favorite small business and to find out more about them, and use #SmallBusinessWeek to share on social media.
As for me, I’m using the Best Sellers’ List this week to shine a positive spotlight on 10 of my favorite local eateries. Thank God these businesses have been allowed to operate through delivery and curbside pickup the past few weeks.
Here are my 10 favorite locally owned/franchised restaurants I frequent the most.
Kobe Japanese Cuisine
Location: 8510 Wilkinsville Road, Millington
Phone: 901-873-1888
Website: redkoimemphis.com
As the editor of The Millington Star, I do most of my business along Highway 51. You will notice a theme developing.
We start my countdown with Kobe Japanese Cuisine, specializing in Japanese food and sushi. If you want an affordable five-star quality meal, I suggest you visit around lunch time for the specials. You are in for a treat with hibachi entrées featuring vegetable and chicken.
In the mood for a filling lunch? Pick the New York Strip Steak. There is a variety of great tasting options on the menu throughout the day. Sushi recommendations are Navy Roll, Flying Dragon Roll, Mexican Roll and Germantown Roll.
Los Reyes Mexican Restaurant
Location: 7712 Highway 51 North, Millington
Phone: 901-873-2200
There are a few great Mexican restaurants in the Millington area. With so many great choices, my favorite is Los Reyes. Great family atmosphere assists the excellent menu items.
I head to Los Reyes primarily for the seafood options and delicious steak dishes. Steak and shrimp is a great first-time meal. Of course the carne asada is a treat. And try the T-bone steak known as Steak Mexicano.
Another great way to get full at Los Reyes is the Shrimp Fajitas and my personal favorite, the Fajita Nachos Shrimp. OK, I will also order the Grande Nachos.
Exlines’ Best Pizza in Town — Bartlett
Location: 6250 Stage Road No. 3728, Bartlett
Phone: 901-382-3433
Website: exlinespizza.com
Back in 1974, Walt and Violet Exline opened a pizza restaurant in Raleigh on Austin Peay. That location is still operating today. My favorite location in the local chain is right across the street from my office at 2850 Stage Village Cove.
I fell in love with the Bartlett location with my first slice of pepperoni pizza. It was so rich in sauce that my shirt became a polka dot design.
The Exlines have a strong reputation for great pizzas cooked in their signature style. The eatery also features great burgers and sandwiches.
I do miss checking out all the memorabilia and local paraphernalia hanging around the restaurant. But being able to order the barbeque pizza is a great way to pass the time until we can dine in again.
Huey’s
Location: 8570 Highway 51 North, Millington
Phone: 901-873-5025
Website: hueyburger.com
Speaking of postponed traditions of a dining room, we have to wait a minute before we write on the walls again and toss toothpicks into the ceiling. Huey’s is a great place for a business lunch, a post-game gathering or a family dinner.
Ask somebody to name their favorite Huey’s item, and the answers will range from the cheese fries to the just the Huey’s Queso Dip. Others might say the cheese and sausage plate and I will argue on behalf of about three of the signature burgers.
March was supposed to kick off the 50th anniversary celebration for the Memphis-based eatery. Coronavirus shook up those plans across the board. But the strong traditions Thomas Boggs started in the 1970s will help Huey’s survive these tough times and thrive for another 50 years in all the locations across the Mid-South.
Sarah Lee’s Kitchen
Location: 6646 Highway 51 North, Millington
Phone: 901-873-0906
Mrs. Sarah Lee welcomes you into her establishment in two ways: Either she or a staff member will make you feel at home. Then the homemade food makes you miss your mama.
You can tell she takes pride in her art of creating delicious full-course meals. Sarah Lee’s the perfect post-church stop (once we are leaving sanctuaries again).
And if you have a hard time choosing something off the menu, just save yourself the trouble and get the buffet. The meat will be the centerpiece of the meal. But the sides will perform on the stage of your tongue, delighting your taste buds, too.
El Toro Taco
Location: 8067 Highway 51 North, Millington
Phone: 901-872-8226
For more than 45 years, El Toro Taco has been a staple in Millington. An active members of the community, El Toro sponsors various events, participates in local business expos and has a seasonal car show on Friday nights.
But you don’t stay in business that long as a restaurant without great-tasting food. If you need to get full in a delicious fashion, order one of the nacho dishes. Tacos are beefy and full of flavor. Some of the best sweet tea in the world will help wash it down.
The signature sweet chips are a great post-meal dessert. And fresh guacamole is an ideal way to top any menu item.
Smokin’ D’s Pit Stop BBQ
Location: 7822 Highway 51 North, Millington
Phone: 901-873-4970
Pastor Darrell Boyd has several passions in his life.
He loves family and friends, meanwhile dedicating some time to being a big-time NASCAR fan. Boyd always had a love for making barbecue, working alongside the late David Stroud and winning a world championship in 2001.
Add Boyd’s calling of being a minister, and all those interests are under one roof located at 7822 Highway 51 North in Millington with Smokin’ D’s Pit Stop Bar-B-Que. Thank God Boyd has a passion for all of these things, because you will love the tangy, sweet barbecue.
Those behind the counter are people who are restoring their faith, souls and outcome in life. And the atmosphere decorated with a NASCAR feel just makes it a pleasant time.
A&J Catfish Station
Location: 7838 Church Street, Millington
Phone: 901-872-3474
Since the pandemic, my family has ordered from A&J Catfish Station three times. As long as those hushpuppies are on the menu, this number will certainly increase.
The blackened catfish might be better than the fried version. And put either style of the catfish on a salad, and it is phenomenal.
Those in Memphis are very familiar with the 5950 Knight Arnold Road location. We on the other side of the city are happy to have the Millington location. André Meyers and business partner Janis Anderson have a great establishment because of variety, attention to detail and great customer service.
Olympic Steak & Pizza
Location: 8500 Wilkinsville Road, Millington
Phone: 901-872-7766
Website: olympicsteakpizza.com
When it comes to variety, the menu at Olympic Steak & Pizza will bring out your greedy side. The Sinis family did not hold back on offering the public Greek traditions with an American twist. From the pizzas to the steaks, in between are great options like chicken, huge burgers and pasta dishes.
There are awesome appetizers like jalapeño poppers, mozzarella sticks, potato skins and fried green beans. Create-your-own pizza is a fun option. And I forgot to mention the seafood section on the menu. But if you want the most out of your money (once we can dine in again), get the salad bar. That salad bar is the reason Olympic is ranked so high on this countdown.
Oh yeah, I do have the new Arlington location on list to visit soon at 5183 Airline Road.
Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken & Jack Pirtle’s Chicken
Locations: 505 Highway 70, Mason, TN & 1370 Poplar Avenue, Memphis
Phone: 901-294-2028 & 901-726-6086
Jack Pirtle’s is a “Memphis Thang” with Southern-style fried chicken and fixings, hamburgers and fast-food sides since 1957. Up the road in Tipton County, the one-and-only taste of Gus’s fried chicken is a long-running chain serving spicy fried chicken and comfort sides in an unassuming building.
The gravy at Pirtle’s is one of a kind. Meanwhile the chicken breast at Gus’s is world famous for a reason.
But the reason why both of these fried-chicken spots earn the top spot is because of the personal connection. Pirtle’s was a tradition my uncles would share with me after a long day of hard work for them. They knew I would be visiting my Grandma Helen’s house and would bring me a biscuit, a wing and a cup of gravy. I added the fried chicken liver when I became an adult.
And on the other side of town, my father’s mom, Georgia, lived in Mason. After we left her house, my dad would ask the dumbest question in the world to us. “Do y’all want to stop by Gus’s?”
In unison, my mom, sister and I would shout “Yes!”
Gus’s sets a high standard for flavor. And Jack Pirtle’s makes a fierce chicken sandwich combo. Both make me a proud Memphian and supporter.
I pray all on this list will thrive in the future and continue to define what it means to be a great small business.
THOMAS SELLERS JR. is the editor of The Millington Star and both the sports editor and a weekly personal columnist for West 10 Media/Magic Valley Publishing. Contact him by phone at (901) 433-9138, by fax to (901) 529-7687 and by email to [email protected].
