Marcy Jo’s Mealhouse: Southern Cooking With a Song
July 30, 2009By Cassandra M. Vanhooser
The cowbell on the front door jangles loudly when you step in the door at Marcy Jo’s Mealhouse and Bakery. But don’t expect the other customers to notice your arrival. They continue laughing, talking and eating as if they were at home, which is just the way co-owner Marcy Gary likes it.
An Atmosphere of Yesteryear
“I think people miss the atmosphere of the old mom-and-pop diners,” says the long-legged redhead, a Midwestern twang revealing her Kansas roots. “There are not a lot of these places left anymore.”
Marcy Jo’s is easy to spot. A friendly white building with brick-red trim and a tin roof, it hugs the edge of the road at the “T” where State Road 99 joins U.S. 431 in Pottsville, a rural community between Chapel Hill and Columbia. A two-seat swing, an old dinner bell and an American flag grace the front porch. Arrive before 2 p.m., and you’ll find the gravel parking lot full of cars.
Inside, a single large room with an upstairs balcony features Marcy’s yard sale finds. Customers crowd around 1950s-style enamel-top tables with mismatched chairs, while a wood-burning stove sits in the middle of the room. Old shelves lining the walls of whitewashed pine speak to the building’s former life as a general store. License plates from all across the country are nailed to the walls and floor.
The Joey + Rory Restaurant Connection
If you experience a little déjà vu upon entering the front door, don’t worry. Marcy’s partner in this venture is none other than her sister-in-law, Joey Martin Feek, the female half of Joey + Rory. Several music videos feature the restaurant, as do the country music duo’s Overstock.com commercials.
Before they opened in January 2007, Marcy and Joey spent hours poring over family recipes. But these days, you’re not likely to find Joey hanging around the restaurant much. Since their appearance on the TV show “Can You Duet,” she and husband Rory (Marcy’s older brother) spend much of their time touring the country and singing their songs.
Rural Eats Worth the Drive
On weekdays, breakfast is served from 7-11 a.m. The lunch menu features a single hearty special that reflects the season. In winter, meatloaf, roast beef and fried chicken appear on set days. Come summertime, selections include barbecued ribs and chicken or fried catfish.
You can get Marcy’s crowd-pleasing pork chops every Thursday. Saturdays guarantee a full house – breakfast is served all day, with specials such as stuffed French toast garnering praise.
While she’s on tour, Joey misses the farm and family restaurant, but the singer feels good about leaving the business in her sister-in-law’s hands.
“Opening the restaurant was Marcy’s dream, and she’s the glue that holds this place together,” Joey says. “But when I come home, I drop by and make biscuits and wait tables. It keeps me grounded.”
How to Contact Marcy Jo’s
To contact Marcy Jo’s Mealhouse directly, please visit www.joeyandrory.com/marcy_jos.html or call (931) 380-0968. The restaurant is located at 4205 Highway 431, Columbia, TN 38401. Please note that though we featured them in this article that ran in our magazine, Tennessee Home & Farm, we are unaffiliated with the restaurant.
We love you dearly. We love your music. We are old fashioned and love what you have to say. It is hard to find a loving couple like you two are and that sings from the heart the way you do. We can see it in your faces and eyes. The twinkle in both of your eyes just makes us think that you are very blessed by God. May you have a very fruitful career and will see you on TV soon.
We are coming to nashville August 10th and we are planning on coming to your restaurant . I sure hope you all will be around so we can meet you. Love your music we love country music and love you all. Can’t wait to try your cooking
We just saw your first show and it was wonderful. We are vacationing in Nashville in the last week of August and we have to try your restaurant. Love to visit small America towns and Pottsville sounds special.
We just saw your show on
RFD. Great job. New fresh and entertaining. We will be watching each week.
Hi to all of you!!
Wow I love your show!!
Joey and Rory, you two are so sweet and real people.
So many folks now days seem to be plastic, you two are
just special!! In a very good way.
You are both GREAT!!
Marcy, my wife and I visited your restaurant in May of this year, had breakfast and
bought a jar of your strawberry preserves. Very good. While there I asked if you made blackberry preserves. You said later on in the year.
Did you make any this year? If so, let me know. I have a daughter that lives about
20 miles from Pottsville and she could stop by and get a couple of jars, along with
another jar of the strawberry.
Thank you for your response.
Jim Rickles Email: jarwfr@ gmail.com 601-479-2581
Hi Jim,
To contact Marcy Jo’s directly, please visit http://www.joeyandrory.com/marcy_jos.html or call (931) 380-0968. Thanks!
Jessy Yancey
Editor
Tennessee Home & Farm magazine
Luv the new show. Luv your music, its good ole “COUNTRY MUSIC”. Planning on comin to Marcy Jos in the near future. Would like to have a few recipes. Keep up the good ole sound and cookin. Sounds fabulous.
We watch the TV show on Friday nights and see the resturant. We LOVE it! We’re wanting to come up there sometime in the near future! We live in N C . Keep cooking and singing….both are great!
Where can I get the recipe for your Mom’s Meatloaf, it looks delicious. we watch your show every week and enjoy it so much. Thanks so much and stay the same always, you both seem so down to earth and friendly- so refresing in the world today.
I found the recipe at http://www.newschannel5.com/story/10516269/recipe-4322-moms-famous-meatloaf-thursday-june-11-2009. It’s looks delicious. Can’t wait to try it.
We watch your show every time it is on. We have not missed any that I know of. We love your voices that blend so well together. Hope you keep touring and singing and maybe we will have the opportunity to meet you both someday. We are going to try and come to the restaurant before long. Are you open on Sunday’s. Post if possible.
Sincerely,
Robby and Helen
my husband is from Kentucky we watch the Joey and Rory show all the time. I love your show and your singing. We saw a meatloaf you was making on your show and it looked delicious. Would you please send me that receipe my husband wants me to make it so bad. I would really appreciate it. GOD bless you all. Keep up the good work. Thank you from Sharon
Hi ladys, been looking for the Sticky Bun recipe but cant find it… Please may I have it????? Thank-you so much, and I just love love your show..
Thanks Malia
Hi Malia,
To contact Marcy Jo’s directly, please visit http://www.joeyandrory.com/marcy_jos.html or call (931) 380-0968. Thanks!
Jessy Yancey
Editor
Tennessee Home & Farm magazine
My husband and I watch the Joey and Rory show on RFD-TV and we enjoy it very much. I also like the segments of Joey and Marcy cooking. Do you have a cookbook with recipes from Marcy Jo’s cafe???? If so, I would like to know how to acquire one. I really would like to make the cinnamon buns with the cream cheese in the middle you showed how to make last week. If there is a way for me to get some of your recipes or a cookbook with them in, I would like to know where and how to get them.
Keep doing what you are doing—we really enjoy all parts of the show. It’s a good show, with good music and down-to-earth “real” people–they don’t put on “airs”. They make us feel like part of them.
Thanks, for your time.
Dee White
Hi Dee,
To contact Marcy Jo’s directly, please visit http://www.joeyandrory.com/marcy_jos.html or call (931) 380-0968. Thanks!
Jessy Yancey
Editor
Tennessee Home & Farm magazine
We visited Marcy jo’s today for lunch and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. When we visit Tennessee again, we will surely go again but a different day for a different special. A trip so worth taking. They don’t stint oin the meal or the friendliness. Thanks to all at marcy jo’s for their service
Happy to hear! Thanks for sharing, Barbara.
Best,
Jessy Yancey
editor
Tennessee Home and Farm
I would like the receipe for your Sticky Buns.
My husband and I watch the Joey + Rory T. V. Show every week and love it. That is where I saw the buns being made and they looked so delicious and also easy to make.
Does Marcy Jo’s have a cookbook???
Love your show I watch it every week the 2 of you are so sweet I was wondering do you have a cook book out I love all the food you make. I would like to make some of the things . Keep up the good work.
i WOULD LIKE THE ANGEL BISCUIT RECIPE. HOW CAN I DOWNLOAD IT?
Hi Ken,
To contact Marcy Jo’s directly, please visit http://www.joeyandrory.com/marcy_jos.html or call (931) 380-0968. Thanks for reading our story about the restaurant that ran in Tennessee Home & Farm magazine!
Best,
Jessy Yancey
editor
Tennessee Home & Farm
Enjoy your show and music very much. Can’t wait to eat at Marcy Jo’s. This is the kind of restaurant my husband and I look for when traveling.
Looking for the Pecan Praline banana bread recipe that was on the Joey & Rory cooking show on RFD TV just last week.
Hi. My and in-laws and myself are planning a trip to Nashville for my daughter to spend some time with her father who lives in Nashville aspiring to be a country music singer. My mother-in-law loves Joey and Rory’s music and she has spoke many times about coming to y’alls restaurant. I’m definitely going to take her there while we are there. I was wondering if there was a way to find out if Joey and Rory would be around there then so she could be suprised? We will be in Nashville the week of June 19th. Thank you so much and much so succes to all of you!
Hi Julie,
To contact Marcy Jo’s directly, please visit http://www.joeyandrory.com/marcy_jos.html or call (931) 380-0968. Thanks for reading our story about the restaurant that ran in Tennessee Home & Farm magazine. Hope you enjoy your trip to Nashville!
Best,
Jessy Yancey
editor
Tennessee Home & Farm
Do you have a cook book and how much is it?
I watch you on t v when you make things, they look real good.
Saw the Joey and Rory show ,today and was trying to keep up with a reciepe ,, love to cook. ,, Meat loaf , sure sounded good , would you share again for an old guy in Missouri, Love the show , i play and sing myself breaks the time for me . Thanks for your time ,, Lonnie Lawson
I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOUR STRAWBERRY CAKE RECEIPE
IT LOOKS DELICIOUS. MY HUSBAND AND I LOVE THE JOEY AND RORY SHOW.
LOVE THE MUSIC. THANKS ALOT. JOYCE AND BUTCH
Best T.V. show we cain’t wait until Friday night to see Joey and Rory it is good christian programming. God bless and have a Merry Christmas from Georgia.
I have the recipe of your Elvis cake and plan on making it next Sunday. I have a question for you. What size of can of crushed pineapples do you use? It just says a can of crushed pineapple. I did buy the large one. I will let you know how it turned out and I know that everyone at our church will love it… I truly enjoyed the Joey & Rory show. I live here in a small town north of Houston, Tx. I just wish we could come and see you both in December at Branson at the Starlite Theatre… Hope you and all of your family have a blessed Christmas holiday.. May God bless you all…. Thanks Pat
To contact Marcy Jo’s directly, please visit http://www.joeyandrory.com/marcy_jos.html or call (931) 380-0968. Thanks!
Jessy Yancey
Editor
Tennessee Home & Farm magazine
Please send me Joey’s mom’s meatloaf recipe, love yall love your show. I tell everyone I talk too about yall and your music. Thanks
Hi John,
To contact Marcy Jo’s directly, please visit http://www.joeyandrory.com/marcy_jos.html or call (931) 380-0968. Thanks!
Jessy Yancey
Editor
Tennessee Home & Farm magazine
We are coming to Columbia over Christmas. We would like to know what your hours at the restaurant are going to be, from Sunday until Christmas? We love the Joey and Rory show on RFD! We also love the cooking segment from MarcyJo’s.
Thanks.
We recently started receiving RFD-TV in our area and your show became an immediate favorite.Hope to visit Marcy-Jo’s this spring and also see you perform live this summer.
Was watching the Joey and Rory Show tonight. 1/4/13..and they made a Strawberry Cake and I would like the recipe for it…Do you share..? Couldn’t find it anywhere here on your website…It looks so good and I have a friend who want Strawberry cake made for her Birthday and I would like to make yours that was demostrated on The Joey and Rory Show tonight…at Marcy ‘s Jo’s…
Thanks
Hi, Love the show and would like to know if you sell a cook book. I would buy one.
what nice people and can sing
I SURE WOULD LIKE TO GET YOUR COOK BOOK, PLEASE
Just love the Joey and Rory Show and the segment of the show when they visit your restaurant. We watch every week!!! Would not miss it!!!
I tried your meatloaf recipe and it was delicious!! Thought I would not forget it and I am having a senior moment – should have written it down.
Would you be so kind as to share it with me?
Thank you and see you next week!
Linda
We were in Nashville over New Years, and drove down on Sat to Marcyjo’s. We really enjoyed the food especially the cinnamon rolls. We also enjoyed the warm atmosphere and the really nice people… We are coming back for Fanfest in June and we will be down again to visit and eat… See you then…. Ann and Richard
I just watched your show on RFD…Your show is so down to earth I love watching your show, I can tell you are so in love and so connected to each other…I hope your show stays on for a long time, it is hard to find something good to watch on TV these days. God Bless you all…
Hi Marcey Joe By the way I love your name. I wanted to come eat at your cafe for my birthday Jan 27 but I also wanted to see Joey & Rory while I was their could you tell me if they will be . I think they will be on a cruise with Family Reunion gang . Could you tell me when will they be on the farm, any time soon. We will be coming from Louisiana..Is the weather cold their in Jan or Feb. What about March ? I love it when you show the farm and the cafe . All that country side looks so beautiful. Hope to see you all soon Barbara
We watch your show all the time. Would love to have your recipe for the chicken casserole dish that you serve at your resturant all the time. Keep up the good work. It is a Blessing to watch your show. God Bless You Both.
Sincerely,
Mary
Love the show–also love the cooking segment. I have been on the computer all morning trying to find the chicken soup receipe that aired Jan 18th . Please can you help. Thanks, Cheryl
would love to have your chicken and nacho soup recipe that aired on rfd.tv
We watch your show every week…….and I would love to have your pork chop recipe. I couldn’t find it on the web site. Thanks in advance for you help. We love your show.
It would be a dream of mine to visit you all. My husband and I watch Joey + Rory every fri night. We love the show! and enjoy the Marcy Jo’s segiment of the show too!
That looks so beautiful around their home and Marcy Jo’s. But if we never get to visit; sure hope you stay on the RFD Channel forever! Muncie,IN
I think the world of you two, love your music, your t.v. show and your wholesome, loving ways! Hope to dine at your restuarant soon and maybe meet you and some of your family…………….
My sister saw your show and you make a soup of chicken and potatoes. We would
love to have that receipt. I have looked for about 30 minutes trying to find it and cannot. Your help will be appreciated so much.
Thanks,
Melba and Betty
I watch you all the time. Would like Marcyjos receipe for the Thursday night menu of pork chops. Thank you very much.
i would like the receipe for the pork chops that you had on friday nite show thanks rose pouzar
Just want to let you know that my hubby and I watch Joey & Rory and love it. One of my favorite parts of the show is your cooking and recipes. I’m saving many of the recipes.
Thanks,
Hazel (aka Hays) Williams
We love your show . My husband and I will be celebrating our 50th Wedding Anniversary on July 28, 2013 and would love to be at Marcy Jo’s . Could you let me know if Joey and Rory will be there that day or around then. (Louisiana)
Hi,
To contact Marcy Jo’s Mealhouse directly, please visit http://www.joeyandrory.com/marcy_jos.html or call (931) 380-0968.
Thanks,
Jessy Yancey
editor
Tennessee Home & Farm
Ate there this past Fall with some relatives. We really enjoyed it. Would love to come back and try something else.You feel like you are friends of these people already.
Would love to see Joey or Rory there sometime. Please keep me posted on what is going on with them.
Looking for the recipe of your pork chops you had on your last show on RFD
Can you share your recipe for chocolate daffy cake. Can’t find it and am curious about the ingredients, especially 2 cups of water in the batter.
Thanks. Love your show.
I love watching the Joey and Rory show. Marcy Jo’s is an added treat. If I am working, I tell my husband please watch and see what they cook. I hope to visit Marcy Jo’s Mealhouse one day. I have tried some of the receipes and they were a hit
Hi Marcy Jo and Joey,
We watch the show every week and really love it. It’s nice to have such a family show
to watch. Love the cooking and sharing part at the restaurant also.
I have a couple receipes that might interest you. Feel free to try them out and use them in your restaurant if you like. If you’d like to have them, email me as this page
will not hold the entire receipes.
God bless all of you.
Laurie
Hi Laurie,
To contact Marcy Jo’s directly, please visit http://www.joeyandrory.com/marcy_jos.html or call (931) 380-0968. Thanks!
Jessy Yancey
Editor
Tennessee Home & Farm magazine
I have been trying to get some of your recipes and get redirected to other sites. Do you have a cookbook available?
Hi Glendona,
To contact Marcy Jo’s directly, please visit http://www.joeyandrory.com/marcy_jos.html or call (931) 380-0968. Thanks!
Jessy Yancey
managing editor
Tennessee Home & Farm
I was trying to look up your recipe for baked pork chops that I recently say on the Joey & Rory show.
All I ever got was a large bunch of pop-ups that didn’t tell me a thing.
Would still like the recipe if you could e-mail me back
Thank you
Sharon Wentzel
Love the Joey and Rory Show. Looking for the hush puppy recipe with crushed pretzels.
Karen
We plan to come to Joey and Rorys concert June 1 ,2013 should we make reservations foe breakfast, lunch, or supper before we go. Thank You Barbara
Though we featured them in our magazine, Tennessee Home & Farm, we are unaffiliated with the restaurant. To contact Marcy Jo’s Mealhouse directly, please visit http://www.joeyandrory.com/marcy_jos.html or call (931) 380-0968.
Jessy Yancey
editor
Tennessee Home & Farm
Thank for the reply . Will call to make reservation for Marcy Joe’s mealhouse Hope to see you all soon Barbara Haynes
Hi . My husband ,my brother and I plan on coming to see you all June 1 for the Bibs and Buckle show We also plan on having lunch at Marcy Jo’s .We watch your show every week and love it. . Can’t wait to see that part of Tennesse and visit your town of Pottsville. See You Then
Love the Joey+Rory show, we usually don’t get through an episode without laughing or crying.
We always love the cooking demo’s, got to get down there and taste some of that!
Wish you great success and many years of country singing.
First saw you on Country Family reunion, love that also.
BTW today was my birthday, and also as of June thisyear Bonnie and I will be married 50 years WHEW WEE.
Jim and Bonnie Haney
MGySgt USMC (R)
JOEY+RORY WISH YOU WAS ON FOR ONE HOUR I REALY LIKE YOUR SHOW I WOOD LIKE TO COME DOWN TO YOUR MEALHOUSE SOME TIME BUT I LIVE IN METRO PLIS ILL. BUT IF YOU EMAIL ME I WOULD LIKE THAT I LIKE THE WAY YOU TO COOK I DO IT THE SAME WAY I LOVE YOU ALL MA Y GOD B.LESS AND KEEP YOU SAVE. I AM 75 YR. OLD HOPE TO HERE FROM YOU SOON
Love the music!! Love the show!! It’s so “down home” and sincere.
Could I please have your cinnamon rolls recipe?
Don’t change anything – Y’all are doing a terrific job!!
I was wanting to make your meatloaf for dinner this afternoon but I can’t get it to pull up. Can you please send it to my email address? Thank you! I love your show
Hi Margaret,
To contact Marcy Jo’s directly, please visit http://www.marcyjos.com or call (931) 380-0968. Hope this helps. Thanks!
Jessy Yancey
editor
Tennessee Home & Farm magazine
Is there a cookbook for Marcy jo’s. If so I’d like to purchase one
Hi Terry,
I’m not sure if there is a cookbook for Marcy Jo’s. To find out, I’d recommend contacting them directly at http://www.marcyjos.com or (931) 380-0968. Hope this helps. Thanks!
Jessy Yancey
editor
Tennessee Home & Farm
Can I get your recipes on line? And if so how do I do it?
I would like the recipe fot the pork chops which I saw on RFD 4-26-2013. It sure looked great.