Guthrie First Restaurant in Athens: After nearly two decades without a Guthrie’s in Athens, the Classic City might see not one but two new locations. According to an Oct. 26 plans review agenda from the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government, Guthrie’s is gearing up to build a new restaurant on Lexington Road.
The proposed restaurant will be an extension of the Marathon Gas convenience store at 1580 Lexington Rd. by B&B Theatres. Despite outreach for confirmation, Guthrie’s has not responded regarding this new location.
While the second location is still in the planning stages, construction is already underway for the first one. This inaugural restaurant will find its home at 3465 Jefferson Rd., sharing a building with Marathon Gas and Subway, taking the place of the former Dairy Queen.
The grand opening date for the Jefferson Road Guthrie’s is yet to be announced, but anticipation is building with promises of giveaways and more for residents on the big day. At the Peachtree City grand opening in July, the first 50 customers received vouchers for a free box meal.
Guthrie’s, with 11 existing locations in Georgia, including new spots in Cumming and Peachtree City, is reportedly expanding to East Cobb in the coming months. However, ongoing zoning issues with the Cobb Planning Commission are posing challenges.
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Originally arriving in Athens in the 1980s and occupying the building on Baxter Street, now home to Raising Cane’s, Guthrie’s left a void when it closed its doors in 2004. Athens residents had to trek to Cumming or Hartwell to savor Guthrie’s offerings.
A pioneer in the chicken-finger-only restaurant concept, Guthrie’s, established in Alabama in 1965, set the stage for later chains like Cane’s and Zaxby’s. The menu, featuring snack boxes, buckets, chicken sandwiches, and the iconic “Gut Box,” highlights Guthrie’s commitment to golden fried chicken fingers, keeping it simple and doing what they do best.