For 50 years, the fires have been burning in the barbecue pit
at Carey Hilliard's Restaurants. Carey Hilliard first lit
the flames in 1960 at 3316 Skidaway Road in Savannah, GA.
In that year of fin-tailed
cars,
rock-a-billy music and drive-in curb service, he and his wife
Kathleen opened a small 30-seat restaurant with a large covered
drive-in curb service area.
Soon, "the curb" was filled with the delightful smells of
Hilliard's hickory-smoked, slow-cooked barbecue pork sandwiches,
the aroma of their unique "secret-recipe" Brunswick stew and the
flavor of fresh, hand-breaded fried shrimp. Most
Savannahians first learned of Carey Hilliard's while sitting in
their "1950-ish" cars on the curb reading Hilliard's menu off
metal "Sunbeam Bread" signs attached overhead.
Carey
Hilliard proved to be a pioneer in a new concept... "quality
food, at a reasonable price, served FAST!"
Local patrons began to appreciate the consistency of these
founding principles and over the next few years, Hilliard
expanded his little restaurant to include more inside seating.
The number of cars using the drive-in curb service remained
high, only their styling and their music had changed. At
the same time, Hilliard's menu was expanded to include more of
the fresh seafood items which customers now desire.
Over the past five decades, the Hilliard family has continued
to maintain the founding principles and has expanded the
business to now include six restaurants in Savannah and one in
Statesboro.
And though the cars and music have changed, the fires are
still burning under the proud tradition for fine food,
reasonable prices and fast, friendly service.
