Oconee County barbecue restaurant Jim 'N Nick's opens with 'ribbon torching'

Andrew Shearer, Athens Banner-Herald
Updated ·2 min read
Jim 'N Nick's Community Bar-B-Q president and COO Brian Lyman (center) uses a propane torch to cut the ribbon at the Alabama-based restaurant chain's Athens, Ga. location on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023.
Jim 'N Nick's Community Bar-B-Q president and COO Brian Lyman (center) uses a propane torch to cut the ribbon at the Alabama-based restaurant chain's Athens, Ga. location on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023.

Athens has seen many ribbon cutting ceremonies over the years, but the ribbon torching that signified the grand opening of a new barbecue restaurant might have been a first.

The honors were done on Wednesday by Jim 'N Nick's Community Bar-B-Q president and COO Brian Lyman in front of the Alabama-based chain's Athens location at 1787 Oconee Connector.

Oconee County commissioner Amrey Harden and Athens Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO David Bradley were also on hand for the event, and both extended a welcome to Jim 'N Nick's. Lyman said that the location marked the company's 14th restaurant in Georgia, and added that the Athens eatery was his favorite since two of his daughters attended the University of Georgia.

At the ceremony, Lyman presented a $2,500 check to the Georgia Department of Veteran Services Commissioner Patricia Ross. The funds were raised at a recent family and friends' weekend event at The Bigger Vision Shelter of Athens.

(L-R) Georgia Department of Veteran Services commissioner Patricia Ross is presented with a $2,500 check by Jim 'N Nick's Community Bar-B-Q president and COO Brian Lyman at the grand opening of the restaurant's Athens, Ga. location on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023.
(L-R) Georgia Department of Veteran Services commissioner Patricia Ross is presented with a $2,500 check by Jim 'N Nick's Community Bar-B-Q president and COO Brian Lyman at the grand opening of the restaurant's Athens, Ga. location on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023.

"I don't think there's anybody among us that thinks our nation's heroes deserve to be without stable housing and a roof over their heads," said Ross. "That's why I'm very excited to be here to accept this check on behalf of our foundation."

Lyman said that Jim 'N Nick's employs 80 people from the Athens area. The company currently operates 47restaurants in six states, and plans to open eight additional locations over the next 12 months.

The general manager of the Jim 'N Nick's Athens location is Chris Smothers, and the restaurant is open for dine-in and drive-through service from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

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This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q opens Athens location with ribbon torching