What are the oldest restaurants in Jackson? These six have stood test of time

Friday marked the last day of one of the oldest restaurants in the Jackson area as Beatty Street Grocery closed its doors for the last time after 83 years in business.

In the last 10 years, the area has now lost three of its landmark dining establishments.

First, it was Peaches that closed in 2013 after the death of its iconic owner Willora Craft Ephram. It had been in business 52 years.

The Elite, which had been opened by Greek immigrants in 1947, finally shut down in 2020. Two generations of the Peter Zouboukos family had run that restaurant that virtually everyone in Mississippi visited at some point in their lives.

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That leaves fewer and fewer of the most iconic restaurants of the Jackson area left for folks to enjoy, and who know how long some will last.

Here is a list of the six oldest restaurants remaining in the Jackson area.

Primo's Cafe (1929)

Despite the fact that Primo's is no longer in its original building that Greek immigrant Angelo "Pop" Primos established in 1929, the restaurant still a staple for Central Mississippi.

The business has expanded and changed over the years and more than 90 years later, Primos has locations in Flowood, Ridgeland and Madison.

Every location is packed for breakfast and lunch, and many a business meeting has been conducted over coffee and breakfast over the years,

The Mayflower (1935)

There has been many rumors about The Mayflower closing over the last few years, but the restaurant that was opened in downtown by George Kountouris and John Gouras, still reigns supreme as it is has been run and maintained by Jerry Kountouris the last few decades. It definitely falls in the category of "you just have to eat there."

It still serves one of the best blue-plate style lunches anywhere, but dig in to its broiled redfish with lump crabmeat or veal cutlets with cream sauce if you are looking for something a little extra.

Crechale's Cafe (1936)

If you visited Crechale's when it opened in 1956, there is a very good likelihood that not much will have changed if you visit it today.

Bob Crechale took the business over for the Jackson institution along U.S. 80, which was founded by his grandfather, Paul Crechale.

It still serves some of the best steaks and seafood in the area, and the onion rings will feed the entire table and may be the best onion rings you will ever eat.

Big Apple Inn (1939)

Juan Mora, known as Big John on Farish Street, immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico City in the 1930s, winding up in Jackson and opened the Big Apple Inn in 1939. He originally sold hot tamales.

All these years later, the Big Apple Inn is still as relevant as ever. It still sells tamales as well as hamburgers, hot dogs, bologna and "smoke and ears." Those that have dined there are blues legend Sonny Boy Williamson and Medgar Evers, who had an office just above the restaurant, and held meetings there.

Brent's Drugs (1946)

Brent's Drugs opened in 1946 as a pharmacy and soda fountain. Now it's a diner and the Brent's Burger is their most popular.

The burger starts with a 5-ounce Angus beef patty served with American cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and pickles on a grilled brioche bun. It comes with a side dish such as onion rings, French fries or potato salad, which are homemade.

Walker's Drive-In (1947)

Walker's Drive-In has long been associated as one of Jackson's best restaurants.

A part of the Jackson landscape for more than 70 years, the neon aqua building with pink signage marks the site in Fondren where the restaurant has hosted thousands of patrons.

Derek Emerson has kept the tradition rolling as Walker's has been featured on national media with its signature dishes, such as Redfish Anna and its succulent steaks.

Ross Reily can be reached by email at rreily@gannett.com or 601-573-2952. You can follow him on Twitter @GreenOkra1.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Jackson's oldest restaurants: How these eateries survived the Great Depression, WWII