Goodbye, Red’s Little Schoolhouse

Hate to hear that Red’s Little Schoolhouse, a restaurant in Grady, Alabama, 25 miles south of Montgomery, is going to close early next month.

Hills Chapel Community School was built in 1910 for black students, from grades 1-6. It sat empty for 25 years until 1985, when it was purchased (for $3500 at auction the year before) to become a restaurant. Four generations of the owner’s family have worked here — just really good people (seriously, read their FB posts).

We last ate here last year, and because of Covid reasons, just masked up, got a go-plate, and ate in the car. Love this place.

Red's Little Schoolhouse, Grady AL

Red's Little Schoolhouse, Grady AL

Red's Little Schoolhouse, Grady AL

Red's Little Schoolhouse, Grady AL

Red's Little Schoolhouse, Grady AL

Red's Little Schoolhouse, Grady AL

Red's Little Schoolhouse, Grady AL

Pie safe, baybeeeee

Red's Little Schoolhouse, Grady AL

Red's Little Schoolhouse, Grady AL

You *know* you’re in the south if they’ve got camp stew by the quart

Red's Little Schoolhouse, Grady AL

Thinking of other restaurants in Alabama with similarities to Red’s — White House in Warrior also lines their walls with portraits of the presidents, and I wish I had taken pictures but we’ll have to settle for this pic of chicken, greens, and green beans:

White House, Warrior AL

Also: Mossy Grove Schoolhouse Restaurant in Troy, Alabama.

A few other schoolhouse restaurants: The Old Schoolhouse Inn and Restaurant in NY // Behham Inn in KY // Schoolhouse Restaurant and General Store in OH // Schoolhouse Lunch Room in MI // Dorset Valley Schoolhouse Restaurant in WI

PS: Red’s recipe for their frozen cucumber pickles is here.