SYLACAUGA, Ala. – After 27 years of serving Sylacauga and the surrounding community with delicious meals, Faye’s Home Cooking & Bar-B-Que will close its doors on April 1, 2023.
When Faye Finley decided to postpone her career in the insurance field and open a restaurant with her husband back in August of 1996, she never dreamt that her home-cooked recipes would become so popular. She did know, however, that cooking ran in her family.
“People always wanted me to cook for them,” said Finley when asked about restaurant’s origins. “They knew my mother, she could cook for them. Matter of fact, [my mother’s] maiden name is Cook.”
Mrs. Faye would help her mother cook for family reunions, parties, and other large gatherings. Soon enough, word got out that Mrs. Faye had learned a thing or two about food from her mom.
“I told my mother that when I find a building, I’ll open [a restaurant] in it,” Mrs. Faye recalled with a chuckle, “and I’l just run it for a couple of years and then get back into the insurance business.”
While 1996 was the last time Mrs. Faye thought about resuming her career in insurance, Saturday, April 1, will be the last day customers are served at her establishment on Old Birmingham Hwy. with special hours of 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.
Mrs. Faye wants those that wish to buy or collect any memorabilia to do so throughout April.
Faye’s Home Cooking & Bar-B-Que has souvenirs throughout it, and the walls are filled with pictures of customers that have enjoyed Mrs. Faye’s meals.
Most notably, Sylacauga native Jim Nabors was a huge fan of her cooking. His go-to was always the meatloaf – now called Jim Nabors’ Meatloaf – and he even had it shipped out to his home in Hawaii on a number of occasions.
Although there is still a month to try Jim Nabors’ Meatloaf if you haven’t had the opportunity, those wishing to cook it for themselves might be able to do just that in the future due to the pending release of Mrs. Faye’s own cookbook.
The cookbook will include authentic recipes of all the options you can get at the restaurant without any ingredients omitted.
There will be one recipe that Mrs. Faye won’t publish, one that’s been in her family for four generations.
“My barbecue sauce,” Mrs. Faye declared. “I’m planning on bottling the sauce.”
Mrs. Faye will sell her cookbook and barbecue sauce while she continues to cook for her catering service. If you’re interested in her catering, you can call (256) 245-0490.
“I’ve been here 27 years, and I’ve never closed down this business once for a full week,” Faye pointed out.
It’s a well-earned rest for Mrs. Faye Finley, one of Sylacauga’s favorite, most respected cooks and business owners.
