CULLMAN, Ala. – Puckett’s will close its Cullman restaurant, ending a nearly four-year presence in the community that was the Tennessee-based brand’s first location outside its home state.
A. Marshall Hospitality (AMH) announced Sept. 14 that it is closing both its Cullman and Hendersonville, Tennessee, restaurants. AMH’s media release gives Sept. 18 as the closing date.
The Cullman restaurant is at 6076 Alabama Highway 157, occupying the former Ruby Tuesday building. It opened in fall 2022 as the seventh Puckett’s restaurant.
The company attributed the closures to difficult economic conditions. CEO Claire Crowell said AMH will concentrate on improving existing operations and investing in communities where the brand has longer-established relationships, rather than making expansion its immediate priority.
AMH said it is discussing other jobs and transition assistance with affected employees. Its announcement does not identify how many Cullman workers will be affected.
Cullman connections helped bring the restaurant to Alabama
The decision to enter the Cullman market grew partly from relationships developed long before the restaurant opened.
The Tribune’s Sept. 8, 2022, coverage described friendships between Andy and Jan Marshall and Alabama customers who had regularly traveled to the company’s Tennessee restaurants. Andy Marshall said at the time that those longtime customers helped encourage the family to establish a Puckett’s in Cullman.
In that earlier report, Mayor Woody Jacobs emphasized the opportunity to put an empty restaurant building back into use while reaching both local customers and travelers on Interstate 65.
The location’s accessibility was part of the city’s enthusiasm for the project.
The Tribune also reported that Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, assisted with the building’s redesign. Gudger had previously worked with the business on the interior of its Pigeon Forge restaurant.
Following the closures, six Puckett’s restaurants will remain in Tennessee: Nashville, Franklin, Columbia, Murfreesboro, Chattanooga and Pigeon Forge.
Gift cards remain usable at AMH’s other restaurants and carry no expiration date, the company said.
“The hospitality group is working directly with the employees impacted by the closures to offer alternative opportunities and support them during this transition,” the announcement said.
