To Chuck Ferrell, being in the restaurant business means more than just satisfying his customers' appetites.
For Ferrell, it's an opportunity to spread his faith, get involved with kids in the Opelika school district and most of all, he said it means being surrounded by his family.
Ferrell, previous owner of Chuck's Bar-B-Que and current owner of Jim Bob's Chicken Fingers, grew up in the restaurant business working alongside his parents at the Smokey Pig restaurant. He later took over the business with his wife Bonnie.
Chuck and Bonnie decided to expand their restaurant business and founded Chuck's Bar-B-Que in Opelika in 1976 and Jim Bob's Chicken Fingers in TigerTown in 1991.
When his daughter graduated from college and wanted to go into the restaurant business, she joined Farrell and his wife at Jim Bob's.
The restaurant turned into a family operation, and it was at that time Farrell decided to sell Chuck's Barbecue and focus only on Jim Bob's.
"Our son, who is also in the restaurant business, is working alongside us, and we will eventually turn over the restaurant to him," Farrell said.
Chuck's Bar-B-Que is now owned by Joseph Efcoe, who has been running the restaurant for two years.
"I worked for Mr. Chuck for about 13 and a half years prior to owning Chuck's Bar-B-Que, and I do everything just like how he was doing it," Efcoe said.
Farrell decided to sell Chuck's Bar-B-Que because he was "ready to slow down a little bit."
One of Farrell's greatest passions is spreading his ministry to his employees and customers.
"As far as I'm concerned, my life is a ministry," Farrell said.
Farrell said he believes it is important to express the impact God has made on his life, and he tries to show that through his life, as well as signs in his restaurants and quotes on the back of employees' T-shirts.
Farrell and his family are also involved in sharing food and faith through the Opelika school system.
"Right after I got saved, I approached the school systems because I had such a desire for them to know and experience Christ," Farrell said.
Farrell has been going to the schools for 20 years, feeding the students and teachers for free, encouraging them to experience Christ like he has.
"We enjoy serving the community through our restaurants and providing a good family atmosphere," Farrell said.
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