Pictured are Grace Ward and Treelis Stonecypher with a cake commemorating 50 years.
With four generations present, landmark restaurant, Stoney’s celebrated 50 years of business in Habersham County on the corner of Historic 441 and 197. Opened in 1965 by Ottis Stonecypher, the restaurant started as a Tastee-Freeze. According to Treelis Stonecypher, his wife, Ottis’ Uncle owned the house behind the building and built a booth to sell ice cream. Ottis took the idea and opened the Tastee – Freeze. When his contract ran its course, Stonecypher went out on his own. “He added to the restaurant and took an old house off to expand the parking lot,” notes Ms. Stonecypher, “in the beginning there was just a counter and some stools and it was about half this size.”
Expanding the menu beyond soft-serve proved to be profitable for the Stonecyphers. When Ottis died in 2002, his wife and daughter, Anita Crane decided to join in together and keep the business open. “The most important thing was to keep it going for my husband, he loved people, loved being here every day,” notes Treelis. Now two of her grandaughters work at the restaurant and it “supports the whole family.” A fourth generation, Grace Ward 12, daughter of grandaughter, Jennifer, has been training to work at the restaurant. “If you are here, we put you to work,” notes Treelis with a smile.
Breakfast is the restaurant’s busiest time. Customers coming to join in congratulating the Stonecypher family told of “their children being raised on Stoney’s gravy.” Treelis notes with pride, “I was surprised by how many people remember and still keep coming.” Now retired, Treelis said that she thought Ottis would be surprised “at how big it has gotten.”
As for the future, the family hopes to expand and remodel sometime. In the meantime, the biscuits and gravy will be fresh and hot tomorrow and every day to come.
