Traditions Bank broke ground Wednesday morning where the iconic Stoney’s Family Restaurant once stood. The groundbreaking was attended by approximately 100 community and banking leaders from Habersham and Rabun counties.
In a nod to the family-owned restaurant that served customers in the community for over 50 years, Traditions Bank had Stoney’s iconic biscuits on hand for everyone to enjoy.
Clarkesville Market Executive and Project Manager for Traditions Bank Sidney Roland greeted those in attendance.
“This is a special day for Traditions Bank and Rabun County Bank. As we mark the 25th anniversary of Traditions Bank operating in Habersham County, we are extremely proud and excited to break ground today,” he told the audience.
Roland told the audience that they hope to have the bank open in the next 6 to 9 months.
Traditions
A member of the Rabun County Bank’s Board of Directors, Greg Funkhouser, spoke to the commitment of Rabun County and Traditions Banks to the community.
“We are still a community-oriented bank. In our organization, we help people with what they need done,” he stated.
In a nod to what was once a tradition of its own, Roland told the audience the site where Traditions Bank is being built will always be remembered as “Stoney’s Corner.”
When Stoney’s closed and the building was demolished in 2023, the community mourned the passing of an era. For nearly six decades it had been one of Clarkesville’s favorite gathering spots.
In 1965, Ottis Stonecypher opened a Tastee-Freeze restaurant on that corner. When his franchise contract ended, he went out on his own, renaming it Stoney’s Family Restaurant. Ottis died in 2002, but his family kept the business going.
During the May 15 bank groundbreaking, Roland recognized three of Stonecypher’s family members—children Penny Banks and Buddy Stonecypher and Ottis’ sister, Dorothy Holbrooks.
SEE RELATED: End of an era: Stoney’s restaurant demolished to make way for roundabout, bank
Monument to entrepreneurship, customer service
District 10 State Representative Victor Anderson (R-Cornelia) spoke to the audience about the legacy of Stoney’s restaurant and the Stonecypher family.
“Stoney’s and the Stonecypher family’s corner here, for decades, has been a monument. It’s a monument to entrepreneurship. It’s a monument to serving the citizens of Habersham County and a monument to small family business,” said Anderson. “I know that the next step for the Stonecypher Corner is to become another monument. I look forward to Traditions Bank being another monument in Clarkesville, Georgia,” Anderson said.
50th District State Senator Bo Hatchett spoke to the audience about his memories of visiting Stoney’s with his friends before school each morning.
“When we were in the restaurant, we felt important. We felt like the people there cared about us. I think that’s just customer service,” the senator from Cornelia said.
“One thing I learned, whether it be in my law practice, in business, or in politics, when you take care of the people, everything else kind of takes care of itself,” Hatchett said. “The tradition that Rabun County Bank and Traditions Bank has, and the reason we’re here today, is because that’s what they do. They put their customers first.”
SEE RELATED: Stoney’s Family Restaurant in Clarkesville to close
Family approval
After the groundbreaking ceremony, the Stonecypher family members who were present gave their seal of approval to the project.
“I think it’s a good thing. The bankers are in it for the right reason,” said Banks.
Buddy Stonecypher added, “If there had to be something to replace it, this is the best thing that could have happened.”
Remembering her late brother, Holbrooks said, “Ottis would have been proud. He would have been very proud.”
