Midway was the starting point for Parker’s Kitchen: Greg Parker opened his first store there in 1975 after his father, an Amoco distributor, saw an opportunity along the newly opened I-95 corridor. Parker recounted the company’s beginnings in a June 2026 reflection on its 50-year history.
Parker was 21 and planning to attend law school when he took on running the new business. The original location had six full-service gas pumps. Its carpeted interior, in red, white and blue, was chosen by Parker’s mother as part of the nation’s bicentennial celebration.
Parker recalled early challenges and said fear of failure drove him at the time. The business grew from that first store to a second location, then a third and beyond.
He credits the company’s ability to adapt with helping it respond to changing customer expectations and industry trends. Parker also pointed to longtime employees who joined in the early years and helped build a workplace culture centered on being “fast, fresh and friendly.”
Looking ahead, Parker highlighted investments in artificial intelligence and predictive kitchen systems intended to improve efficiency and food quality. He also said Parker’s Kitchen has donated more than $30 million to charitable causes over the years.
Yolonda Harris
News Now Georgia
