Hey y’all,
I’ve got a real special story to share on two local legends who played a huge part in making our beautiful Juliette what it is today. On the latest Monroe Today episode, Ms. Gilda got to speak with Mr. Tommy Moon and Mr. Robert Williams to learn more about their incredible stories. From the moment that a film crew discovered the then ghost town, Juliette’s trajectory was changed forever and its small town charm was preserved. So, get ready to become a Juliette expert! Grab yourself a snack and sit down while I share every tidbit I learned from listenin’ to Ms. Gilda’s podcast.
Growing Up in Juliette
Now, Mr. Robert and Mr. Tommy both grew up local to the area, makin’ them experts on all things Juliette. Mr. Robert was born and raised in Juliette. He moved to Athens later on in his life but returned to his beloved hometown 17 years later. As for Mr. Tommy, he was technically born across the river in Forsyth. He joined the United States Marine Corps as a young man, leaving his beloved community behind, but once he retired, he decided to come back to Monroe County. He shared with Ms. Gilda that when he first left, he couldn’t wait to leave and embark on a new adventure, but after being gone for so long, he realized just how much he missed the area. Ain’t that always the case! You don’t realize just how homesick you are until you finally return to your old stompin’ grounds. After returning to Monroe County, he briefly worked for the Sheriff’s department and then for Georgia Power. Someone likes to stay busy! He retired from Georgia Power and worked another position at the United States Marshals Service in Macon. It wasn’t until his wife decided she wanted to open a store called The Honey Comb in Juliette that they decided to relocate to Juliette permanently.
You may be askin’ yourselves how Mr. Tommy and Mr. Robert came to know each other. Well, Mr. Robert knew of Mr. Tommy ever since he was one of the first deputies in Monroe County. In fact, Mr. Robert had gone to college and came back to Mr. Tommy askin’ if he wanted to join the force and become a deputy himself! Things didn’t pan out that way but once Mr. Tommy moved to Juliette around 47 years ago, they ended up livin’ in the same neighborhood!
Lights, Camera, Action!
I know y’all are just dying to hear about the first moments that a filmin’ crew set their sights on Juliette and luckily for you, Mr. Robert was there for it all! He shared with Ms. Gilda how on one random summer day in 1991, he was out cuttin’ his grass when a guy came over and asked, “who owned the old store building in Juliette?” Well, it just so happened that Mr. Robert owned that building! Mr. Robert’s daddy had owned it in 1938, but after it closed in 1972, Mr. Robert inherited it. Turns out, the reason the stranger was askin’ about it was because he and his film crew were scoutin’ out a building next to the train tracks for a movie they planned on filming. They came back a couple of weeks later in September with the director and movie set designer. We can thank fate that when they came back, the train was out—those movie hot shots, they started takin’ pictures of the train like they’ve never seen one before! It was quite a sight to see, especially for Mr. Robert.
Now, Mr. Robert didn’t think nothin’ of it really, because he didn’t hear from the crew again until 5 months later in February! Seems they were havin’ trouble with gettin’ the money together. But once they had everythin’ ready, they really did film a movie in Juliette, and Fried Green Tomatoes was released on December 27, 1991!
The Whistle Stop Cafe
If y’all haven’t seen the movie before, Mr. Robert’s empty buildin’ was the one that got turned into The Whistle Stop Cafe! During the filmin’ process, the director mentioned to Mr. Robert that someone should turn the buildin’ into a real restaurant, and so Mr. Robert did just that in 1992. He talked to a few locals who thought his idea was crazy! I mean, you can’t blame them. Juliette at the time didn’t have a lot goin’ on. Mr. Robert did end up findin’ some people who thought the idea could work: Ms. Jerie Lynn Williams, a nurse in Macon, and a local cook from a restaurant that recently went out of business. They decided to work together to turn it into a workin’ restaurant, but little did they know just how popular it would be! These days, Mr. Robert is just the owner while Ms. Jerie Lynn’s successor, Ms. Liz, handles the day-to-day operations. They get visitors from across the country and even across the globe! You’ll find a line out the door during lunchtime operating hours, and even when they’re closed for the day, visitors will still drive out just to take a picture of the buildin’.
Green Tomato Festival
Juliette has transformed into a lively town with visitors and locals alike checking out the shops and restaurants. They even host an annual Green Tomato Festival in honor of the movie that revitalized the area! It’s run by Mr. Robert and Mr. Tommy along with a team of locals who get everythin’ running each year for an incredible turnout. They get around several thousand visitors during the two-day period! That just shows how influential this movie has been to generations of film lovers. This year, the festival will be held from October 25-26, featuring 65 arts and crafts vendors and a lineup of live music. Visitors, of course, can head over to The Whistle Stop Cafe for lunch and browse through the adorable boutiques and shops along the way.
‘Till Next Time,
Your Storyteller
