by Deena Cheek • photos by Paul Leavy
What started as a business flight to Mississippi has become Valdosta’s newest innovative restaurant.
When Dr. James Sinnott and Dr. Ed Fricker decided to check out a potential investment called Catfish One restaurant, they didn’t take long to agree that it would soon find a corner in Valdosta.
Catfish One is a restaurant that seeks to combine the best of both worlds — fast food quickness with fine dining flair — into one “good and simple” meal for customers. The restaurant has a simple philosophy that General Manager Bruce Ponder embraces every day.
“We operate by the KISS method,” he says. “Keep It Simple, Stupid!”
Ponder’s laid-back management style instantly hooked the interest of owners Sinnott and Fricker, who welcomed him aboard with what he calls a “refreshing” business relationship. A 61-year-old Greenville, S.C., native who swears off retirement, Ponder says they all shared the same vision and goals for Catfish One.
“We hit it off from the start,” Ponder says. “They told me to run it like it was my own. I’ve always wanted to run my own restaurant, and this was the chance.”
Ponder says that while it was a risk for Sinnott and Fricker to invest in a new restaurant during a struggling economy, they weren’t intimidated. And even though Catfish One restaurant is just getting its feet wet in Valdosta, there are big plans for the future. Together with Ponder, they hope to extend the Catfish One reach from Tifton to the Florida state line.
“Over the next five years, they hope to open up five or six more locations,” Ponder says. “Valdosta could easily support two or three locations on its own.”
And Valdosta certainly has a taste for Catfish One so far. Despite pouring rain, tornado watches and flooding around Valdosta, people continue to find their way through its doors.
“For some reason, this place fills up during bad weather,” he says. “You know how people in Florida have hurricane parties? It’s like we have storm parties in here.”
People can’t seem to get enough of the fried catfish, shrimp and oysters — which happen to be the most ordered items on the menu. Hushpuppies, fried dill pickles and baked potato salad are among the most common side items customers crave. One of the most unique parts of dining in Catfish One is the sound boxes on the tables. Each box has a dial and buttons for each of the four TVs in the dining room.
“Most people don’t even know what this is because it’s such a new concept,” Ponder says. “You can choose which TV you want to hear and adjust the volume. No other restaurants in town have these.”
Ponder says this is excellent for families for when kids come in and want to watch cartoons while parents talk. But perhaps the most interesting of all concepts Catfish One brings to the table is what employees have decided to do with their tips.
“When we get tips, we put them all together and look for a needy family or local charity to donate them to,” Ponder says. “It’s our way of showing the community that we care and want to give back.”
Catfish One Fast Facts
• Catfish One is located at 3960 Macey Drive in Valdosta. It can be reached by calling (229) 242-4200.
• Catfish One is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays. It is closed on Sundays.
• Catfish One offers military personnel and law enforcement officers a 10 percent discount every day.
• Wednesday night is Senior Citizen Night at Catfish One.
• Catfish One hopes to add grilled items to the menu, catering services, and specials in the near future.
On the Menu
• U.S. Farm Raised Catfish, Jumbo Fried Shrimp, Popcorn Shrimp, Cajun Boiled Shrimp, Fresh Gulf Oysters, and Chicken Tenders meals.
• SuperStuffed Wraps with Popcorn Shrimp and Fried or Grilled Chicken.
• Salads with Popcorn Shrimp and Grilled or Fried Chicken.
