The Brief
- Evelyn Johnson, who turns 99 this month, helped launch her family’s multi-generational restaurant business in Plant City back in 1954.
- Four generations of the Johnson family continue to run Fred’s Market, maintaining a 70-plus-year tradition of hospitality and community service.
- Known for its southern-style buffet and fried chicken, the restaurant regularly draws dedicated locals—some dining there up to twice a day.
PLANT CITY, Fla. – A Plant City staple built on home-cooked meals continues to thrive seven decades later under the care of four generations of the same family.
Seven Decades of Southern Hospitality
What we know:
The Johnson family’s deep roots in the restaurant industry began with simple home cooking.
Evelyn Johnson recalls when her late husband decided to open their first dining spot right next to their home in 1954, welcoming neighbors and passersby off the road for a home-cooked meal. Decades later, that small-scale endeavor has evolved into Fred’s Market, a bustling Plant City staple overseen by four generations of the Johnson family.
Family restaurant legacy
What we don’t know:…