By Haley Mitchell Godwin

On Nov. 1, Bill Henry’s, the latest addition to Luverne’s culinary scene, officially opened its doors with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that marked not only the launch of a new eatery but also the continuation of a culinary legacy deeply rooted in the Lowery family history. The restaurant, owned by Luverne High School graduates BoBo Lowery (Class of 1998) and Keyion Lowery (Class of 2004), offers a menu filled with wings, burgers, seafood, and more, all served with the distinctive Southern flair that the brothers grew up with.

The restaurant is named in honor of the Lowery’s cousin, Bill Henry Jackson, whose lively spirit and love for family gatherings inspired the brothers to name their restaurant after him. Jackson, known to many as Jake, passed away in 2014, but his memory lives on.

According to Keyion, Bill Henry’s is more than just a restaurant; it’s a celebration of heritage, love, and the joy of sharing a meal, rooted in family traditions and a commitment to serving up Southern hospitality on every plate.

“We wanted a brand name that would stick when people hear it,” Keyion said. “When we think of Bill Henry, we think of our family cookouts and the good memories and the good food, and we want our customers to associate good, downhome food and good people with Bill Henry’s.”

While BoBo and Keyion may be new to the restaurant scene, their passion for food runs deep, and downhome cooking, as Keyion referred to it, was a cornerstone of their upbringing. The Lowery’s childhood was shaped by family gatherings centered around barbecues and feasts prepared by their aunties and grandmothers.

The brothers’ Aunt Ann played a pivotal role in influencing their culinary preferences and skills. She always made them help in the kitchen when she was cooking them a meal. The brothers may not have enjoyed working in the kitchen tremendously back then, but they have great memories. A lot of what they learned in her kitchen left an indelible mark on their culinary preferences and skills.

The overwhelming support from the community has exceeded the brothers’ expectations.

“The support from the community has been so much more than we expected,” BoBo said. “People have come from surrounding counties too, and we are so thankful for all the feedback. We even had someone from Chicago stop the other day when they were passing through.”

Elliot Jones, Amber Garringer, and Jess Butts expressed their delight in the dining experience in their recent Facebook reviews, praising the fantastic wings, burgers, Philly cheesesteak sandwiches, and more.

“We ordered three different flavors of the wings (mild, honey bbq, and lemon pepper), a Philly cheesesteak, loaded fries, and chicken bacon ranch fries,” Butts said. “Everything was absolutely fantastic. The staff was super friendly, ordering was incredibly easy, and it was ready fast! Can’t wait to order again!”

“Outstanding wings and burgers,” Jones said. “We definitely will be going back, and recommend this restaurant to everyone!”

Currently, Bill Henry’s is carryout only. However, looking ahead, Bill Henry’s plans to expand its services to offer delivery. The brothers encourage the community to stay tuned for exciting developments.