Jasper’s Own
Alabama Stackers has become a true community staple through food, service and local connections.
Words by Jenny Lynn Davis| Images by Ryan McGill
What started as a dream inspired by food trucks and beach festivals has become one of Jasper’s favorite spots to grab a bite. Since opening on January 7, 2022, Alabama Stackers has fed thousands of people and helped build stronger ties in the local community.
Josh Fowler and his brothers, Jay and Nick McKinney, turned a high school project into a thriving restaurant. Josh’s original idea was for a fun, beachy food truck serving classic American food like burgers and hot dogs. That idea grew into a permanent restaurant located in a small building on 19th Street in downtown Jasper. It may not be a food truck, but the restaurant has been a big success. The team now serves about 1,500 burgers a week and goes through approximately 800 pounds of potatoes weekly for their popular hand-cut fries.
While Alabama Stackers is known for its burgers, hot dogs, and hand-cut fries, the menu has grown over the years. Customers can now order chicken tenders, chicken sandwiches, or “dirty fries” topped with ranch and special seasoning. Kids have their own menu with options like corn dogs and grilled cheese sandwiches. Hand-dipped milkshakes remain a favorite for dessert, with the featured flavor changing monthly, offering something new for regular visitors.
Breakfast has also become a big part of the Stackers experience. On select days, customers can enjoy breakfast sandwiches made with their choice of bacon, Conecuh sausage, chicken, egg, and cheese.
The McKinneys credit the community for helping them grow. “We’ve worked hard to listen to what people want, and they’ve really supported us. It’s been incredible to see how much they enjoy what we’re doing,” Nick says.
“It’s been great, we’ve had tremendous community support over the last three years and have been able to partner with the community in a variety of ways to give back,” Jay adds. “We’re very involved with the local school systems, Jasper Parks and Recreation. We don’t want to be here if we can’t be of service to the community. We want other local businesses and organizations to thrive.”
The brothers also stay true to their original commitment to working with other local businesses.
“Lamar’s Glass did all the glasswork in the restaurant, all of our menu printing is by Viking Business Solutions, and so on. For three years, we’ve been a local business that keeps their business local. They’ve become our friends and places we can turn to for advice on business and in life,” Nick says.
Beyond their growing menu and local collaborations, Alabama Stackers has also garnered recognition for its success. However, for the brothers, the true reward goes beyond the accolades.
“We’ve earned several awards, and we appreciate those and we’re proud of them, but what really resonates is when we get messages of support and encouragement from people we don’t even know. It’s so nice to know that people do care and appreciate us and want us to succeed,” says Jay. “We’re not planning to shut it down, but if we decided to shut it down tomorrow, we’d have no regrets about the experience. We did something that benefitted our community in various ways, and that’s what matters.”
The restaurant’s motto, “Jasper-owned, Jasper-operated, Jasper's own,” reflects everything the brothers do. As Alabama Stackers enters its fourth year of serving the local community, it continues to be more than a place to eat, but a part of Jasper’s story and a reflection of what happens when a family invests in their community. 78