Part 1 of the 2022 Burger Tour
By Jessica Manley
Walking into Livington’s Soda Fountain and Grill, located just off the square in Brownsville, Tennessee, is like stepping back in time. The nostalgia of the soda fountain transports you to a place where unique burgers and milkshakes await you along with other diner classics.
Owner Dr. Jack Pettigrew, a retired physician from Brownsville, recalls always having a desire to open a restaurant. Pettigrew’s father operated a pharmacy, Quality Drug Company, which was located in Brownsville in the 1950’s and 1960’s. His father’s pharmacy featured a soda fountain, a feature that many drug stores had at that time. Even while working in his father's pharmacy in his twenties, Pettigrew dreamed of opening a restaurant with a soda fountain of his own. He and his wife, Glenda Pettigrew, turned that dream into a reality in March 2022.
The building that houses Livingston’s has been through several iterations. The building first began as the United States Post Office, built in 1935. When the Post Office was relocated to its present-day location, the Livington family purchased the building in the late 1970’s and turned it into a furniture store where they conducted business until 2021. The historic building has been given new life and has been the place where Dr. Pettigrew has turned his dream into reality.
“For four or five years, this spot has just intrigued me,” Jack Pettigrew said. “I knew the people were eventually going to close down their operations and sell it. I love old things. I love old buildings. I wanted to bring it back to life.”
Dr. Pettigrew and his wife Glenda have certainly given the historic building new life. Not only have they created a restaurant that serves fantastic food and desserts, but they have also created a unique atmosphere for their customers.
From the moment you step foot into Livington’s, you are greeted by its eye-catching decor. From the black and white tile floors to the teal blue soda fountain, you are immersed into the nostalgic atmosphere.
“We traveled around for probably two years before finding the actual soda fountain,” Dr. Pettigrew said. “The soda fountain has two pieces. One side came from Atlanta and the other end came from Middle Tennessee. I had a gentleman that worked for us that built the back part.”
Livingston’s offers an array of menu items ranging from burgers, sandwiches, fries, salads, specialty desserts, breakfast items, and brunch items.
The inspiration for the menu comes from many different people. The menu features family recipes, things that the Pettigrew’s enjoyed, and ideas from kitchen manager Alix Lonon.
“We really tried to be different than all the other restaurants in Brownsville to a degree, '' Glenda Pettigrew said. “Some things have to overlap. We tried to have a different variety.”
Fresh is something that comes to mind with all the dishes served at Livingston's. Kitchen Manager Alix Lonon makes sure all items are fresh daily.