The road to neighborhood improvements — and flaky buttermilk biscuits, it would seem — is not always a smooth one. In 2017, after sitting vacant for years, the Rester Brothers Garage on Old Shell Road at Lavretta Park became the subject of much debate. Developers wanted to turn it into a restaurant, coffee shop or bar, the kind of place that could become a hub of neighborhood activity. Unfortunately, not everyone had the same vision for what would enhance the community, and plans stalled.
After an unsuccessful bid by Shaul Zislin, owner of The Hangout restaurant in Gulf Shores and The Gulf restaurant in Orange Beach, to rezone and rehab the property, brothers Jeff and Todd LaCour of C’est La Vie Holdings went back to the drawing board. Knowing that the Village of Spring Hill was in need of a breakfast spot, they held meetings with Maple Street Biscuit Company, based in Jacksonville, Florida. Its wholesome mission to engage neighbors and build a restaurant where team members are proud to work, as well as the restaurant’s daytime store hours that promise no drinking or loud music, won the neighborhood’s support.
Despite having 33 locations across the Southeast, the company doesn’t call itself a chain. With a focus on quality ingredients, the eatery offers stick-to-your-ribs breakfast fare from 7 a.m. through lunchtime.
The friendly atmosphere is perfect for families out for a Saturday morning stroll, companies needing a place to host business meetings, or for local college kids hunting for a place to plug in and knock out some studying. The redesign of the garage was created to accommodate all of those needs. With bike racks out front, outdoor patio seating, large communal tables, and wall outlets galore for recharging, the amenities work for everyone.
The biscuit sandwiches are hearty and delicious, requiring two hands and a stack of napkins to enjoy the bounty. And that is what keeps customers coming back again and again.
On the Menu
Five and Dime
The house favorite, a Maple Street biscuit cradles fried chicken, pecan-wood-smoked bacon and melted cheddar cheese. It is smothered in sausage gravy with a kick and gets an oozing fried egg, to boot.
The Squawking Goat
This flaky biscuit hits all the right notes with a hormone-free, cage-free, non-GMO fried chicken breast, fried goat cheese medallions and a generous drizzle of housemade pepper jelly — as featured on the Food Network!
The Sticky Maple
A straight-from-the-oven biscuit, all-natural fried chicken and pecan-wood-smoked bacon are drizzled with Bissell Family Farm’s real maple syrup. It’s the perfect sweet and salty combo anytime of the day.
Iced Maple Vanilla Latte
Espresso roasted especially for Maple Street is finished with housemade maple vanilla syrup and cold milk. If you can’t get enough, and I’m sure you won’t, the coffee is sold at retail in bags and K-Cup Pods.
 Maple Street Biscuit Company • 5054 Old Shell Road • 525-9095 • maplestreetbiscuits.com
7 a.m. – 2 p.m. Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturday (closed Sunday)
