Remembering Jim Demos: A Tennessee Restaurateur Whose Legacy Was Built on Food, Faith, and Family
Jim Demos, the founder of two beloved restaurant staples in Rutherford County-Toot’s and Demos’ Restaurant-passed away on December 10 at the age of 91. But if you ask anyone who knew him, worked for him, or simply enjoyed a plate of spaghetti at one of his restaurants, they'll tell you: his legacy goes far beyond the kitchen.
In a heartfelt message shared by his children-Peter, Kristin, Felicia, Jamey, and Karys-Jim was remembered not just as a successful businessman, but as a mentor, a family man, and someone who found true joy in connecting with others through food and conversation.
“Outside of his family and extended family, his greatest joys included creating recipes, talking with his customers, and mentoring his hundreds (if not thousands) of staff members over the years,” the family wrote. “Although he’s been retired for many years now, his legacy continues to guide us and countless others in our industry.”
That legacy began taking shape in 1985 when Jim opened Toot’s, a casual spot that quickly became a local favorite. Just four years later, in 1989, he launched Demos’ Restaurant, a concept that blended family-style service with hearty, comforting meals. If you’ve ever had the steak and spaghetti combo, you know exactly what kind of experience he was aiming to deliver-simple, satisfying, and made with care.
His son, Peter Demos, took over operations in 2002 and has since helped expand the brand’s footprint. In addition to the original Rutherford County locations, Demos’ Restaurants now serve customers in Lebanon-where it was named Best Italian Restaurant in Wilson County in 2023-and Hendersonville. Most recently, the family opened a Demos’ Steak and Spaghetti House on the Middle Tennessee State University campus, bringing the family’s signature hospitality to a new generation of students and locals alike.
MTSU President Sidney McPhee reflected on Jim’s impact in a statement, calling him a community pillar whose presence will be deeply missed.
“Elizabeth and I are heartbroken upon learning of the passing of Jim Demos... known for his love of our community, his business acumen and his legendary service to his customers,” McPhee said. “On behalf of our True Blue community, we extend our sympathies to his family and appreciation for his tireless work in building his namesake restaurant into a community touchstone.”
Jim Demos’ story stretches back to his childhood in Pratt City, Alabama, where he got his first taste of the restaurant world working at his father’s place, the Pratt Station Cafe, during World War II. He was just a kid, but already learning the ropes-making coffee at 6 a.m., prepping the store, and coming back after school to help serve coal miners and steelworkers.
That early exposure to hard work and hospitality would shape his future, even when he pivoted to a different kind of crowd. After the family restaurant closed when he was 17, Jim spent years managing movie theaters across the South. It may seem like a detour, but according to Jim, it was invaluable training.
“I spent a lot of time in the theater business, and without that experience I don’t feel like we could perform the way we are performing,” he said in a 2011 interview. “I learned how to make financial statements, how to deal with customers, movie-goers, and how to move large crowds efficiently.
I learned a lot about advertising and marketing. I owe a lot to the movie theater business.”
With encouragement from his wife, Doris, Jim later earned a business degree from Birmingham Southern. Together, they opened the first Western Sizzlin’ restaurant in Nashville in 1972-another successful chapter that eventually led to the birth of Demos’ Restaurant in 1989.
Doris passed away in 2009, but their shared vision lives on in every dish served and every customer welcomed like family. Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland, who once worked at Demos’ during college alongside his wife Ashley, shared his own tribute.
“He taught invaluable lessons that extended far beyond work, teaching about relationships, delivering exceptional customer service, and striving for excellence,” McFarland said. “His legacy will live on, and he will be missed.”
Jim Demos wasn’t just a restaurateur-he was a mentor, a storyteller, and a man of deep faith. According to his obituary, he was a lifelong learner who often called his son Peter to talk through Biblical questions and explore his spirituality.
He loved woodworking, movies, exercising, and spending time with his dogs. But above all, he loved people-his family, his staff, and the customers who became part of his extended family.
“Everywhere he worked, he brought a special gift for business and the recipes that helped shape it,” his obituary reads. “Jim’s love for his craft showed in the care he poured into mentoring employees who came to see him as a ‘second dad’ and in the genuine appreciation he showed to every customer he served.”
Jim is survived by his son Peter and his wife Kristin; daughter Felicia; grandchildren Jamey and Karys; sister Mary; and longtime companion Donna Reed.
In the words of his children:
“(Jim and Doris) will never be forgotten and we are forever thankful that although they are both gone now, that we have this special place they created together to enjoy for years to come.”
For the Demos family and the countless people whose lives Jim touched, his legacy isn’t just about the restaurants he built-it’s about the relationships he nurtured and the values he lived by. And in that sense, his story is still being written, one meal and one memory at a time.