Fagan’s Biscuit Barn was destined to be. A long family line of farmers, grocers, and entrepreneurs have cultivated this and the surrounding land for the past 200 years. We have a long heritage here that we hope to continue for much longer. Here’s a profile of the great people who cared for this family, the land, and their North Georgia community over the past generations:
John “Sylva” Fagan and Hattie Bagwell Fagan, our great-grandparents, built the white house that still sits within site of the restaurant. In the early 1900s, Hattie operated a telephone switchboard, which connected all phone calls coming and going out of the Wildcat community, now known as Big Creek community, from this home. Farming continued to be the main income for the family of 9.
Avery Carlton “A.C.” Fagan, our grandfather, was born in Forsyth County on November 29, 1896. Like most rural citizens of Forsyth County at that time, A.C. grew up farming. Life was hard for the Fagans during World War I, and like most families, they struggled just to keep their farms afloat and to put food on the table. In 1923, A.C. became a storekeeper here in the community. The old A.C. Fagan Grocery was located just across the parking lot from here. He sold dry goods, gasoline, cloth, produce, canned goods, flour, sugar, lard, and feed among other necessities. He was a pillar of the community, and his generosity kept many families from starving through the Depression era and World War II. Many people affectionately referred to him as “Mr. Carlton”.
Our dear grandmother, Edith Sorrells Fagan, lived her entire life here in the Big Creek community. She and our grandfather, A.C. farmed and operated A.C. Fagan Grocery. Though she never measured ingredients or used a recipe, she was known to be one of the best cooks in this area. We still use many of her recipes here at the Biscuit Barn. Grandmother Edith’s family helped to establish Brookwood Baptist Church, located on Brookwood Road just a few miles south of here. She and A.C. were active members of Brookwood Baptist Church.
Our father, William “Bill” Fagan, Senior was born and raised on this property. After graduating from college and proudly serving three years in the U.S. Army in Europe during World War II, he built a grocery store in Cumming in the 1950s. It was only one of two grocery stores there for nearly 30 years. In the early 1980s, he decided to take over his parents’ store and built a new building on the corner across the road from the Biscuit Barn. It was called The Landmark. Beginning as a convenience store, he soon added homemade biscuits to sell for breakfast and fresh hamburgers for lunch. This began our idea for Fagan’s Biscuit Barn. Seeing the many customers who come in today to experience those quintessential flavors would make him so very proud.
Our mother, Junie Phillips Fagan, was born and raised in the Ocee community of Fulton County, just a few miles away. She was a big part of getting our restaurant started and kept a keen eye on quality control until her health kept her from being here. Junie worked in and retired from the Forsyth County School system as a teacher and a secretary. During that time, she was also very active in the Cumming Garden Club and was known for her immaculate yards. She and our father were active members of Brookwood Baptist Church. Junie and Bill, Senior, lived on this property until they passed away.
