Ole Tavern on George St

Ole Tavern on George St Downtown Jackson's Home Cooking & Happening Night Life Venue. Ole Tavern on George St can be found on the National Register of Historic Places.
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Our historic 1910 building located on George St in Downtown Jackson has transformed from a Grocery to a Restaurant/Bar in 1973 where many famous musicians have graced Ole Tavern with their talents. We also have lingering ghost who likes to cause mischief from time to time! In 2008 Jason & Shannon Cockrell purchased the building and renovated to what is now know as Ole Tavern on George St. We have

captured the essences of the South’s unique culinary flair and good Ole Fashioned Home Cooking inspired by the tantalizing flavors from Jackson, MS to New Orleans, LA. Cuisine ranges from Fried Green Tomatoes, Pimento Cheese Fritters, Seared Tuna Sandwich, King George Burger, Shrimp & Grits, Cajun Gumbo, Red Beans & Rice to Fried Catfish. We have a very active night life to offer Downtown Jackson and surrounding areas as well as tasty cuisine. Monday Night Pub Quiz
Wednesday Night Karaoke
Thursday Night Ladies Night
Friday Night Music Therapy
Saturday Night Live Music

We pride ourselves on booking local artist and are constantly searching for bands. If you are interested in booking your band please email Jason Cockrell @ [email protected].

To my Ole Tavern/George Street family, I want to take a moment to thank everyone who’s checked in and been patient thes...
08/26/2026

To my Ole Tavern/George Street family,

I want to take a moment to thank everyone who’s checked in and been patient these past few weeks since July 31, 2026 after the sudden passing of my little sister.

Since losing my little sister, Robin, I’ve been taking things one day at a time. Last week, I personally had a little set back, I started to get sick and had to step back again. I worked the weekend and got worse. Under a doctors care thankfully, I’m starting to feel better.

This Friday, I’ll be in Rockwall, Texas, celebrating my sister Robin’s life. It will be a tender day, but I’m honoured to share memories of the amazing life she lived and the incredible woman she was.

For those asking about the restaurant, the bar will be open nights only this week Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night, and I expect to have our kitchen back open next week. I can’t wait to get back to cooking and seeing your faces. Thank you for standing by me through this. Your support means more than I can ever say.

Feeling Blessed
From my Southern Kitchen to Yours
Love Chef Shannon Wray Cockrell

UPDATE following my little sisters sudden passing I wanted so badly to be ready to come back today, but I’m just not the...
08/12/2026

UPDATE following my little sisters sudden passing

I wanted so badly to be ready to come back today, but I’m just not there yet.

Losing my little sister so suddenly has been one of the hardest things me and my mother have ever had to face, and right now I’m learning that grief doesn’t follow a schedule. I need to give myself one more day before stepping back into the kitchen.

Ole Tavern will reopen tomorrow, Thursday August 13th

🍽️ Kitchen: 11 AM–2 PM & 5 PM–9 PM
🍸 Bar: 9 PM–2 AM
💗 Ladies Night with drink specials starting at 9 PM!

Thank you all for the love, prayers, messages, flowers, calls, and for giving me grace during this incredibly difficult time. The support you’ve shown me, my family, and our little restaurant has meant more than I can put into words.

Tomorrow I’m going to put my apron back on, get back in my kitchen, and take it one day at a time.

I hope to see some familiar faces. ❤️

Chef Shannon Wray Cockrell

Friends, I need your help. Many of you know that my younger sister passed unexpectedly last week. It has been one of the...
08/06/2026

Friends,

I need your help. Many of you know that my younger sister passed unexpectedly last week. It has been one of the hardest weeks of my life. I closed the restaurant/bar so I could be with my family and help my mother through an unimaginable loss.

Tonight, I’m doing my best to get back to work. If you’ve ever enjoyed a meal at Ole Tavern, laughed with us at the bar, celebrated with friends here, or simply believed in what we’re building, I would be incredibly grateful if you stopped by this Thursday, Friday or Saturday from 9pm - 2 am. I’m only opening up the bar for the next three days. The restaurant side will reopen starting next Tuesday. I’ll be back in the kitchen.

But for now, My daughter and I will be there, doing what we know how to do, serving cold drinks, and welcoming everyone who walks through our doors. You don’t have to know the right words. Just being there would mean more than you could ever imagine. If you can’t make it, sharing this post would help us tremendously.

Thank you for every prayer, every message, every hug, and every act of kindness you’ve shown my family.

Your love and support have carried us through one of the darkest weeks of our lives. We’re open Thursday (Aug 6) night, Friday (Aug 7) night , & Saturday ( Aug 8) night, bar only from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.

I will be back in the kitchen starting Tuesday Aug 11th

I hope to see some familiar faces. With love and gratitude

Chef Shannon Wray Cockrell.

PLEASE KEEP MY FAMILY IN YOUR PRAYERSI’ve been trying to get my self together this morning. Sorry for the late post. I r...
07/31/2026

PLEASE KEEP MY FAMILY IN YOUR PRAYERS

I’ve been trying to get my self together this morning. Sorry for the late post.

I received devastating news this morning that my little sister, my only sibling, was found deceased at her home in Texas. She was only 46 years old.

I have shut the restaurant down today. At this moment, I do not know whether I will be able to reopen tonight, or when I will be able to reopen. I may need to leave immediately for Texas, and the business could possibly remain closed for the coming week.

I am heartbroken, shocked and honestly exhausted from feeling like life keeps knocking me down. As a small, family run restaurant, I cannot afford to be closed but right now, I have to be with my family and somehow begin processing the loss of my little sister.

Please be patient with us while we navigate the next few days. I will update everyone about our hours as soon as I am able.

Please keep my nephew, my sister’s husband, our entire family and me in your prayers.

Thank you for your understanding, your compassion and your continued support of our little restaurant.

Attached photos.
1. Me and my little sister at her wedding a year before we lost our daddy

2. Us with our daddy

2. My sister and our daddy - fly high baby sis. Your with dad now.

❤️ A Little Update from Our KitchenWell… our little engine hit a bump in the tracks this week.Brian is recovering, but h...
07/24/2026

❤️ A Little Update from Our Kitchen

Well… our little engine hit a bump in the tracks this week.

Brian is recovering, but he won’t be able to return to work until next week. We’re thankful he’s doing better, but we’re still keeping him in our prayers.

That leaves just me and Taaka in the kitchen today. We’re both still trying to shake off whatever sickness we’ve been battling this week, and after talking it over, we’ve decided it’s best to take today to rest and recover so we can come back strong.

We will be closed today for lunch and will reopen next Tuesday for both lunch and dinner service.

Thank you all for your patience, your understanding, and your continued support of our little family-run restaurant. It means more than you’ll ever know.

Please keep our little crew in your prayers as we navigate this small hiccup.

🎤 BUT… the bar is still OPEN tonight!

Starting at 9:00 PM, come join us for Twisted Karaoke! Grab a cold beer, sing your heart out, and help us end the week with some smiles and laughter. 🍻🎶

Sometimes even The Little Restaurant That Could needs to stop for a little steam before climbing the next hill.

So the kitchen will see y’all next week rested, healthy, and ready to get back to doing what we love. I attached some GEMS to look forward to next week. Cajun Gumbo, Grandpaws Southern Buttermilk Cornbread, Cajun Pasta with Country Pleasin' Brand sausage, Fresh Veggies from local produce, Shrimp Toast, & one of our Burgers.

❤️ Chef Shannon & the George Street Grocery

Family

The Little Restaurant That Could… 🚂❤️Well… what a week.✅ Tuesday… the chefs were sick.✅ Wednesday… the chefs were still ...
07/23/2026

The Little Restaurant That Could… 🚂❤️

Well… what a week.

✅ Tuesday… the chefs were sick.
✅ Wednesday… the chefs were still sick.
✅ Thursday… we closed for lunch because one of our own, Brian, was involved in a serious accident.

Some weeks just don’t go according to plan.

But like The Little Engine That Could…

“I think we can. I think we can. I think we can.”

So here we are. WE OPEN TONIGHT FOR SUPPER 5PM

The kitchen will be fired up, the lights will be on, and tonight we’re serving one of our favorites:

🍗 Chicken Fried Chicken
🥔 Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
🥕 Farmer’s Market Vegetable
🍞 Roll
🥗 FREE Fresh Side Salad
🥤 FREE Tea

$16

🎻 ALSO Tonight from 7–9 PM, our friends the Irish band Mind the Dresser mindthedresser will be here for an open FREE Irish jam/practice session! Come enjoy supper, tap your feet, and listen to some wonderful live Irish music in one of Jackson’s oldest buildings.

We’re just a small restaurant family trying our best to keep a 118-year-old Jackson tradition alive. Every meal you enjoy here, every friend you bring, and every visit helps keep this little historic corner of downtown going.

Like that little engine…

We think we can. And because of this community, we know we can. ❤️

See y’all tonight!

Chef Shannon & the George Street Grocery family

Sometimes life reminds you what’s truly important. ❤️Right now, George Street Grocery is operating with a family of just...
07/23/2026

Sometimes life reminds you what’s truly important. ❤️

Right now, George Street Grocery is operating with a family of just five.

👩‍🍳 Me – Owner & Executive Chef
👨‍🍳 Taaka – Kitchen Manager & Executive Chef
🍽️ Brian – Dishwasher
😊 Heather – Front of House
☺️ Kayla- Front of House

This morning, our little family got a scare.

Brian was involved in a serious car accident on his way to work. We’re incredibly thankful to say he is going to be okay, but he’s pretty banged up.

Brian doesn’t have family here other than his elderly mother, whom he takes care of. Taaka is his best friend, so today wasn’t about work, it was about making sure Brian got the care he needed, getting him home safely, and being there for him.

Because of that, we’ll be closed for lunch today.

But we’ll be back open at 5:00 PM for supper.

If you’ve been thinking about coming by, we’d sure appreciate seeing you tonight. When you’re a small, family-run business, days like this remind you just how much your community means.

Tonight’s $16 Supper Special (our lunch special moved to dinner):
🍗 Chicken Fried Chicken
🥔 Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
🥕 Fresh Farmers Market Vegetable
🍞 Warm Roll
🥗 FREE Side Salad
🥤 FREE Fresh Brewed Tea

Please keep Brian in your prayers as he recovers, and thank you for understanding while we take care of one of our own.

We hope to see y’all tonight. ❤️

Chef Shannon & the George Street Grocery Family

UPDATE FROM OLE TAVERN FAMILY ❤️Our plan was to be back open today after being closed yesterday too, but unfortunately, ...
07/22/2026

UPDATE FROM OLE TAVERN FAMILY ❤️

Our plan was to be back open today after being closed yesterday too, but unfortunately, both Taaka and I are still under the weather.

Right now, we are the only two chefs/cooks in the kitchen, along with one amazing dishwasher and front of the house staff. Since we prepare your food, we feel it’s the right thing to do to take one more day to rest and recover rather than risk coming back too soon.

We’ll be closed today, Wednesday, July 22, so we can make sure we’re healthy and ready to serve you.

Our goal is to reopen Thursday for both lunch and dinner service, and we’re looking forward to getting back in the kitchen and taking care of everyone.

Thank you for your patience, your understanding, and for supporting a small local business. It truly means more than you know.

We’ll see y’all tomorrow. ❤️

Chef Shannon, & the George Street Grocery family

Borrowed a meme, but gave it some George Street flavor.We joke about lettuce, but food safety is no joke. We keep up wit...
07/16/2026

Borrowed a meme, but gave it some George Street flavor.

We joke about lettuce, but food safety is no joke. We keep up with alerts, we work closely with our suppliers, and we handle everything the right way every day. After 118 years, we’re not letting lettuce win. What’s the funniest meme you’ve seen this week?

🍗 Some meals just feel like home.Today is one of those days at Ole Tavern on George Street.Our Chicken Fried Chicken is ...
07/09/2026

🍗 Some meals just feel like home.

Today is one of those days at Ole Tavern on George Street.

Our Chicken Fried Chicken is hand-breaded, fried until golden, and smothered in creamy sawmill gravy, the kind of Southern comfort that brings back memories of Sunday dinners and family gathered around the table.

Today’s plate includes:
🍗 Chicken Fried Chicken w/sawmill gravy
🥔 Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
🌿 Fresh Farmers Market Veggie
🍞 Warm Roll
🥗 FREE Organic Garden Side Salad with your choice of house-made dressing
🧋FREE TEA

For 118 years, people have walked through these doors to share a meal, catch up with friends, and make memories. We’d love for you to be part of that story today.

Ole Tavern on George Street | Downtown Jackson

Come hungry. Leave feeling like family. ❤️

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Address

416 George Street
Jackson, MS
39202

Opening Hours

Monday 11am - 2am
Tuesday 11am - 2am
Wednesday 11am - 2am
Thursday 11am - 2am
Friday 11am - 2am
Saturday 4pm - 2am

Telephone

+16019602700

Website

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