Jim and Joyce Hunt have been serving fine food to their customers for many years. Jim Hunt was born and raised in Miami Beach, Florida. As a teenager, he worked in food service at The Sharon Hotel on South Beach and at a local McDonald's. In 1972, his family moved to Perry to manage the Perry Square Shopping Center. He worked with his father at the Firestone Tire Center but soon found he was not cut out for the mechanics role. When McDonald's opened in Perry in 1974, Jim managed the franchise until the owner sold the store in 1983. In 1977 Jim married Joyce Stewart, who had worked with him at McDonald's. Joyce was born and raised in Perry. They now have a 19-year-old son and 14-year-old daughter. The former franchise owner & Jim opened their first full service restaurant, BJ's, in 1984 with Jim as manager until he was offered the institutional food service contract at P&G's Foley plant.
Over the years, Jim augmented his business by catering outside the mill, doing wedding receptions, business dinners and other gatherings. When Jim and Joyce had the opportunity to acquire the old Cooey's restaurant property on the Steinhatchee River, their friends and customers urged them to give the public a chance to sample Jim's fine recipes. Jim loves cooking for and serving people and so The Fiddler's came to life under the Hunts' loving touch -- and a lot of money and work. When they are not in school, both children help in the restaurant. Until their home in Perry is sold, the Hunts are still commuting between Steinhatchee and Perry. It makes for a rather exhausting schedule at times, but they are loving their new community and it shows! When you come to Steinhatchee, be sure and stop in at The Fiddler's to say hello and enjoy some great cusine.