Founder Of Northport's Front Porch Restaurant Dead At 86

NORTHPORT, AL — A beloved West Alabama restaurateur remembered for starting the Front Porch Restaurant, will be laid to rest on Monday.

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Bobby Edgar Strickland, who founded the restaurant's original location in Gordo, died March 13, according to his obituary.

He was 86.

Funeral services will be held Monday, March 23 at Buhl Church of God, with burial following at Calcedonia Cemetery.

In recognition of Strickland’s impact, the Front Porch Restaurant announced it would close for the day Monday to allow staff and community members to attend the service.

“We will be closed today for Bobby Strickland’s funeral,” the restaurant shared on social media. “For those of you who don’t know, he was the founder of the Front Porch Restaurant. He and his wife operated the restaurant until retirement. He built our previous location in Gordo from the ground up, board by board.”

The restaurant, which is still owned and operated by Strickland's family, said it planned to reopen Tuesday.

Strickland, born Dec. 16, 1939, to Dawson and Levert Strickland, was widely known not only for his business but also for his faith, craftsmanship and devotion to family.

Alongside his wife of 64 years, Charlotte Faye Strickland, he built and operated the Front Porch Restaurant, creating a gathering place that became a staple in the Gordo community.

The eatery then opened its Northport location, where it remains a popular spot for locals.

A man of deep Christian faith, Strickland's obituary says he was also active in mission work in Honduras, where he dedicated time to helping those in need. He was describe as having a “servant’s heart” and a lifelong commitment to living out his beliefs through service to others.

Outside of work, Strickland enjoyed gardening, fishing and raising animals, including Nigerian goats and show chickens.

He is survived by his wife, children, numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as several siblings.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to Hospice of West Alabama or Christianaires Ministries, Inc.

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