From Soda Jerk to World Champions: The Real Story Behind KirbyG’s Diner

There’s a reason the neon lights at KirbyG’s Diner feel like they belong to another era.

This little 1950s diner on Macon Street in downtown McDonough wasn’t just designed to look nostalgic. It was built as a living tribute.

The Man Behind the Name

KirbyG’s is named after Dr. R. Kirby Godsey — Erica’s father and our family’s quiet hero.

Born in 1936 in Birmingham during the Great Depression, Kirby was the youngest of three brothers raised by a single mother after his father was killed in an accident before he was born. There were days without shoes. There were times he stayed with his grandmother when the family struggled just to get by.

As a young man, he worked as a soda jerk at the lively fountain next to the Alabama Theater. That job left a lasting impression — the energy, the service, the simple joy of making someone’s day better with a smile and a milkshake. About his time there, Kirby wrote:

I learned my first lessons … behind a soda fountain where work after school provided far more than a little spending money.  This fountain was my window onto a world of theatre and commerce, a world of discord and celebration, a world of trading and profits. … My brother, Jack, had worked there as a college student, and I could think of nothing grander than to follow his steps into the calling of being a “soda jerk.” That’s what we were called because that’s what we did.  In that day and time, a person “jerked” sodas, spewing high-pressure carbonated water into tall glasses of ice cream, foaming our way toward a soda to be topped with a mountain of whipped cream and a syrupy red cherry.

One afternoon at the Alabama Cigar & Soda Co, the owner told Kirby that he was leaving for the day and asked him if he would lock up the joint.  Kirby obliged.  Every night after that during his tenure as a soda jerk, and without another word from the owner, Kirby was responsible for closing up.  The managerial skills Kirby learned in this first professional endeavor served him well.  He worked his way through school, ultimately earning two doctoral degrees.

Kirby then immersed himself in academia, serving as a professor of philosophy and religion, department chair, college dean, and finally, university president. Years later, that same spirit of hospitality and hard work carried him to the longest presidency in Mercer University’s history (1979–2006). Under his leadership, Mercer grew from four colleges into a full university with eleven schools. His legacy still shapes Georgia higher education today.

When we opened KirbyG’s, we wanted to honor that journey — the American Dream lived out through faith, grit, and genuine care for people. The 1950s theme wasn’t just decoration. It was a nod to the soda-fountain days that helped shape the man we named the diner after.

The Pit Crew and a Championship Burger

From day one, the people who work here have been more than staff. We call them the Pit Crew — family in every sense that matters.

In 2018, that same Pit Crew took on the World Burger Championship. One of the burgers they created was something special: the Marriage of the Century.

Named after the legendary 1954 wedding of Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe (true “Marriage of the Century” material), this burger became our calling card. It features lettuce, tomato, onion, homemade pepper jack cheese, slow-cooked pulled bacon, crispy onion rings, and a sweet-and-spicy sauce that hits hard in the best way.

That burger helped crown us 2018 World Burger Champions. The next year we finished 4th in the world. Along the way we’ve also been named to Georgia Tourism’s “100 Plates Locals Love,” voted Best Burger in metro Atlanta more than once, and recognized as Best of the Best by Henry Herald and Georgia Business Journal.

None of those awards belong to just one person. They belong to the Pit Crew past and present, to the guests who keep coming back, and to the community that has supported us through every high and low for more than 18 years.

More Than a Burger Joint

Walk through the door, and you’ll still find the same things that started it all: thick hand-spun milkshakes, crispy fries, live music on Friday nights, Karaoke on Wednesdays, Trivia Night with Jackie on Thursdays, and a whole lot of Southern hospitality.

But the real story of KirbyG’s has always been about people — the ones who work the grill, the ones who take your order with a smile, the families who celebrate birthdays and first dates here, and the man whose life inspired the whole place.

We’re still writing that story every single day.

Come taste a piece of it for yourself.

The Fifties never tasted better.

Neil & Erica Daniell,Owners

KirbyG’s Diner & Pub

McDonough, Georgia

Take The Pit Crew Challenge

A Menu with Personality

The playful names on our menu — Mary Jane’s Bacon Jam Cheeseburger, Joanie’s Spicy Pimento Cheese Burger, Drive-In Crack Burgers, Sixteen Ton Sundaes — aren’t random. They’re part of the same spirit that named the diner after a soda-jerk-turned-university-president. We like our food with a little personality, a wink, and a fun-filled journey through the iconic 1950s, where every name whispers stories of the past. Picture yourself enjoying hand-pattied burgers that pay homage to legendary figures. Dive into Ike's "I Like Cheese" Burger, savor the smooth charm of “Ole Blue Eyes” Black and Blue Burger, or tackle the robust flavor of The Duke. Not only is our quirky menu entertaining, but it also invites you to engage with history in a way you’ve never imagined. All of our menu items are named in honor of a person, place, thing, character, movie, or quote from the 1950s. 

So, come take the Pit Crew challenge

And see why The 50's Never Tasted Better — we can't wait to welcome you! Put a name to a face, a quote to a star & a character to a movie. For the very brave, you may even attempt to find them on our walls or on our menu.  Each bite is a delicious conversation starter! Our vibrant atmosphere and nostalgic décor create the perfect backdrop for a memorable meal. Don’t miss out on this delightful fusion of food and fun—join us and experience the magic of the '50s today!