TOP PHOTO: For parts of six decades, Scotty’s has been a fixture at Caryville.

By Charlie Hutson

CARYVILLE, TN (WLAF) – Once upon a time, there were three Scotty’s Restaurants in Campbell County; Lafollette, Jellico and Caryville. As of today, Monday, May 1, 2023, the last one standing is closed.

Caryville’s Scotty’s is officially out of business today. The long lasting eatery and the well known Liar’s Bench have been a part of Caryville’s history since the early 1970s, part of six decades.

As the late fire chief, James Hatmaker, said about the Liar’s Bench, “you never know what you may hear, but it’s great entertainment.”

Several years back, they stopped putting a price in the little circle on the big sign atop the building, since they had to change the price maybe a couple of times before repainting the sign.

This is perhaps a most fitting photo from Saturday evening, April 29, 2023, as darkness sets in on Scotty’s Restaurant after its last day in business.

From the time it opened, Scotty’s had always been a 24/7 eatery until August 2012, when it started closing on Sunday. But to the relief of many of the regulars at the Liar’s Bench, it remained open seven days a week. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 05/01/2023-6AM)