The story behind Bubby's Diner—5 things to know

We’re all about good eats here at Hville Blast—especially when they’re local.

That’s why we’re here today with the story behind one of South Huntsville’s most popular spots, Bubby’s Diner. Here are five things to know about this family-owned business (and the family is from Huntsville!).

1. It’s a family affair

When Bubby’s Diner calls themselves a family-owned business, they’re not kidding. This family affair includes multiple generations.

Chris and Shae Belcher are the husband-and-wife team running Bubby’s Diner. Their daughter, Tesla, works there as well, and her husband, Jeff, is a cook. Charlly, another one of Chris and Shae’s daughters, also works at the diner.

But it keeps going. Chris Belcher’s parents, Charles and Kathy Belcher, also help out. In fact, they were going to deliver one of their catering orders the day that I visited Bubby’s. Finally, Chris Belcher’s sister, Kimberly helped start the business up and still visits most mornings to chat with the regulars.

2. They’re all about community—and Huntsville

The Belcher family is Huntsville born and bred, with strong roots here. Chris and Kimberly’s parents met while riding their grade school bus in Huntsville, and they reconnected in high school. They’ve been together for 50 years now.

Their kids, Chris and Kimberly, also grew up in Huntsville. Needless to say, Bubby’s Diner has deep roots in here in the Rocket City.

The Belchers opened Bubby’s Diner in February of 2021, in the middle of the pandemic. But, they saw an incredible response from the community—and they’ve grown to love that community.

When asked what her favorite part of Bubby’s Diner was, Kimberly Belcher quickly responded, “The people are my favorite…definitely the community that we’ve built.”

That local, community feel of Bubby’s Diner keeps Huntsville coming back—but so does the food.

3. The food is classic diner food—with some twists

On the menu at Bubby’s Diner, you’ll find classic diner favorites like burgers, sandwiches and meat + three. But, it’s not any old diner food. Bubby’s Diner puts creative spins on their dishes, incorporating ingredients like house-made bacon jam, donuts and pimento cheese.

Kimberly’s favorite item on the menu is Kimmy’s Bacon Jam Cheeseburger—named in her honor after she came up with the recipe. However, she also likes Charlly’s Pimento Cheese Burger and the Rodeo Burger.

They’re also the home of the donut burger, made with a classic donut, sliced in half, grilled and used as a burger bun.

Some other crowd favorites at Bubby’s Diner include the Pop’s Classic, the meatloaf and Tesla’s Philly Cheese Steak.

And if you’re looking to finish off with something sweet, they’ve got you covered with classic milkshakes and sundaes.

4. A retro theme fills the space

With a name like Bubby’s Diner (we’ll get to that story in a second), you can expect some retro flair when you step inside. When the Belcher family demoed and renovated the space, they added tons of retro touches—from checkered floors to a jukebox.

But back to the name. Kimberly was three years old and her brother Chris was in seventh grade. She saw him in his classroom through the window and yelled “Hey, Bubby!” All the girls in Chris’s class started calling him Bubby, and it stuck.

Hence, Bubby’s Diner.

5. You can find it in South Huntsville

Hungry yet? Bubby’s Diner is open every day except Sunday for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They even have a drive-thru if you’re in a hurry. Here’s where you can find them.