MADISON — When Chuck’s Fish opens its doors on Thanksgiving Day, there will be no prices on the menu, no reservations and no limits on who is welcome.
For the first time, the restaurant at Clift Farm will host its Thanksgiving Day Feast, a free community meal open to anyone who wants a place at the table. The event, held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., is part of a long-running holiday tradition started more than 30 years ago at Chuck’s sister restaurant, Harbor Docks, in Destin, Fla.
“It actually originated in Destin,” said Cris Eddings, partner with Chuck’s Fish. “My partner, Charles Morgan, started doing it there more than 30 years ago, and it’s grown to be quite a production. They’ll serve over 2,000 meals this Thanksgiving and donate all the proceeds to a local charity.”
That spirit of generosity has spread to Chuck’s locations across the Southeast, including Tuscaloosa, Mobile, Montgomery and now Madison. Each restaurant hosts its own Thanksgiving Feast, serving thousands of meals at no cost.
“The idea is that Thanksgiving is a time when everyone, no matter what walk of life you come from, deserves a good meal and good company,” Eddings said. “You could be homeless or a family having trouble making ends meet. You could be a student or worker away from home, or a family that just wants to come in, eat, and not have to cook or do the dishes.”
While the meal is free, guests often choose to give back. Donations are accepted but never solicited, and this year, all proceeds from the Madison feast will benefit Madison Visionary Partners (MVP).
“What we don’t do is actively ask for donations the day of the event,” Eddings said. “We never want anyone to feel obligated. The point is for everyone to sit under one roof and break bread together. If people want to donate, they’ll find us, and they’ll do it from the heart.”
The menu is as traditional as it gets: roast turkey and ham, casseroles, mashed potatoes, vegetables, gravy, cranberry sauce, rolls and dessert. There’s even a to-go option that’s become a fan favorite.
“We make a couple hundred turkey sandwiches for folks to take home,” Eddings said. “Because for a lot of families, that leftover turkey sandwich later in the day is one of the best parts of Thanksgiving.”
This year’s feast also marks a special milestone for Chuck’s Fish in Madison, its first Thanksgiving since opening at Clift Farm.
“When we choose to open a restaurant in a new community, we don’t come in with the mindset that it’s just about business,” Eddings said. “If we choose to be part of a community, we have an obligation to help that community however we can. The reception we’ve had in Madison has been incredible, and this is our way of saying thank you.”
For Eddings, the event is about gratitude.
“MVP works year-round supporting the community, we are happy to be able to support that work with this event,” he said.
Christina Hearne, executive director of Madison Visionary Partners, said the partnership reflects the best of what the city stands for.
“We are so honored for the opportunity to partner with Chuck’s Fish for this wonderful Thanksgiving event,” Hearne said. “Their generosity perfectly reflects the spirit of community that Madison is known for. At Madison Visionary Partners, our mission is to connect people who care with initiatives that enrich the quality of life in our city, and this free Thanksgiving meal does exactly that.
“It’s a beautiful example of what can happen when local businesses and the community come together to care for one another.”
The Chuck’s Fish Thanksgiving Feast is 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Volunteer opportunities can be found on the Madison Visionary Partners’ website.
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