Harden makes community service part of the menu

Nick “Big Nick” Harden’s interview comes with interruptions. Customers stop to speak. He greets familiar faces, answers questions and checks on what needs to happen inside his restaurant. Between conversations about his community work, he makes time for the people walking through the door. At Big Nick’s Juke Joint, those exchanges reflect what Harden said he wanted when he opened his original restaurant in 2015, a place built for the community. Over time, that purpose has extended beyond serving soul food. It has meant preparing meals after hurricanes, supporting holiday toy distributions, supporting his community, and using his business to bring people together. “It is so imperative to support the community who supports you,” Harden said. Harden started Big Nick’s across the street from the restaurant’s current location, seeking to meet a need for soul food and comfort food in Valdosta.

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