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After three decades as the owner of Crowe’s in Troy, Robert Jones has sold the business.

“I started having some health problems and for those personal reasons, I had to let it go,” Jones said. “I think I was doing a little too much; all is well now. For my health reasons, I had to get out of it, but I would love to have it right now. My plan was to go until at least 70. But this kind of frees me up to do a little more.”

Although Jones is retiring from ownership, he said he’s not letting go of the store completely; he’s going to continue to be involved with the restaurant and ensure it still meets the expectations of customers.

“We want everything done exactly like it’s supposed to be done,” Jones said. “That was a stipulation in the sales agreement.”

And new owner William “Bubba” Sewell says he wouldn’t want to change what has made Crowe’s a staple in the community for decades.

“Who doesn’t like Crowe’s?” Sewell asked. “One of the requests in the sale was to keep that all the same and why would you change it? It’s got a 40-year history. I’ve had people from Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and Florida, some that went to school here all come back. Who doesn’t have to have some Crowe’s when they’re in town? … One of my aspects for this place is just to keep the legend going. This was a chance to step up and do something in self-made business and keep a community business going.”

Sewell was born and raised in Troy and said he loves cooking and has wanted to own a restaurant for many years.  And he’s been eating at Crowe’s his whole life.

Although Sewell isn’t going to mess with the chicken that has made Crowe’s legendary, he said he does plan to add more options for customers.

“It will be Crowe’s and more,” Sewell said. “Already in this first week we’ve added hamburgers, hot dogs, chili dog combos, hamburger steak combos; I’m looking to add popcorn shrimp soon and maybe some mahi-mahi. We want to give people a little something different to eat every night if they want. People are just going to have to come and see what that more is going to be.”

Sewell said the branding will remain the same at the restaurant as well, although he does plan to freshen up the restaurant with some new paint and digital TVs to make the menu easier to read and to update with new items.

And Sewell said he is interested in other locations in the future, although he said it is too early to say where.

Crowe’s had been located on U.S. Highway 231 from 2002 to 2017, when the building had an electrical fire causing fire and water damage. Crowe’s has since been at 907 N Three Notch St., where it remains for now.

Jones said he is grateful for the many customers that have come to the restaurant during his time as owner.

“I’m very happy for the support and the love that the citizens of Troy showed me in my business years,” Jones said.