Jalapeño cornbread, collard greens and butter beans just like your mom made them: These are the key ingredients that have made Ajax a key player of the Oxford food scene for over a quarter of a century. While Oxonians love the timelessness of the diner’s menu, a recent development is making history as the first time Ajax Diner has changed ownership since its opening in 1997.
Randy Yates turned over the keys to new owner Clay Scruggs on April 9. As a UM alumnus, the Tupelo, Miss., native’s love for Ajax Diner began during his time as a student in the late 1990s.
Scruggs explained how the opportunity arose to purchase the iconic restaurant on the Square.
“(Yates) approached me a few months ago about if I were interested in purchasing the restaurant, and I was a little hesitant at first because of my day job, but after just thinking about it, and looking into it a little bit further, I decided that I really wanted to do something local,” Scruggs said. “Most of my work has been in Mississippi but also other states across the Southeast. So wanting to be local and living here, I thought there was no better local business to buy than Ajax just because of the history, the product and the brand.”
On the day of the transfer of ownership, Scruggs felt both emotional exhaustion and a burst of exhilaration.
“The next day I was really excited. It kind of hit me that, ‘Oh my gosh look what I just did.’ It was a relief, but also it caught up with me for a day. What it took to get there was so tiring to get it done but very excited and relieved once it was through,” Scruggs said.
Scruggs said that the Ajax family has made the transition a smooth one.
“It’s only been a couple of weeks, but the staff is great. (There are) a lot of long-term, tenured staff here, and that’s been a great easy transition for me because they know what they’re doing more than me for sure,” Scruggs said.
In addition to inheriting a pre-existing staff, Scruggs has 20 years of experience in business management and hospitality to aid him in his new venture.
“I was in the general contracting business for 13 years, and then I’ve been in the hotel hospitality side for almost seven (years), building new hotels with restaurants,” Scruggs said.
Scruggs has appreciated the support he has received from the Oxford community.
“Hearing a lot of positive feedback from the community has been great. I’ve heard from people that I hadn’t heard from in 20 years, texting me after they saw the posts on social media,” Scruggs said. “So that’s been fun getting a little bit of the recognition from all the people that I haven’t connected with.”
UM students are excited about the change in ownership but hope the timeless aesthetics and warmth that the business has are left untouched.
“Ajax was one of the first places my mom and I ate when I was touring the campus. I am excited for the new management, but I love the way Ajax is currently,” senior business major Lauren Bender said. “It makes you feel like you are taking a step back in time with the decoration and its history. I hope this same feel is kept with the new owners.”
For those anxious about what a change in ownership entails, Scruggs said he is committed to Ajax’s current business model and is planning a stronger future for the diner, not a different one. He wants to ensure the work of the original owner lives on.
“I don’t want you to know any difference except for minor things that you may see or feel, like the product in the back, with our kitchen staff and the recipes. I hope you don’t tell any difference. I want that product to stay the same,” Scruggs said.
At the end of the day, Scruggs said what is likely on many Oxonians’ minds.
“Oxford is not Oxford without Ajax,” Scruggs said.
