For two decades, Gnat’s Landing has been a familiar stop in downtown Statesboro — a place where families meet for dinner, students gather after class and alumni return on game weekends.

The restaurant marked its 20th anniversary earlier this year, celebrating the milestone with a series of events that brought together longtime customers, staff members and friends of Gnat’s.

According to Parker Newhart, director of hospitality at Gnat’s Landing, the secret to the restaurant’s longevity is simple but powerful: quality, consistency and southern hospitality.

“Every time you walk through the door, you feel like you're home, welcomed with a smile,” Parker said.

The original Gnat’s Landing was established on St. Simons Island. The Statesboro location came later, when owner Al Chapman III purchased the restaurant from its original ownership group in 2007. Along with business partner Kaleo Lyles, Chapman’s plan for the restaurant was clear from the beginning.

“His vision has always been (to create) a community gathering place, somewhere anyone is welcome and can enjoy quality food and good conversation,” Parker said.

Still, the path to becoming a community staple wasn’t easy or instant.

“The early days were a grind,” he said. “It wasn’t always great at Gnat’s. The first few years, we were just getting by.”

But as Statesboro expanded — particularly with the continued growth of Georgia Southern University — Gnat’s Landing also grew, both in size and in reputation.

“The growth of the university has been in tandem with the growth of Gnat’s,” Parker said. “We love to be a part of the college experience for every student that comes through Statesboro.”

While students have long been an important part of the restaurant’s customer base, Gnat’s has always maintained a balance between the university crowd and its longtime local patrons.

“It really is a healthy mix year-round,” Parker said. “We are a gathering place for all people and all ages.”

Over time, that mix of customers has helped create the atmosphere many patrons associate with the restaurant — one where students, families, business professionals and retirees feel equally at home.

Some of them are regulars who have been loyal from the start. Others return years later, long after their chapters in Statesboro have closed.

“We see this quite often, especially from former (student) employees,” he said. “Gnat’s holds a special place in their hearts, and they love coming back to visit.

“It’s amazing to see the impact we have on these young men and women and how we stay with them for years to come.”

Though there have been many changes and improvements across the restaurant’s 20 years, including the expansion of its outdoor space and the addition of an upper deck — a feature that has become especially popular during warmer months — one element has remained constant: the culture at Gnat’s.

According to Parker, that culture is built around the people who work there.

“Our staff is our family,” he said. “They are the reason this place is so special.”

The menu has also remained largely consistent over the years. While some restaurants frequently overhaul their offerings, Gnat’s has focused on preserving the dishes customers have come to love. Among the longtime favorites are shrimp and grits, build-your-own burgers and fried chicken tenders. And, according to Parker, the banana pudding is “the best in the South.” (Author’s note: The spinach dip appetizer is also a MUST try.)

“We love that anyone we’ve served over the past two decades can come back and get their favorite items,” he said.

At the same time, the restaurant has found meaningful ways to reflect the community it serves. One addition to the menu honors Bruce Yawn, the longtime owner of Snooky’s who was widely