Two Birmingham-area restaurants claim to be the state’s oldest.

Which one is it?

Last week, Trussville restaurateur Brian Kemp announced his purchase of the original Golden Rule Bar-B-Q location in Irondale, to join the location he bought and reopened last year in Trussville. He also plans to expand the franchise.

Visit the Golden Rule website, and you’ll see that it claims it is the state’s oldest eatery, with the first Golden Rule opening its doors in 1891 at a location near where the present restaurant sits in Irondale.

The original building was along a dirt road, and served barbecue, beer and cigarettes and, occasionally, offered car repairs. The restaurant bills itself as the 16th oldest restaurant in the U.S.

Head down the road to Bessemer, though, and outside the Bright Star is an Alabama historical marker which says, in large gold letters, “Alabama’s Oldest Restaurant.”

Greek immigrant Tom Bonduris opened the original Bright Star restaurant at First Avenue and 21st Street in 1907.

Bill and Pete Koikos purchased an ownership interest in the restaurant in 1925. Since 1966, Bill’s two sons, Jim and Nick Koikos, have owned and operated the business.

Confused yet?

It’s not such a puzzle to Andreas Anastassakis, managing partner of the Bright Star. He’s aware of the Golden Rule claim.

“We’re the oldest family-owned restaurant,” he said. “We not disputing that with (Golden Rule) or anything.”

One claim is indisputable between the two eateries – when it comes to longevity in one spot, Bright Star wins.

It has occupied its present location – the fourth in its history, since 1915 – on 19th Street North, with various renovations and expansions since.

Golden’s Rule’s Irondale restaurant site dates from the 1970s.

When Birmingham restaurateur Michael Matsos of Michael’s Sirloin Room bought Golden Rule from Jabo Stone around 1970, Matsos moved the restaurant across U.S. 78 into its fourth home, strategically located near the Irondale exit ramp off Interstate 20.