Jackson Jambalaya

Sorry to see him go. Took my girls there whenever we could. Needs to look at Madison since one in Flowood.

And so it begins, all around the nation! Every town and city is seeing this and from all reports its not going to improve.

Saw owner (10 locations)on TV last night said each of his locations budgets (rents utilities not coming down)had been set on full capacity any thing less than that would bankrupt his company.

He should've seen the writing on the wall as soon as one opened in Flowood.

Lot of criminal activity around that area of I-55

Tried that Flowood location once. Totally sucked. Charred food, poor service. They offered free desserts but I'm not really about comps. I just want something good to eat. Last time I went to Jackson location about four years ago, well, the food was underwhelming and not as it once was.

The place was nearly always packed. Parking was a bear. How unfortunate for the city of Jackson to loose the tax revenues.

Maybe we can get a Waffle House there now.

I worked here and the Chili's on I-55. That area's customers try to hard to complain and get free meals. You can only give out so many free steak dinners for 4 before you fold. Lousy tippers too.

chains aren’t appealing to diners under 50...

I used to eat there quite a bit in the ‘90s. Not so much lately since the retail shops and dining options have grown in Flowood and Madison. I’m sure the recent downturn pushed it over the edge, but that’s a declining area anyway. I’m sad but not surprised. Hope he can find a better opportunity in an area with a promising future.

9:42 is right. Location and customer base makes a big difference for that type establishment.

@9:47,

Nor to us "over 60" folks. I've never been crazy about chain restaurants. I much prefer (and always have) locally owned establishments. This goes back to my childhood and my parents. Of course there were not too many chain restaurants back then.

9:42's comment says it all.

Depends on the chain. J Alexander's is pretty good. One nice thing about some chains is you know at a minimum of what you are getting and they tend to be consistent. I think regional chains tend to be better than national chains, though.

Had to quit going there years ago because they kept the temperature near freezing. All the staff wore coats as did the prepared patrons. When we complained, the staff agreed that it was too cold, but did nothing about it. So we never went back. I'm surprised they lasted this long.

I moved to Jackson 5 years ago. I'm almost always disappointed with the food when I go to restaurants in the metro. But I feel obligated to say to everyone in a group that I enjoyed my meal. I hate being obligated to lie under social pressures.

Little to do with the virus. A lot to do with location, location, location.

Respect to anyone who decides to endure the ups and downs and strive for the successes of business ownership. He deserves a pat on the back, and if you ate his food or not, and if you liked it or not, his economic contribution to the community likely helped you /the people you love in some way. Big respect for Mr. Pierce. He took on a challenge that not many people would! I wish you the very best! Keep going and thank you!

Exactly KF. It depends on the chain. Unfortunately a large portion of the national chains have cut food quality over time. Outback, Red Lobster, Logan's, Olive Garden, and others of that tier of "casual dining" restaurants in general are nowhere near as good as they were 20 or even 10 years ago.

Some of it has to do with the quality of the ingredients. Beef, chicken, and pork have all fallen prey to selective breeding and mass-market farming that prizes fast growth to quality. Some of it has to do with the buyouts and corporate shenanigans that have burdened them with debt and consequently they have to micromanage every last dollar for low food cost.

There aren't many places left that give a consistently good experience without being exorbitantly priced.

J Alexander's is the best chain going in terms of price, quality and service. Too bad the Metro doesn't have one.

He went out like a man. I’ve seen too many owners lock the door and walk away without uttering a peep. Best of luck to him. He will be fine.

A number of years ago, they quit serving Fosters on tap. I never went back.

I've eaten at better steakhouses. No big loss.

My Dad, who was a child of the Great Depression and member of the Greatest Generation, always referred to Outback Steakhouse as simply "Out House"....as in "Hey, let's go to Out House and get a steak for dinner."!

Is Dukes Steakhouse in Pelahatchie still open. Been years since I went through there. Used to be good.

I agree, Mr. Pierce did go out like a man. He had the guts to get in the game instead of spending his entire life standing on the sidelines. What a classy farewell letter. You can tell this guy is a class act. Another door will open for this gentleman.

9:42 is correct. I stopped going to this location and to Chilli's at Briarwood when the same people as 9:42 mentioned were 85% of the patrons. I was embarrassed for the management and staff the way that so many were eating most or all of their meals then complaining about the food and wanting it comped. The waitstaff was hurt because these same people tipped either nothing or very little. If you plan to eat out you should not go to a restaurant if you can only afford, maybe, the mean and not tip the servers.

Mad respect for this gentleman. I wish I could give him an opportunity. I wish him well and wherever he lands, I hope KF keeps up because I will patronize that business as well. That I-55 corridor has gotten tough. Crime, customer base, etc.

Dukes is no more.
Try Koestler or Wynndale.

You're comparing Dukes and Wyndale with Koestler Prime? Get out much?

I-55 corridor... yep.

Scrooges offered curbside service but last weekend shut it all down as well. It will supposedly reopen when restaurants can offer dine-in service.

I honestly can't see the majority of restaurants surviving this.
Chains, franchises or the locals.

After 50 plus years, (even before this), the "drive through" national chains screwed up over 35 percent of normal drive through orders.

At one point, my family and I had eaten pretty much everything on the menu. Once we moved to North Jackson in the early 2000s, Outback became a mainstay for us.

Thanks for everything.