Tuesday, August 4, 2020

Robert St. John: Farewell, Thank You, Onward

Last week was one of the most surreal, yet rewarding, weeks I have spent in my 38-year restaurant career. Tuesday through Saturday nights we said farewell to a dear friend— the first the first restaurant concept I ever opened, the flagship of our company, the place where so many life events have been celebrated with my family, and with other families throughout the region and across the country— The Purple Parrot.


In any other time, the shuttering of this restaurant would seem erroneous, tragic, and possibly just a case of bad timing. Even after 32 years in this market most would feel that the Purple Parrot was gone too soon. Though we are not in any other time. We are living through a once-in-a-hundred-years global pandemic that has changed the business landscape in ways no one who was sitting around in February plotting their business future could have ever imagined. These are strange days and we have no choice but to accept them.

In March, when it became apparent that the restaurant business was going to take the major brunt of this pandemic and be the first to close and the last to reopen, I was the owner of six restaurants and two bars with 300 employees and several projects in the works for the future. Years of sweat, inspiration, money, and passion— and help from thousands of others— had gone into creating and growing the New South Restaurant Group.

Robert St. John
Today we are walking around a little lighter. We have four restaurants and one bar. Of the three closures so far, the Purple Parrot hits me the deepest. It was the first restaurant I opened in 1987. I was a 26-year-old, immature kid with a head full of dreams, boundless energy, and a deep-set passion to open my own restaurant. That's about all I brought to the table. That, and $25,000 which came from the sale of a small piece of land my grandfather left me in his will. That was my stake in getting my restaurant dream kicked off and running.

In March, before the shutdown, we served our final meal in the Purple Parrot, not knowing it was going to be our final meal, ever. Over the course of the shutdown it became apparent that the business model for that specific concept would not be able to survive going forward in the post-COVID business climate. Instead of just shutting the doors in March and re-concepting the space to something new, our team felt that we needed closure and we wanted to offer the community— that has so fervently supported us throughout the years— closure as well.

I came up with the idea that we would have a farewell dinner for five nights. Our executive chef, Linda Roderick, created an excellent menu. Chief Operating Officer and Purple Parrot Sommelier, Jerrod Patterson, took care of the wine pairings. The menu was 100% pure Purple Parrot. We made the announcement, and within a day all seatings for all days were booked. Two days in it was apparent— from all of the phone calls we were still receiving— that many longstanding guests who wanted to help send us off in an appropriate manner weren't able to get on the books. In one of the easiest decisions I have ever made in my 38-year restaurant career, I added two more nights to the farewell dinners.

Whatever I could have imagined those final nights in that dining room to be— even if I allowed my imagination to run wild into the deepest depths of the right side of my brain— I never would have imagined such a wonderful, positive, and rewarding five-night stand, as people, who have meant so much to us, came together in this place that has meant so much to them, all to bid our old girl, farewell.

People drove from six states. One couple drove from Dallas to have their final meal in the Parrot. Many drove from Jackson and the Gulf Coast, the Delta and Corinth. Some drove from Alabama, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Florida. Many brought gifts. I have two bottles of homemade jam sitting in my home kitchen that won't last long. I have photographs from the old days. People brought banana bread and other food items. Those were all nice. Though I'm most grateful that they brought themselves and that they sat in that room that was originally built as a dress shop in 1975 and that has served this community as a restaurant since 1987.

There was no despair hanging in the air throughout the room. There was just an overwhelming feeling of celebration. It was almost like one of those cool funerals where no one is sad about the decedents passing because everyone is sharing happy stories and fond remembrances about the deceased, while recalling what a joyful life they shared together. I experienced no feelings of sadness or melancholy. I visited with every guest who dined with us during those five nights. I approached— and left— each table with a deep sense of gratitude. Possibly the deepest feeling of gratitude I have ever experienced in that room.

The guests dining in that room— and hundreds of thousands of others like them— have given me a life of which I never could have dreamed. In the fall of 1987, had someone handed me a sheet of paper and a pen and said “Write down what you think your life as a restaurateur could be 30 years from now. Dream big. Think of all the things you would want it to be, and then dream even bigger. Then fold that piece of paper up and put it in a drawer and go to work. Keep your head down and do what you do and run that restaurant.”

I would love to have that piece of paper today. Not for sentimental value or as a piece if memorabilia I could frame and put on the walls of my office. No. I would love to have that sheet of paper because I know that I would have so undershot what this restaurant, in that space— over the past three decades— has given to me, and the community.

My early musings on that fictitious piece of paper would have focused on things such as money, big houses, big cars, vacation homes, lots of awards and a long list of material and worldly things such as that. The materialistic fantasies of a wide-eyed 26-years old. Though the truth is what the Purple Parrot has given me for the past 32 years has nothing to do with financial, material, or worldly things.

The Purple Parrot has given me a 32-year outlet for the creative passion I have always had burning deep down inside of me. That flame still burns strong, but it burns strong but because it was lit by the Purple Parrot. The Purple Parrot has made it possible for me to feed my children, and to feed the thousands of other children of the people who have worked in that building. The Parrot has given me a sense of purpose. There are many times in my life where I took a rocky path, the wrong path, and the most dangerous path. The Purple Parrot took me down a road of self-fulfillment and turned me into a person who once was selfish and self-seeking into a man who somehow became compassionate and grateful.

Extra Table, the charity I founded 11 years ago sitting at a table in the Purple Parrot, is now shipping over 35 tons of healthy food to over 40 different agencies across the Mississippi each month. To be clear, I am not doing that. The people who donate to Extra Table, and the talented women who run Extra Table are making that happen. But the inspiration came add table five in the Purple Parrot as did many other ideas and concepts over the past three decades.

I had initially reserved table four in the corner of the dining room for the last seating, on the last night, for the last meal ever served in the Purple Parrot. I invited my wife, my daughter, and my son to join me as the four of us would share the final meal served in this 32-year institution. I planned to write about that experience in today's column. However, when I added two more nights that pushed our final dinner past my newspaper deadline. Maybe it's better that way. Maybe that final experience is something more personal. One that I should just keep to myself, savor in my mind’s eye, and store in the recesses of my brain to occasionally pull out and remember when I am sitting in a rocking chair on my front porch in my mid 80s. So be it.

Farewell.

Thank you.

Onward.


St. John is a restaurateur, chef, columnist, and author.  Robert St. John has spent almost four decades in the restaurant business. Thirty of those years have been as the owner of the Purple Parrot, Crescent City Grill, Mahogany Bar, Branch, Tabella, Ed’s Burger Joint, The Midtowner, and Midtown Donut in Hattiesburg, MS.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I, for one, will miss the Purple Parrot. I've spent many college nights in there... and the Mahogany. Great place with great vibes, great libations, and great food. I'm glad Robert took it out in a true New Orleans funeral fashion. It was well deserved.

Anonymous said...

I think St. John’s articles are a much better investment for this blog than Salter.

Anonymous said...

YES 12:40. RSJ's columns are entertaining and heartfelt. I'll up my JJ donation next year if that switch ever gets made.

Anonymous said...

WELLDONE RSJ WELLDONE!!!!!

Anonymous said...

I wish you the best Robert !

You will come through this.

Just remember Faulkner's quote:

"I believe that man will not merely endure: he will prevail. "



Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.