Thursday, January 20, 2022

End of an Era: Primos Sells Out

 The Primos family sold the restaurants.  WLBT reports:

After more than 90 years in business, the Primos family has sold its popular restaurants to Flowood-based MMI Hospitality Group.

No selling price was disclosed. The deal closed in early December, according to Micajah Sturdivant, president of MMI.

“It was really an honor,” Sturdivant said of the opportunity to take ownership of the established Primos brand that has kept Jacksonians fed since Angelo “Pop” Primos opened a bakery on Capitol Street in 1930.

Sturdivant says Primos’ former owner, Don Primos, continues to be involved as an adviser. Primos’ daughter Mary Claire is now working for MMI and will continue to oversee Primos marketing efforts. Rest of article.

 


48 comments:

Anonymous said...

Red velvet cake? Meh.

What have I missed at this place?

Been many times and the place is super clean and staffed superbly.

Just never found the thing I had to have.

?

Kingfish said...

Breakfast is pretty good as is the bakery. Wish they would bring back the French bread. Hard to find decent French bread in this area.

The lunch and dinner menu need work. Too many of the veggies taste like they were poured out of the can and have little flavor. Nothing really special about the entrees. Can't really think of a signature dish. The Elite had the veal cutlets and Mayflower has the seafood. I can't name an entree at Primos that is memorable.

Anonymous said...

Great service the one and only time I ever ate there. Can't say I was pleased with the meal though. Still a fixture and props for hanging as long as they did.

Anonymous said...

3:39 ... KF , Kroger got some damn good french bread.

Anonymous said...

It's been sad to see the quality of the food go down. You could tell they were cutting corners over the last few years - making as little home made as possible. The cakes have even changed - not as dense or as moist as in the past.

Anonymous said...

I hate to hear this.

Their 1960s/70s era gingerbread was delicious.
(The goldfish ponds at Primos Northgate were pretty cool back then as well).

Anyway, yet another Jackson icon is gone.

Of all the original iconic Greek restaurateurs, it seems only the families of The Mayflower & Crechale's remain in the trenches.

Anonymous said...

For any of you that are family run businesses in this day you can understand. Pre COVID things were difficult now it’s crazy. Trying to find and keep staff, overhead is higher but if you raise prices you are uncaring. Mom and Pop shops are becoming a rare breed.

Anonymous said...

Do they still sell the fudge brownies they were famous for. Ate many back in the day.

Anonymous said...

I really wish Crechale’s would relocate to a better area. I miss going there.

Anonymous said...

Don hung in their for a full working life time. The others play country boy and sit on their assets. GrandPa made them filthy rich, but at least Don worked to earn it. Kudos for that long run, in the family trade. An honorable man in this day and age.

Anonymous said...

The lone eagle is a favorite that has been on the menu for about 100 years. Please keep it

Anonymous said...

I hate to see the family ownership out of the restaurant. But when they closed the bakery operation ( best donuts ever) they pretty stopped making their own items on the menu.

Anonymous said...

Never got the appeal. You get like 2 pieces of bacon for $5

Anonymous said...

The caramel cake is the specialty!

Anonymous said...

1/4 fried chicken with fries. $.79. That's how I remember Primos. Two locations on Capitol street.

Anonymous said...

I totally agree with what KingFish says. The lunch at Primos isnt worth the price.

The Blue Plate lunches at Fat Tuesday, McB's and Shuckers kick the crap out of Primos.

Maybe these new folks can change that.

Anonymous said...

The Sturdivants run a good company in MMI. They are a good choice for a buyer.

Cousin Vinny said...

The cheese grits. Oh my God. How could you bunch of utes forget the cheese grits?!

Anonymous said...

I enjoy Primos.

MMI - best of luck and thanks in advance taking care of one of our favorites.

Anonymous said...

Good for them, all of the Primos family have been great for Jackson and surrounding towns. I have nothing but good to say about the Primos family.

Anonymous said...

Wish they would add the "famous franks", baked beans, pickles, gumbo and sugar cookies from the Old Tyme Deli. Those were the bomb.

Now that's a place I wish was still here.

Anonymous said...

The old restaurant on State Street across from Baptist was great. Loved the food there and it could not be replicated at the newer restaurants. I hated when it burned down.

Anonymous said...

Agree the lunches are not something to write home about.
They could take cooking lessons from Trace Grill.

Anonymous said...

5:24 pm
Yes, they still have the fudge brownies.

Anonymous said...

Once I found out how racist the old man was I never ate at the joint again. If they start opening on Sundays for Breakfast I would be a regular.

Anonymous said...

Awesome Primos family and heritage. Tremendous employees. Good prices. Great food and atmosphere for family and friends. I hope everything that the Primos family has created continues for many years. Best of luck MMI.

Anonymous said...

They need to serve alcohol in the Madison location.

Anonymous said...

Wth are you talkin bout 906?

Anonymous said...

Overpriced bacon but damn good grits! The Early Bird platter for breakfast is the best if you’re really hungry.

Good Breakfast on Lake Harbor said...

Crechales is a dump. Although we eat there periodically, I'm painfully aware that the place had not had a deep cleaning in fifty years, if ever. That's why the brightest bulb there is a 25 watt. They'll never relocate to a place where the sun shines in or cleanliness and top-notch wait service is required. But, that's the ambiance that attracts us.

As to Primos, I remember by Belvedere Street uncle taking me/us to the one on South State Street about sixty years ago. I had never been to a place like that. Uncle was a pompous fellow and got a kick out of sending his steak back to the kitchen. I'd never known anybody could or would do that.

Had a superb rehearsal dinner at Primos on North State back fifty years ago. An elegant meal and fancy digs.

Nothing lasts forever. The Primos family has contributed greatly to the area real estate, restaurant and outdoor world development over all these years beginning back when they owned most of the property east of the Pearl out several miles.

While the parents and grandparents would be sad, the younger family members will be rolling in cash, as usual. Crank up them yachts and head to Greece. Wish I could go with you.

Anonymous said...

Wonder why Kingfish doesn't dare criticize any of St. John's places? Hmmm.

PS: 11:05. There's no such thing as 'overpriced bacon'. Good bacon costs money. And Primos taught me to add cream to grits. There's can't be beat.

Anonymous said...

Memory Road Trip: Name all the current and prior locations.

Kingfish said...

Probably because I've never been to one.

Anonymous said...

I wish they (or someone) would share the recipe for Primo’s Creamy House Dressing.

Anonymous said...

9:06 : Found out ? Almost sounds like you were told and have never actually dealt with "the old man". I know I haven't.

Anonymous said...

Every single Asian and Indian restaurant in the metro is better than these culinary dinosaurs you worship.

Anonymous said...

4:30 : Beware of under priced bacon though.

Anonymous said...

Primos never claimed to provide fine dining, but it’s food consistently was tasty. As noted, the breakfast foods were particularly good. I hope Don enjoys his retirement, and the new owners are successful.

Anonymous said...

It was the caramel cake for me. Everything else was rather ordinary that I had on the menu.

Burke said...

As to 9:06, one thing I remember from the late '50s and into the '60s, when you paid for your meal, the cashier's counter had a glass full of miniature Confederate flags for sale. Nearby was a big glass container of doughnut holes you could buy for the road. I did buy a few doughnut holes. Well, more than a few.

N. B.: Nearly all of the white businesses were racist at that point.

Anonymous said...

Primos in Madison is a good place to meet friends or business associates for lunch. Or a good place to go with coworkers for lunch. The service is solid, the food is solid, and we can get a good lunch and go back to work. Trace Grill is a favorite also. Everybody on this thread wants to act like they are some sort of culinary expert. It's just food and they have a nice variety. They've done well and I hope they continue to succeed.

Anonymous said...

Thank you 2:23. At least one commenter here is not a pissant smartass.

Anonymous said...

"Nearby was a big glass container of doughnut holes you could buy for the road".

Gawd,I had Forgotten about those Primos doughnut holes.
"Melt in your mouth" would be an understatement.



Anonymous said...

"The Sturdivants run a good company in MMI. They are a good choice for a buyer."

I couldn't agree more. Don Primos has reached retirement age. Since the rest of the Primos family is not interested or ready to take over, this is about as positive a development as one can imagine. One longtime Mississippi family handing the baton to another longtime Mississippi family.

Isn't this great news? I think so.

Anonymous said...

Hey folks please be advised I don’t go to the Reservoir either !

Anonymous said...

12:37 actually thinks Confederate era flags are racist while he still purchases a Clarion Ledger every day.

Anonymous said...

You must be on the wrong thread, 10:24. Or are you just trolling for bait?

Get it? Reservoir, trolling, bait?

Anonymous said...

It's the fried chicken y'all!


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