Jackson Jambalaya

I’m surprised he chose to stay open this long

Another greasy spoon closes, probably due to the 24/7 violence crime, boiling water, low water pressure, vagrants, racing, right?

I posted this in the comments 2 weeks ago. I just happened across it while looking for downtown housing.

He wants to retire, his kids are in other lines of work. I don't think there is much more to it than that.

Move it out to Madison, the city.

Have you ever eaten there, Anonymous? Obviously not. "Greasy spoon". You must be kidding. Love the Mayflower. Wish Jerry had moved the restaurant to one of the burbs years ago.

Really Sad another little part of me just died

"Another greasy spoon closes, probably due to the 24/7 violence crime, boiling water, low water pressure, vagrants, racing, right?"

I'm sure it is a combination of it all to include your examples plus Biden's inflation and the horrible employment issues facing restaurants right now.

I will be purchasing that property and turning it into a bikini daiquiri bar…

Yeah, that block with the King Edward has just become one huge ghetto party.

End of an era. I definitely was in the Mayflower camp more than the Elite.

I would think federal employees working at home because of Covid is another reason Mayflower closed.

to 2:26......the only thing ''greasy'' here is probably you hair.
another green teeth redneck who wouldn't know excellent cuisine from alpo dog food.

I really hate to hear this. Everything the “good” people establish, the “others” destroy. They can’t stand to see us enjoying life. You may call it a greasy spoon but my family enjoyed it. My last time I ate their I was approached by a vagrant and drew my weapon because he wouldn’t stop bothering my wife and daughters. That restaurant held on longer than I thought they could with the ongoing issues that the boy mayor has brought upon this city. I see the King Edward not staying if things don’t change. I mean, why would you stay in a ghetto? Honestly.

As things go in Jackson, you all may as well forget about having anything nice for quite a while.

I had heard that either the Mayflower or the Manship was going to move to the district😳

I’m sure the Daiquiri Bar shit show that opened across the street was the last straw.

Creshales announced a move to Rankin about 7 years ago. Figured out how expensive it was and it never happened. The announcement drove up revenue maybe 50% at the old place on 80 because of all the folks who had forgotten about it who wanted to support it. It;s still there. The food is still great and I've never had a problem with "crime." I'm not sure I would venture down to Capitol Street on a weekend night, but I'd like to eat at the Mayflower for old times sake. And I highly suggest Creshales. I'm not sure how long Bob will be around or what will happen to it when he can't work.

$477,000? I think I'll wait and buy it at a tax sale.

Whatever happened to the waitresses who worked at the Elite for 40+ years?

Iron Horse may be all that is left. Food is great and at night, there's 4-5 cops working the place with their blue lights on. It helps to have all of that state money invested in a place.

I hate this. I had a consulting gig in downtown last summer. It is clear that Covid destroyed what was left of downtown. Jackson was in a long slow decline, but when everybody worked from home for a year, it devastated downtown. Or should I say it accelerated the devastation. And the nation-side defund the police movement empowered the criminal element which we are seeing on weekend nights. You got Martins and Iron Horse, and literally a ghost town in between.

4:17, for your bikini daquari bar, don't forget to add an amphitheater and a ferris wheel.

Lordbumba should be happy. Another white mans business is shutting down.

Those of you who do not work or live in Downtown should not comment erroneously about Downtown. I work Downtown every day. Still a lot of good here. Big demand for residential. But yes the City and JPD and Capitol Police have got to clean up the west end of Capitol Street. I hate this for the Mayflower and especially the King Edward.

I had a blue plate lunch at one of those Greek joints downtown 20 years ago, tasted like canned food. Never went back to any of them. But the original Iron Horse (before fire) was dynamic, delicious and fun for the whole family.

5:18, it's Crechale's, with a C, not an s. Agree that it's one of the dying breeds and excellent.

Can’t imagine the Mayflower building a new restaurant in Madison County. Preparing seafood on new stoves/grills would destroy the taste that took years to achieve. And destroying the ambiance of the Mayflower bathrooms would be horrible!

The local color aspects of Mayflower were so much of its appeal. I loved it for many years- lunch and dinner. It’s amazing they lasted this long through all the downtown issues and the pandemic. Just too much working against them I’m certain. Good job though, and good luck..

" End of an era. I definitely was in the Mayflower camp more than the Elite."

End of an era indeed.

I liked them both!
(But the Elite had declined during it's final years... IMO).

But let's be honest, that era ended decades ago.
As many have said, I'm surprised they remained down there this long.

The Elite & Mayflower were both historic Greek owned restaurants on Capitol Street, but they were two very different establishments.

I'm not sure if the owners even considered it as a competition between the two.

But yeah, both had some legendary waitress' on the historic Jackson restaurant scene.

They had an epic run. Consistent food and service.. Congratulations on a well earned retirement!

Bunch of racist trash. Race and the daiquiri bar have nothing to do with the Mayflower. This is just another one of Putin's closings.

I've eaten there dozens, if not hundreds of times over the last 27 years. It was nasty, no way it ever passed a legit health inspection.

The cumbak was the best though.

I remember so many good family restaurants and comfortable dives that are gone for a hundred different reasons. Getting old is a drag. Sigh....

RIP

Deneries
Primos Northgate, South of Baptist hospital
Green Derby
Rotisserie
Bordens Ice Cream across from Battlefield
Seal Lilley Ice Cream at Poindexter and Triangle Mart
Cherokee Inn on North State
Shoney's at Westland Plaza
Elite
Royal, Lamar, Paramount, Skyview, Varia
Tall Man's Pool Hall
Shady Rest Drive Inn
Old Tyme Deli at Colonial Mart
LeFleur's On I-55
University Club on top floor of DGB
Nick's on Lakeland
Hickory Hpuse on Capitol
Frostop and T-Willie's
What was the cafe on Woodrow Wilson at the Farmer's Market
The Cafe at Union StockYard (Name escapesm me

Others? My memory is failing and I guess it's just as well.

7:57, No one mentioned race except for you. It’s not our fault that the Daiquiri Bar brings people in the neighborhood that don’t know how to act in public. It’s a shit show around that place.

I don't know if anyone has heard the latest, but Klaus Schwab and the lizard people will close on the building Monday morning. They plan to open "The Great Reset Bug Buffet." In an interview with the MSM, Klaus said, "It has been my dream since I was a young boy to own a shithole in a shithole so I could feed insects to lardassholes, fuglythugs, and thicchicks. As a grand opening special, anyone wearing a tinfoil tirolethut gets a free termite eggroll app. Dine in only."

I am eagerly awaiting St. John's column about the time he and Klaus made mosquito lasagna while sharing a bottle of Chianti in...wait for it...wait for it...TUSCANY! It is a place only he and the locals know about, the secret and exclusive nature easily verified by the 12,543 Yelp reviews saying the same thing.

Someone should write a history of the Greek restaurants in Jackson.

All of those families were pioneers in shaping the Capitol city's
restaurant scene.

Zouboukos
Kountouris
Primos
Crechale
Grillis
Dennery

and many others.

"Six Families" that never had a "war".

Disputes no doubt, but never a Corleone blood-bath.

I think the only major dispute was what to name their
Greek Orthodox Church on West Capitol Street back in the day.

But they worked that out with a concept known as "reason".


I do hope Mr Crechale stays on Hwy 80 as long as he can.

I used to rent from The Tall Man when I was a college student in the early 1970s, and living on Clinton Avenue in West Jackson was safe.

Where have all our places gone?
They ran from slum clubs every one
When will we ever learn?
When will we eeeever learn?


{Please turn your parking lights on as we proceed to the cemetery}

"I just happened across it while looking for downtown housing. July 15, 2022 at 2:50 PM"

Sure you were...

Ground control to BH. This is the rocket ship. My condolences.

Wish someone could buy the equipment and recipes and staff and move. Also a good market to sell the dressing in ms groceries if they could bottle it. Worked downtown until around 2010. It was the end of an era for food and we didn’t know it. My law firm and many others kept rotating between the good places.

I know personally all the names and families in 10:18 post. Except kountouris. What was their business or restaurant trade? Curious to learn

What about Fisherman's Wharf on Highway 80.

To our City Council: Can’t you people see what is happening in our formerly great city? Are you just going to stand by and let it be destroyed? Do you not care about Jackson anymore? It deeply saddens me after over 70 years here to see it being allowed to decline…..and so rapidly!!! Why do you stand by and do nothing but pontificate? I realize that there are many reasons for our decline, however, you asked for your position of leadership so quit standing by and doing nothing!!!!!!!!!!!

Another Jackson taxpayer gone.

Dog and Suds

Martins when you used to could smoke

The Lamar

Frank’s World Famous Biscuits

Krystal next to the Governors Mansion.

The restaurant I’m the Landmark Building. Taco salads on Friday.

Two Sisters

CS’s when they were reliably open every day.

Is Mayflower closed or just for sale? I think many many of us would like to eat there before they officially close.

What restaurant was Cat Cora’s family affiliated with?

The Mary Frances (when it was on North State St., across from the Old Capitol). Best rolls in town.

8:13. Crabs in a bucket.

+1 on the "Tax sale."

As far as what happened to the waitresses who worked at the Elite for 40 years, they got old.

And as for the Iron Horse, the last few times I went there, they couldn't serve a simple, not-so-great meal inside an hour.

Can't leave out Katsaboulous in that list of Jackson's Greeks. Fisherman's Wharf on Highway 80 and later at the reservoir was owned and operated by Jerry Psanos and family.

I believe Cat Cora's father worked for Pete Costas at The Continental. Pete was Cat's godfather.

Angelo's (2 locations) and Redwood Court.

Too bad all the little butt hurt liberals are just too dense to understand the real problem......

It's you and your proper pronoun beliefs that affects your judgement. Must be bad to go through life with no friends or self esteem, so as to attach yourself to other losers just like you.

Follow the blight and destruction of city after city, along with the states of California, Oregon and Washington, with more to follow. When you have absolutely, all you can do is throw around the word "Racist" to make yourself feel good.

To really understand you know nothingness is all you have to do is look at the "Red Cities in the state, versus the "Blue" one and all their problems.

Mayflower food was ok, but wasn't any better than any other restaurant.

It's pretty obvious that many of those commenting never were regulars at the Mayflower, were not old family Jacksonians and never met the owner or his children.
You just say anything to bash Jackson.

I’m trying to remember a post that JJ had a few years back that recalled how many private owned restaurants were in the Jackson area in the 79’s and 80’s and into the early 90’s and it was mind blowing! We had it going on then! I wish I had been born earlier to enjoy those places. Two of the places that I remember so very well was Dennery’s and Fisherman’s Wharf! I proposed to my wife at Dennery’s. I suppose all good things have to end. Now, the kitchen equipment could possibly be moved from the Mayflower to another location and possibly the Neon Sign. I remember as a kid all the neon signs in Jackson. Sure “was” a great place and a thanks to all of the people to had a big hand in making it happen. A big “middle finger” goes to the current group running the show that’s allowing the city to run into the ground.

10:10 that was Bill's Greek Tavern on McWillie Drive -- another memory of the past...

One of the former waitresses (Candy) works at Costco now.

Does anybody remember the name of the restaurant on the east side of Terry Rd located at about the entrance of Jackson Square? Served seafood and I believe Italian.

Widow Watsons in the metro mall was a go to place.

Well 12:24, your asinine statement is why you'll never be known as a frik'n know it all!

When you put the truth out there all you little libs can do is whine, instead of facing what your liberal/Dim-O-Krat policies have done to the city of jackson.

Raised in jackson, walked a JPD beat in downtown and worked the midnight shift downtown for many years. Ate and drank coffee plenty in Mayflower, probably more times than your wimpy azz has been in it.

I'd advise you to shut up, you've proven you know dick.

Thanks for helping destroying what was once a crime free, clean and well run city with good city services......such as water and garbage p/u.

Well, Baby Chok may never be able to fulfill his father's goal of a NATION of Kush, but it looks like BC is getting remarkably close to at least creating a CITY of Kush....and I'm not saying that in jest. Now, to tackle the near future problem of ZERO tax revenue........

One step closer to 'Free the Land!'

" Wish someone could buy the equipment and recipes and staff and move ".

While that is very plausible, it would not come close to the original.

Think the "new and relocated" Cherokee years ago.
Not bad at the start, ( original signage, worn-out crappy furnishings, ect ...but the new place was never like the original beloved dump.

2:37 maybe Romanoff’s?

Like Fat Tuesdays, old place has atmosphere and character, then a sterilized strip mall. Or Fanin Mart. That place by Grant's Ferry is none of the charm of the old place on 471 although it had to close.

and good luck moving that sign to Madison or Ridgeland. None of the burbs are going to allow it with their codes and site plans.

3:27, I may be wrong, but I think you interpreted 12:27’s comment the wrong way. I think he made a valid statement. A lot of old Jackson Families did some and still have dined there in the recent past. It was a great gathering place. We Appreciate your service to the city and protecting us. You are entitled to your opinion, nevertheless I don’t think he meant it the way you read it. Thank you again.

There was a Krystal’s next to governors mansion? Haley B years?

I will miss the mayflower for sure. Jerry has done a great job with the family restaurant. He and his lovely wife need to enjoy retirement... travel.. have fun. The Kontouras family is well loved here in Jackson.



also...
@5:36.. Yes.. There Was a Krystal restaurant in downtown Jackson for as long as I can remember. Shopping downtown and lunch at Krystal was great fun on Saturdays when I was a child. The building still stands. the architecture of the building was similar to other Krystal restaurants at the time. I believe the Krystal in the New Orleans French Quarter may still reflect this old style. There have been several restaurants in that location over the years since Krystal closed. .

Krystal was on the corner of Capitol and President. Closed around 1980. Stayed closed a long time and now it’s a Jamaican restaurant. Actually quite good.

Friday’s
Oliver’s
Sundancer
Olde Tyme Deli
(all were in Highland Village)

Little Red Hen
then John L’s
(Maywood)

Yeah, those ‘Greek’ Krystals were to die for!!

There was an old cafe across from King Edward, the first block east of train depot. Long gone now. Anyone remember their name. Also, does anyone remember the magic shop down there across from my onrembered cafe, and the newsstand on the block just west of the mayflower?

The eatery across from the train station was called People's Cafe. Right around the corner on Mill Street was the Noble Hotel.

9.22, that would be the People’s Cafe, which was owned by another well-known Greek family. George and Anna Nuzzo operated the People’s Cafe for many years then sold the restaurant to start a new business. Miss Anna was the dearest, sweetest lady you could ever meet!

Angelo’s and Punchy’s

Angelo’s and Punchy’s

Maybe I’ll buy it and open an establishment Brad Kamikaze Franklin would like. You know, a club with three cop cars out front and security patting down everyone that comes in. That would be great for downtown.

When the Greek families came on the scene they were treated like second class citizens.

They had to work twice as hard for twice as long performing jobs no one else would. I mean selling fruit on the side of the road while living in the damn woods.

Slowly over time their hard work paid off but the disparate treatment continued. Colonial country club? Made for Jews and Greeks and others deemed not worthy of the JCC.

Point is the times have changed yet again. The current demographic doesn’t eat drum with lump crab meat. Todays current groups palate is fried fish and wings and they spend very little on the food and expect a great deal.

Some of the new group are starting to try to carve out their role in the future of jackson restaurants….TRIO on state is an example. Lot of Atlanta bottle service which plays to the new demographic. It’s super expensive too.

I’m optimistic time will allow new families to share their tastes for jackson and we will all be surprised.

It’ll be hard to watch something that was a constant in your life end for sure….but another venue will create another chapter and your memories will always exist if the good times in your favorite haunts.

Chin up people….the best is yet to come

Golden Dragon was one of my favorites years ago.
I miss it.

The People’s Cafe was owned and operated in the 1930s by George Psanos (father of Jerry Psanos, who had Fisherman’s Wharf) and his brother-in-law, Theodore Gennis, The Nuzzos acquired it sometime in the 1960s.

The Mayflower and the Elite were cool to visit due to the retro atmosphere, but I was not impressed by their food. Maybe it was good 50 years ago but 10 and 20 years ago is was very ho-hum. Maybe for what I think is the reason people like Mama Hamil's - people don't know what good home cooking tastes like any more. Or they were raised on home cooking inferior to what I was.

In other news, there's an excavator and a pile of rubble on the former Twin Peaks site on the I-55 frontage road.

4:43 - I BELIEVE Romanoff’s IS CORRECT. THANK YOU.

will it remain open while for sale or did it close?

I work there and he is interested in selling the business . . . not closing it.