DANBURY — A household-owned restaurant that bought its start out providing two hot dogs and a cup of espresso for 25 cents and grew to become 1 of the city’s famous eateries is for sale so the owners can “enjoy lifestyle a little.”
“In this enterprise, you have to put 100 p.c into it and we constantly place 100 % into it,” said Peter Koukos, whose grandfather and grand uncle started JK’s Original Texas Hot Weiners on White Avenue in 1924. “We are not retiring mainly because we are burned out — the small business is likely powerful, but it is time to delight in lifetime a minor.”
Koukos, 62, is referring to a relatives-run business enterprise which survived the Terrific Melancholy, World War II, the flood of 1955 and the coronavirus pandemic by serving quintessential loved ones fare at reasonable charges. The menu at JK’s cafe, which has been on South Avenue for 48 several years, attributes cheeseburgers, club sandwiches and grinders — all for less than $12.
“The pandemic did not affect us at all,” said Koukos soon before the lunch hurry on Tuesday, referring to the COVID-19 epidemic that shut down scores of dining establishments throughout Connecticut and the nation for the duration of its two-year scourge. “We just improved the way we did enterprise.”
Koukos and his older brother George hope the new house owners pick up where the family members custom has still left off — preferring high quality over all the things else.
A true estate listing for the restaurant claims as a lot.
“Many companies, specifically through pandemic situations, did not make it this distinct small business thrived all over the shut down and still continues to expand and could increase to even much more,” reported a listing by Coldwell Banker Realty. “The hrs, menu, catering, off internet site special situations, in household special events, takeout, shipping, foods truck, and quite a few extra concepts could develop this enterprise and even develop into a franchise.”
To choose more than the organization and the cafe at 126 South St. will cost you $2.2 million, according to the listing.
“For pretty much 100 many years, this location has been a brand name and a staple in city, and you could be the just one to capitalize off of its legacy and make it your personal,” the listing reads. “The household who owns this would adore almost nothing extra than (to have) capable and willing persons to go off the yrs of commitment … with the very same desire.”
Kouskos claimed he has been telling prospects who have read the news that the spouse and children has every single intention of promoting to a new operator with similar values.
“They say, ‘Oh no, you simply cannot do that,’ and I say ‘JK’s will be the exact same,’” Koukos mentioned. “That is our intention. The new homeowners will do that if they are sensible. There’s no reason to reinvent the wheel.”
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