Ryan's closes their JC restaurant

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

After 17 years in business, a Jefferson City restaurant closed their doors, Tuesday night.

Officials with the company that owns Ryan’s Steakhouse, 730 West Stadium Boulevard, said they closed the restaurant following a review of their underperforming locations.

There were two managers and 41 hourly employees who worked at the restaurant.

One manager was offered a transfer to another location and other employees are being encouraged to apply for open positions at other locations that are operated by Ryan’s parent company, Buffets, Inc. out of Eagan, MN.

The company does not own the building, it was a leased location.

Company officials also said they have no plans to re-open the restaurant.

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2warped757 1 year ago

While I am sorry that people lost their jobs, I can't say that it was a big loss to the area. I only set foot in the place once, for a meeting, and vowed I would NEVER return there to eat because the place was so filthy. Maybe I just hit there on a bad day, but I guess that is all it takes, because in 7 years, I never did go back.

newone 1 year ago

I would have to agree, this place has been nasty for years, food was always cold and not very clean at all. Wish would they put a Golden Corral in there, would be nice not to have to drive to Columbia at the time.

JMO 1 year ago

2warped, you didn't hit it on a bad day.

I also feel badly that these people lost their jobs. They're hard to come by now. We used to eat at Ryan's quite a bit, and it was never the cleanest place, but it wasn't so bad we woudn't eat there since my kid loved it. Then about a year ago we went again, hadn't been in a long time, and it was filthy. I mean black grime on those little half-walls that you could literally peel off if you wanted to, the windows on top of them splattered, the rug disgusting. And this was early in the dinner hour on a week day - no excuses. We had just walked in and grabbed plates without really looking around, but I couldn't eat after I did. Not that the food was very good either. I should have spoken to the manager, but instead I called the number on the little "complaint cards" and spoke with someone and told them about it. I would never have ever set foot in it again.

MO4LIFE 1 year ago

WOOOHHHOOOOOOO!!!! YIIIIPPPPPEEEEEE!! That place was the nastiest and dirtiest Ryans i have ever been too in my life! BRING IN GOLDEN CORRAL! Lets get a petition going to get them to put one here and send it to the company!

linoge 1 year ago

When criminals are released from prison back into the community, or placed under court supervision, their Probation/Parole Officer (PO) will almost always stipulate that they maintain employment. Exceptions are made for those who can prove disability. For these offenders, the Jefferson City Ryan's provided employment when no other business in town would consider their application. As far as going in their to eat a meal, you've got to be kidding me.

JCsleeper 1 year ago

Wonder if they were the cooks in the slammer.

JCsleeper 1 year ago

Destined to fail. - Didn't have a drive-thru. 17 years? Might be a historic building for tours.

mariah10 1 year ago

I have been going there and other Ryan's for more than 20 plus years.

First, I have to agree that the quality had gone downhill quite a bit over the years. Quite often I did have to ask them to reheat my food or I would just take it home and reheat it.

Food was not seasoned well enough for me, like GC does. But some of their food I absolutely loved. I specifically went on Tuesdays and Saturdays for their chicken and dumpling, and I loved their chocolate chip cookies. Other than that, it was just average. But kids had a ball.

This personally hits home because I have a friend who has worked there since it opened, and to act like they are all criminals is sickening. She is not, nor are the dozens of others that I know personally including one man who has 12 children, 8 of which are foster children. There is not a larger heart in the universe and his wife is wheelchair bound. And if you don't want criminals back on the street going after you you should appreciate a place that offers them a second chance.

About Golden Corral. I do not deliberately go to Columbia for it, but everytime I go there that's where I eat. I, too, along with most of the workers at Ryan's, had wanted one to come here because they were not happy with management.

As to dirt. If I worried about that, I would be Howard Hughes. I saw McDonald's employees picking up my pancakes with their bare hands. When I asked my daughter who used to work there said they ALL do that. WHY? What's the matter with gloves or tongs! But I bet all of you complaining go to Mcd's! My stepdaughter used to work at Applebee's, Lee's, KFC, and Wendy's along with some 'high' quality places and she said after working there she won't eat there. WHAT'S LEFT? Brown bag it?

Ok, sorry, but if anyone camps (and I mean CAMP, not camper) there is going to be dirt. Not that restaurants should be dirty, but I don't think any of them are really clean like the way you proabably keep your own kitchen.

locotony 1 year ago

When it first opening it was a decent place to eat, but after the first 5-6 years they started to change and the price went up and food quality went down then the price dropped and the food got worse we used to go there for breakfast on Saturdays but stopped as half the time the food was cold and you never knew if the bacon would be cooked or raw. Oh and for those who want a Golden Corral they were looking to put one in front of Menards but from what I have heard from the rumor mill and several legit sources the parent company is waiting for a better economic situation before doing more expansion as they already went out of business once in Jeff City.

january 1 year ago

Cut off one head and two will replace it.

spelchek 1 year ago

No, you will make you obese, not the food.

Gotigers 1 year ago

I agree, the Golden Corral is a nice place to eat, especially if you have children. I have found it extremely clean and the food is very good.

lurker 1 year ago

I mourn the loss of the only restaurant in JC I felt comfortable taking my 4 kids, ages 10 thru 1. My 10 year old son is especially taking it hard as he is a bread man, and loved the rolls.

Over the years, we celebrated many birthdays there, as it was the place our kids chose for themselves.

Look, I know the quality had slipped, and it was in clear need of renovation as the bathrooms were deplorable in particular.

The desserts had really, really nosedived from the beginning too.

I however choose to hold onto the good memories however. I mourned the loss of Duff's as well.

It was what it was, and we accepted it to the end.

No, I will not spit on their grave, nor talk about how restaurants are so much better 30 miles north.

yonomo 1 year ago

Why would you "mourn" the loss of a resturant or think about the "good memories" of a resturant?

asb 1 year ago

I mourn the loss of Mike's Corner Pocket even though it was a totally rank dump by the time Matt go done with it . . . but I loved it and sniffle every time I see 40 TVs in Pfenny's.

tonto_goldberg 1 year ago

I don't know about you, but events and places are the things that anchor all of my memories. That particular restaurant wasn't in any of my memories, but some of my best memories include a restaurant setting.

melbrooks 1 year ago

I'd much prefer Pfenny's to Mike's due to beer selection alone. I'm curious what you miss about it. Spec's has pool tables if that's the issue.

JCLifer 1 year ago

It is so sad this town is desperately lacking culture and good restaurants. This whole thread is pathetic in that it even exists.

wcywing 1 year ago

there are many good restaurants in JC, ryans was not one of them. there is Chim's, Love Sushi, Das Stein Haus, Town Grille, Moose Brothers, J'phenney's, etc. you just need to know where to look. hopefully the employees can find a job soon.

JCLifer 1 year ago

Do any JC restaurants even have a trained and certified chef? Most all of them have food that tastes like microwaved food straight off the Sysco truck.

rodinman 1 year ago

bypass O'Donoghues. Ate there very recently. Had to send a glass back as it wash dirty, had to ask for silverware to accomodfate the party and again to complete the meal. Server was unable to describe dishes and when a child asked for bbq sauce the server did not tell her it was hot. She burnt her mouth and another server talked very negatively about JC. First and last last time to enter the place.

Gotigers 1 year ago

I have always found O'Donoghues to be very good. Perhaps it was just a bad day. I enjoy going to Pfenneys for beer selection but I have found their food to be pretty bad. If you want a good cheeseburger I would go to Ecco or Prison Brews.

JMHO

JCLifer 1 year ago

Ecco does have decent burgers. The rest of their food is oretty good for what it is in this town.

JMO 12 months ago

That would be our, not are, "smartone".

Hey Editor - why does your censor not let me post s h o e s and c h o r e s, but lets this through?

online_editor 12 months ago

We don't directly control the master filter. It's a third party company's software in place over multiple sites. Otherwise, we'd make some modifications that we've suggested to little avail. Sorry for the inconvenience. (On the positive side, it at least has significantly curtailed automated spam posting.)

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