Country Kitchen, a longtime restaurant chain known for its breakfasts, recently closed its Jefferson City location.
"I'd like to thank the community for the past 30 years," Charles Mocco, CEO of Country Kitchen International, said in a Friday interview. He said the restaurant chain is actively seeking another location in Jefferson City.
Ronald Annen with RJA Inc., doing business as Country Kitchen, is listed as the local owner. (Editor's note: See correction below.)
Chris McGrath, vice president of marketing for County Kitchen International, said the closing was a "location issue" for the chain, and the current building will be listed for sale through Kolb Properties.
A casual dining restaurant known for its skillet breakfasts and pancakes, Country Kitchen also served lunch and dinner since opening locally in 1985. It was located at 1650 Jefferson St., a U.S. 54 access road that features several other restaurants and hotels. It was beside Truman 4 Theatres, a second-run movie theater that closed last year.
McGrath said the 23 full- and part-time employees in Jefferson City have been offered transfers to other area Country Kitchens. Several have already transferred, he said.
City officials say there were no issues from the city's standpoint - such as issues with business licenses or food inspections - that would have contributed to the closing. The city did a food-provider inspection there last month, and found a couple issues that needed to be addressed, but nothing serious.
Reviews of the restaurant on Urbanspoon.com were almost evenly split between positive and negative. "Very satisfying breakfast, good kids menu choices. Food was hot and served promptly," one reviewer wrote. Another review complained about slow service, saying it took a waitress 20 minutes to refill a soda: "So it's an awesome place to eat if you don't mind getting there at 10 p.m. and then eating your meal tomorrow."
The chain is celebrating its 75th anniversary. It has restaurants in 17 states, including five other locations in Missouri. Columbia is the nearest to Jefferson City.
Correction, posted Aug. 26: The owner of the recently closed Country Kitchen, 1650 Jefferson St., was incorrect in this article because a change in ownership was never registered with Jefferson City's business office. Ronald Annen operated the franchise until 2005, when he transferred the franchise. When the restaurant closed recently, Annen's trust still owned the building, while the franchise was being operated by Mark Cuta and John McClane.