BizBeat: Nick's Family Restaurant flies across town to new location

Julie Smith/News Tribune
Eric Raithel helps his brother, Scott Raithel, to get back into business by framing up a half wall in the kitchen at Nick's Family Restaurant at 1507 E. McCarty St. Formerly located in the terminal at Jefferson City Memorial Airport, Nick's was forced to move out when the rising floodwater creeped nearer and nearer the building. They've been closed since May 21 as they moved out the dining room tables and chairs, kitchen equipment and whatever else they could. When the water receded, it was discovered that the structure suffered too much damage to be feasible to repair so Nick's had to find a new home. After Brew House Coffee closed earlier this year, building owner Hank Stratman contacted Nick's owner, Scott Raithel, so see if he had an interest in leasing on the east end of town. Family and friends have been helping Scott as he prepares to reopen next week. — Julie Smith/News Tribune Eric Raithel helps his brother, Scott Raithel, to get back into business by framing up a half wall in the kitchen at Nick's Family Restaurant at 1507 E. McCarty St. Formerly located in the terminal at Jefferson City Memorial Airport, Nick's was forced to move out when the rising floodwater creeped nearer and nearer the building. They've been closed since May 21 as they moved out the dining room tables and chairs, kitchen equipment and whatever else they could. When the water receded, it was discovered that the structure suffered too much damage to be feasible to repair so Nick's had to find a new home. After Brew House Coffee closed earlier this year, building owner Hank Stratman contacted Nick's owner, Scott Raithel, so see if he had an interest in leasing on the east end of town. Family and friends have been helping Scott as he prepares to reopen next week.

The Jefferson City Memorial Airport reopened in mid-July, but due to heavy flood damage, a Capital City staple didn't return.

Nick's Family Restaurant, which serves traditional breakfast and home-style favorites like fried chicken, fish and ham for lunch and dinner, originally opened at the airport in 2001.

After flooding damaged the airport terminal this spring, Nick's was forced to close. Due to the extensive damage, they have decided to relocate.

Now located at 1507 E. McCarty St. in The Village Square, Nick's hopes to reopen Thursday, as long as they get all their inspections taken care of, owner Scott Raithel said.

The new location will offer the same lunch and dinner menus, but Raithel said the breakfast menu will be a little bit limited compared to the old menu.

Despite the circumstances of their move, Raithel said they are excited for the new location to open.

"It's going to work out great," Raithel said. "It should be a little bit more seen over here."

If Nick's opens Thursday, Raithel said, they will be open from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. for breakfast and lunch and from 4-8 p.m for dinner.

Jefferson City staff recommended to the city's Public Works and Planning Committee this week that the airport terminal building be demolished due to the massive flood damage.

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