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THE BIRTH OF A LEGEND As befitting a legend, many of the precise details of this landmark's history have been obscured by the haze of time. Much of what we know was gleaned when older patrons - even previous owners - would come in to eat and drop the occasional hint about the past. But a photograph from a University of Missouri yearbook confirms that this joint was jumpin' in 1927. This sedate gourmet restaurant began life as a rollicking, honky tonk beer hall at the crossroads of old Highway 40 (the forerunner of Interstate 70) and U.S. 63. A rowdy reputation, rough trade and "risqué atmosphere" made the place off limits for many years to the well-bred young ladies of Stephens College. Patrons of the boisterous roadhouse, known as Red & Mel's, popularized a game of throwing beer bottles at nearby cattle. Depressions, recessions, wars and assassinations provided endless opportunities for mid-Missourians to forget their troubles, celebrate their successes and drown their sorrows. The place became a romantic rendezvous for college kids flush with the first bloom of love. It was a popular gathering spot after the latest victory by Missouri Tiger football teams that were growing into a national power under Head Coach Don Faurot. It was a favored after-five watering hole for shift workers at local industries like the Brown Shoe Factory. And it was a haven where returning veterans - many attending college on the G.I. Bill - could enjoy the camaraderie of soldiers, sharing experiences only they could know, trying to wash away horrors they had endured but could never understand. These young men with old faces and haunted eyes kept coming back for decades. This convenient central location provided the perfect excuse to return to the dim corners where they nursed their beers and helped each other nurse their damaged psyches. Rock 'n roll, the Cold War, the Kennedy Years, Vietnam - the vaunted barroom saw it all. The names of the business, and the names of the patrons, changed. The good times continued to roll. A NEW TRADITION IS BORN Then, in 1968, the fabled cement-floor beer hall was transformed into Columbia's first gourmet restaurant, as an addition to Jack's Coronado Inn. Jack Crouch, president of the Coronado, was adamant that Columbia should have a fine restaurant. To this day, the Coronado sign remains on the restaurant as both a greeting and a tribute to MU alumni who recognize it on trips back to Columbia. During the '70s, with its large bar, Jack's leaned more toward the alcohol side of food service. Live music and furious disco dancing was featured in a room now reserved for banquets. There were whispered rumors that Joe Namath, the great quarterback originally drafted #1 by the St. Louis Cardinals football team, was going to buy the place. "As far as I can tell," Applegate says, "it was just a rumor." Applegate, a part-owner since 1973 and sole owner since 1977, re-focused the establishment with his passion for food. Under Applegate, Jack's Gourmet became the first place in town to serve veal. It's still the only place in town where you can get escargot, and it's been on the menu since the early '70s. DON'T BLAME THE FLAMING COFFEE CORONADO All the hot times in the history of Jack's Gourmet had a hard time measuring up to the heat of one recent event. A fire during the early morning hours of Friday January 12, 2001, caused an estimated $500,000 in damage to the bar area of the fabled restaurant. A Columbia police officer who was passing by the restaurant, at 1903 Business Loop 70 E., reported smoke coming from the building shortly after 1 a.m. Friday. Columbia firefighters arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire within 10 minutes. They used thermal imaging cameras to check the ceiling and wall areas for hidden fires after the main one was put out. The last employees had left about an hour before the fire, and there were no injuries. The building predates codes requiring alarms and fire-suppression systems, but the composition of its walls might have helped minimize the damage. They are coated with plaster, a material that "tends to contain fire very well," according to Lt. Steven Sapp of the Columbia Fire Department. Many Columbia restaurateurs lined up to support for the Applegates in the wake of the fire. About 70 percent of Applegate's business comes from catering, and he had between 25 and 30 catering events planned for this weekend. "There's just something about restaurant people," said Mary Evans, who owns the 63 Diner with her husband, Norton. "We're like a fraternity. My husband has known Ken for 15 or 20 years, but sometimes even if you don't know someone well, you know you have a lot in common being in the business of feeding and taking care of people." Evans and other restaurant owners offered to Applegate the use of their kitchens to assist with his catering obligations. "We told Ken if there's anything we can do this weekend to help them, we'd be more than happy," Evans said. REBUILDING THE LEGEND In June 2001, after more than five months and $650,000 in repairs and renovations, Jack's Gourmet Restaurant again opened its doors to that huge extended family of patrons. We invite you to come celebrate with us. Come taste the tradition. Revel in the timeless elegance. Come enjoy legendary fine dining at Jack's Gourmet Restaurant.
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