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UPDATED - TOP STORY OF THE DAY: Power of One — “Uncle Jack’s” dream
A dream of a lifetime is coming true in Center Point:
A small hometown restaurant will be opening sometime in 2023 thanks to Jack Rentschler of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
“Uncle Jack,” what he’s known as in the Center Point community, was excited to speak Saturday night at the Center Point United Methodist Church, 208 South Cherry St. However, he admitted his 91-year-old body has become a bit troublesome over the past few years.
“I don’t get around so well anymore,” he told the crowd with a laugh. Since he was a child growing up in Center Point, Jack said he had loved his hometown.
Although service in the Army ultimately took him away, Center Point and Clay County were always in his heart.
“My family is here, so it was always home to me,” said Jack, who admits to being a subscriber to The Brazil Times for many years to keep up with the community. “I always believed a small hometown should have a restaurant to be successful.”
A place to gather, share a bite to eat, and have good fellowship.
Uncle Jack’s idea and vision gathered up steam over the past three years as several people joined the effort to make it happen.
“Jack comes home several times a year. I met him at the hardware store, which is the gathering place in town,” said Town Board President Roy Smith. “We became friends, and while chatting, he said Center Point should have a restaurant.”
That was just the beginning of several ups and downs to get to this point.
“I don’t know what else to say. There was never a time that I called Roy and said, ‘Hey, Roy, you know, we’ve got an idea. Can we do that?’ Roy always was like, ‘Yeah, we’ll get that done.’” said Uncle Jack. “Anyway, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate him.”
“There hasn’t been a restaurant here for 35 years,” said Smith. “It’s a good opportunity for our community despite the setbacks.”
According to Smith, a local resident attempted to start a restaurant about 15 years ago, but there just wasn’t enough business at the time to succeed.
An old gas station on the main street, next to the post office, will be the new home of “Jack’s Garage.”
It was initially going to be named “J.R.’s Garage”, but the group has recently discussed changing it to the updated name to not cause confusion with other local businesses.
Charity and Kelly Fischer, who work as a team, are the new garage owners and look forward to creating “a unique, fun, family-friendly atmosphere with great food.
“Everybody’s support here is awesome,” said Kelly, who also owns and operates the Bad Apple Saloon in Cory with his wife Charity. “This place, it’s going to be different. A great place to get a pizza and hang out with your friends. So we’re looking forward to getting started on it as soon as possible.”