Jerry’s Cajun Cafe & Market was heavily damaged by fire yesterday. My mother and I were in the area and considered having lunch at the restaurant, but decided to share a sandwich at City Grocery instead since neither of us were very hungry.
Jerry’s began as a hole in the wall on ninth avenue and creighton road before moving to a beautiful wooden house with a wrap-a-round porch where it’s been for the last 8 years. In a city lacking non-chain restaurants, Jerry’s was special. Quaint, the food not only excellent but consistent, a friendly staff, authentic surroundings, and an owner that took the time to go from table to table making sure everything was o.k. As many times as I’ve been over the years, I can’t remember having a bad experience.
My family has a long history with Jerry’s, beginning as a child when my father found it while looking for good cajun food, and continuing as the location I chose for the first date with my girlfriend. Obviously, there are emotional ties involved, and after listening to the owner, staff, and firemen discussing the loss with difficulty, that feeling is shared by many.
I drove by Jerry’s today. I had seen the pictures so I wasn’t surprised by the damage. What I wasn’t prepared for was the disheartening smell of burnt wood in the air. Still, from the front Jerry’s looked the same, and on the marquee were the words “We’ll be back”.
Laissez les bon temps roulez.