By Steve Steiner
Managing editor
ssteiner@elkintribune.com


As Walter Jordan tells it, he was tired of taking his grandchildren to Winston-Salem whenever they wanted to go to Chuck E. Cheese, so the restaurateur (he owns Jordan's Country Restaurant on N.C. 67 in Jonesville), decided to open up his own version, Poppie J's Pizza & Family Fun Zone. The name of the restaurant and the game room, Jordan said, were thought up by his grandson, Michael, who is now 11-years-old.

"He said, 'Let's name it Poppie J's and let's call the game room the Family Fun Zone,' said Jordan.

The "J' in Poppie J's is for Jordan, he said.

The restaurant is located on the site of a former Jordan's Country Restaurant -- at one time there were four of them -- at 234 N. Bridge St., Jonesville, in the Jordan's Shopping Center.

"Everyone knows we own Jordan's, but they don't know we own Poppie J's," he said.

Little by little, through advertising, flyers and word-of-mouth, that is changing. Since its opening several weeks ago, people -- especially families -- have been discovering it and, according to Jordan, thrilled to know there is a family restaurant their children also enjoy going to.

That's because like Chuck E. Cheese (and a similar facility, Hickory Dickory Dock, in Hickory), there is more than just pizza and other Italian selections; there is a 4,000-square-foot game room with over 50 variety of games for both children and adults -- as well as a play area for toddlers. Plus the game room is supervised.

"We had a toddler's party recently," Jordan said. "The adults had more fun than the kids."

Jordan said that like the other restaurants in that genre, kids (and adults) play the games and get tickets they can redeem for prizes.

The Fun Zone occupies 1/2 the total space of the restaurant. In addition to the lobby, there is a regular dining area in-between the lobby and the fun zone, and there is a room for parties. In fact, in the short time Poppie J's Pizza & Family Fun Zone has been in operation, a number of parties Jordan has booked has steadily climbed and demand keeps building.

A number of bookings have come from church groups, whose members enjoy attending because of the smoke-free environment, but more importantly, because of the food.

"Everyone who has come here has really enjoyed it," Jordan said. "We're not a chain, so we don't serve chain food."

In fact, Jordan is very proud of the pizzas and other Italian dishes served at Poppie J's, and spoke of what he does in his preparations that differentiates his sauces and dough and other foods. Without going into too much detail, he said that his sauces aren't as bitter as might be at other restaurants, and that he adds an ingredient to his pizza dough that others might not.

Although Jordan began Jordan's Country Restaurant in 1996, he is no stranger to the pizzeria business. He got into it when, as a general contractor, he built a pizzeria in Winston-Salem for two men. According to Jordan, the two men had a falling out and Jordan eventually ended up with the restaurant. He went on to operate several others in Winston-Salem.

Jordan is very excited about his latest venture, and particularly pleased with the number of offerings, such as blooming onions and potato ribbons. But there is something he is particularly proud to offer, sweet treats such as deep-fried Twinkies, Snickers, Zingers and Oreo cookies.

"With the Twinkies and Zingers, we set them in a bed of chocolate syrup and whip cream and sprinkle them with powdered sugar," he said. "It's great for the waistline."

The latter he said with a wink and a sly grin.

However, when it comes to the food served, Jordan is all seriousness, and quality ranks number one with him. He wants the best for his customers -- current, repeat and future.

"We have a lunch buffet every day, from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.," he said. "There are 30 items on the salad bar, plus a variety of pizzas."

Special orders, even for the buffet bar are no problem.

"Someone comes in, wants a certain kind of pizza, we'll make it for them, put it on the bar," he said.

The buffet, which is offered Monday - Friday, costs $4.75.

One of the types of pizzas he has witnessed an increase in requests is the barbecue pizza. Jordan says it has to be eaten to be appreciated.

Jordan is the first to admit running Poppie J's Pizza & Family fun Zone is a team effort, and he cited the support of his staff, starting with his wife, Reana. He continued with the other members.

"Abby Wilmoth is a pizza cook and was a bar manager at Cedar Brook. Mark Wilmoth is a cook and used to manage a Cracker Barrel restaurant for 12 years. Steve Vestal is a cook who was at Cedar Brook Country Club. And my head waitress is Rita Conrad, who was at Jordan's for five years," he said.

Although the restaurant opened several weeks ago, an official grand opening is slated for the beginning of January. Jordan said that with the new year, he will also begin offering delivery service.

However, regardless whether dining in, taking out or ordering food to be delivered, Jordan takes pride in the fact that by taking care of diners, they have rewarded him with their continued support.

"I've been around a long time. I treat people fair," he said. "I want them to feel at home when they come here."