“Change In Management, Unforeseen Issues” Led To Closure, DeJoy Says

Jimmy’s Family Restaurant. Image by Justin Gould/WNYNewsNow.

JAMESTOWN – The owner of a family style restaurant in Brooklyn Square that abruptly closed following nearly three months of operation is speaking out.

Vince DeJoy, the former City of Jamestown Director of Development, and owner of Jimmy’s Family Restaurant says the closure occurred due to several “unforeseen issues.”

“I wasn’t really there running it day-to-day, I had someone doing it and there was a change in that management, and quite frankly a number of issues,” explained DeJoy. “I am extremely sad, I personally lost a great deal of money in that venture, I wish it would have survived.”





The eatery opened in August months after the local Friendly’s chain closed their doors.

Around 50 people, some of whom are former Friendly’s employees, were hired as part of the opening.

DeJoy said traffic beyond the initial opening slowed, and with the changes in management, he decided to close down the operation.





















“I still believe in Jamestown, and I still believe that there is potential for something very positive there, I just think that I am the person to do that type of project, the restaurant project, and also hold down a full-time job that is very demanding,” DeJoy said.

The name Jimmy’s was a play on Jamestown’s famed nickname, Jimmytown, and in honor of DeJoy’s two grandfathers who both went by the name.

This was not DeJoy’s first restaurant venture. He and his brother previously owned and operated ‘Stage Left’ in the 1990’s, which is currently Forte.

This week, DeJoy retired from his position as Jamestown’s Director of Development to take on a job in the private sector.









 

2 Comments

  1. It wasnt the change in management that caused you to close down Vince, it was you who didnt have faith in your staff and hiring Marcy as you GM was a bad move. Even after you knew she was stealing money and owed you money on top of that you never stepped in. When your assistant manger stepped in after you called her in panic mode, she tried adding new things changing up the boring menu u still never cared…so dont tell the people of Jamestown you closed it bc of management you closed it bc you dont know how to work with your employees…your a joke for lying.

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