Jim Dandy, where everybody knew your name

“Jim Dandy to the rescue…” – Black Oak Arkansas, 1973

Comfort food – we all recognize it when we need it and these past couple of bitterly cold winter months have called us to it! We mostly think of the actual “food” of comfort food as being heavy on the starch, the gravy, the warmth of the casserole being retrieved from the oven, etc. (Yes, though I am a vegetarian we veggies also have our comfort food menu!)

The food we are drawn to this time of year is indeed comforting, and I was thinking of how that relates to our beloved Jim Dandy restaurant that recently closed after 60 years.

While the menu of the Jim Dandy (frequently referred to with affection by locals as “JD”) may not have been the most adaptable to my own palate, Noblesville area folks over many years have enjoyed the specialties offered there such as broasted chicken, chicken fried steak, hearty breakfast items, their famous burgers and “Jimbo” sandwiches (one of Bruce’s faves) and of course the quintessential secret recipe slaw! Their pies were famous and the coconut cream was definitely high on my list!

The JD menu was quite popular through the years, and seldom varied. However, the secret to comfort food is really the word comfort and that was supplied by close friendships and the JD “regulars” who often met there to visit, catch up on family news, and host meetings such as the Noon Kiwanis who met there for years. Work parties and reunion groups were frequently seen enjoying not only the JD cuisine, but the camaraderie and warm feelings which drew them there. Diners were often entertained by singers, magicians, and comedians. The JD provided both good, simple fare and comfort to their loyal customers. The JD management was always quick to step up to offer sponsorships for athletic teams and non-profit organizations.

Many of these customers were shocked and saddened by the closing. It was an “everybody knows your name” kind of place and, in these hectic days, a unique kind of place. I am one of those who have waxed nostalgic about the closing. The JD was the site of my first “car date” in 1966. Those were the days of carhops and teenagers who drove endlessly around the building to see who was parked there – of course the cars were always backed in so that the driver and passenger could keep their eyes on their fellow teens. I even remember what I ordered: french fries and a marshmallow coke. Hmm, I was a real fan of those cokes!

The Jim Dandy restaurant was a landmark in Noblesville. Most of us baby boomers who grew up here will long remember those car dates, family dinners, meetings, and casual dining experiences which truly define what “comfort food” really means: food to nourish our bodies in the closeness and comfort of friends and loved ones.

Thank you, Jim Dandy, for many years of comfort to our community.

Sharon McMahon, CNWC

The opinions expressed in this article are not intended to replace advice of your personal physician or licensed health professional. Please consult your physician for any issues you may have related to nutrition or fitness activity.