Center holding the ceremonial scissors, Vince DeJoy, owner of Jimmy's Family Restaurant with his wife, Norma, cuts the ribbon to officially open the new business in the former Friendly's location in Brooklyn Square. DeJoy was joined by family, friends and city officials for the ribbon cutting that occurred Friday. P-J photo by Dennis Phillips

Once you’ve taken a step into Jimmy’s Family Restaurant, you start to understand how much area residents missed a restaurant being open in Brooklyn Square.

On Friday, the new downtown restaurant location held its official grand opening after having a soft opening on Wednesday. Needless to say, the restaurant was packed with customers enjoying a meal while spending time with friends and family.

“We’ve been very busy, very busy. We’re pleased how the community has come out to support us,” said Vince DeJoy III, Jimmy’s owner with his wife, Norma. “It has been a baptism by fire for the staff. Since we opened, people have been responding. My heart is filled with love for this community.”

DeJoy was joined by family, friends and city officials Friday for the grand opening, which featured a ribbon cutting ceremony.

“Jimmy’s is all about Jamestown — ‘Jimmytown,'” he said.

Prior to the ribbon cutting, DeJoy thanked those involved in renovating the restaurant. He thanked the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency for its support. DeJoy received a $55,000 Chautauqua Revolving Loan Fund from the IDA as part of the financing to open the restaurant.

When he announced his plans to renovate the restaurant in early July, DeJoy, who is the city’s development director, said he would not be asking or accepting any funding assistance from the city. He said it would cost around $150,000 to reopen the restaurant and the other $95,000 would be financed through a corporation he created with his wife titled JtownDJF — DJF stands for the DeJoy family.

DeJoy said several local contractors that include Artone, Chautauqua Brick, D&S Glass, Kingsview Paving & Excavating, Moonlight Electric of Jamestown and Johnson-Whitmeyer Plumbing, Heating & Cooling were used to renovate the former Friendly’s restaurant, which surprising closed down April 8. He said the Jamestown Renaissance Corp. also supported the reopening of the restaurant.

DeJoy said earlier this week to The Post-Journal the menu will be very similar to what it was before. Marcy Parenti, former Friendly’s general manager who is partnering with DeJoy in operating Jimmy’s, said the burgers will be made with fresh, never frozen, meat. She said the corn beef will be shaved in-house each day for the reuben sandwiches. The coffee was personally chosen by DeJoy and Parenti to appeal to the masses, which will be 100 percent Columbian.

“We know what was popular and we improved upon it,” DeJoy said about the menu.

The restaurant will also have a banquet room that can be rented for private parties. People can contact 483-5686 for more information. DeJoy said there will eventually be a website for the restaurant, but its not ready yet. He said there is a Facebook page, which has received lots of likes.

The restaurant will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Jimmy’s is located at 10 S. Main St.

“We’re excited to see the community again,” Parenti said. “This is a home for Jamestown. The regulars want to come back.”