Good Ole' Jessie's Dixie Diner Opens, Declares Itself 'Cool,' 'Clean' and 'Sanitary'

Describing itself as "a cool place with friendly people serving quality food for a fair price in a clean and sanitary environment," Good Ole' Jessie's Dixie Diner officially opened on Tuesday, but will celebrate its Grand Opening on Friday, June 27 with an appearance by Mayor Fischer. The Valley Station building began life as a pre-fab cabin ordered from the Sears Roebuck catalog in the 1920s, switching between several businesses before becoming Frank's Dixie Drive-In in 1963, then becoming Jessie's Family Restaurant, helmed by helmet-haired "Miss Jessie" Jean Jessie and husband John Jessie from 1974 to 2002. The place declined after that, but was bought by Tom Whitted last October with the intention of reviving what had been one of the main local dining spots along Dixie Highway. Whitted reportedly said he sees the renovated Dixie Diner as some kind of combination of "country" and "cool." There are USB charging ports alongside pork chops and chicken fried steak, and a Facebook photo touts an eagle-and-flag-bedecked "new front entrance sign" with the slogan "Freedom or Death." The Courier-Journal reported that former regulars have been venturing back to "Good Ole' Jessie's," but it's unclear how "cool" they think it is, with Whitted commenting: "It takes time. Cool takes time."
· Good Ole' Jessie's Dixie Diner [Official Site]
· Doors open at Jessie's on Dixie [Courier-Journal]
· Country and modern mix at new Jessie's [Courier-Journal]