It took a pandemic for this favorite Wichita burger joint to finally add fries
Jack’s Coffee Shop is one of Wichita’s quintessential burger joints.
The quirky little restaurant at 6154 S. Hydraulic is about as hole-in-the-wall as you can get, with an exterior that’s unapologetically shabby and a menu that’s always been strictly no-frills: Jack’s serves oval-shaped, greasy burgers, and the only side item has historically been bowls of potato chips that everyone at a table shares.
But COVID-19 has forced some pretty monumental changes at Jack’s Coffee Shop — which, by the way, does not serve coffee.
The biggest switch up is that, for the first time ever, Jack’s customers can get fries with their burgers (though they shouldn’t get too used to it.)
The restaurant, whose longtime owner Shirley Coleman is facing health issues, is being run by her daughter, Carrie Coleman, with the help of her husband, Jason Smith.
The restaurant has been closed since early in the COVID-19 pandemic, Smith said, but last week, Carrie reopened the place for carryout only.
And because community bowls of chips aren’t practical for carryout, she’s trying something new and serving home-cut, skin-still-on french fries.
It’s a big serving, too, Smith said, and customers are loving the addition. But Carrie, who eventually wants to reopen the restaurant for dine-in, isn’t sure she’ll continue with the fries once she does. She’s always preferred the chips-in-a-bowl approach, Jason said.
When people do eventually return for dine-in, Smith said, they’ll be impressed with the improvements Carrie has made to the previously stark interior. During the closure, she worked on remodeling, adding some dry-wall, painting and sprucing things up.
But for now, if fans want a taste of a Jack’s burger with a side of fries, they should call ahead for orders, which can be picked up curbside. The number is 316-350-5580.
Jack’s hours are 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, though the owners are considering extending the hours until 7 p.m.
This story was originally published September 8, 2020 at 1:10 PM.
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