Jackson to get 'Sassy' soon

Jackson Deli and BBQ closed Saturday, but a new restaurant is on the horizon thanks to the efforts of owner Cynthia �Lou� Truska, who decided to make that location the new home of her Oak Ridge-based diner, Sassy�s.

�It�s going to be a couple weeks for the transition and getting stuff in there before we will actually open,� Truska said. �We�re shooting for two weeks, but in all reality it�s probably going to be three weeks.�

She said to better inform the community of what was going on and to prevent any confusion about the relocation of Sassy�s, signs were placed at the new Jackson location Monday at 437 West Main St.

And to the relief of many Sassy�s Diner and past Jackson Deli and BBQ patrons, only some things will change through merging of the two businesses, Truska said.

�We�re not going to do a lot of big changes. Some of their sandwiches are like ours,� said. �We have the Reuben, we have the Philly,� Truska said. �Our menu is kind of comparable to theirs, and we�ll keep a couple of their sandwiches.�

Truska said the most popular item served by Sassy�s Diner in Oak Ridge is the Badass BLT, which also will be available at the new Jackson location, along with their popular French toast.

�We do French toast on homemade bread, and it�s like no other around anywhere,� she said.

As for the most popular menu item offered for dinner, Truska said their hand-cut pork chops are �probably the biggest, next to the kettle beef.�

Truska said as of right now there are no plans to increase the size of the building or offer a delivery option. The drive-thru will be removed and the new restaurant will no longer be self-serve. It will, though, offer to-go orders and hopefully by the summer, patio tables will be placed outside, she said.

�We�re going to put a wall up where the kitchen is,� Truska said. �And we�ll have a full wait staff. It�s not going to be anymore �Come up to the counter and order.��

She described the new Sassy�s at Jackson as having a �laid-back/country diner� atmosphere.

It will also have a bar, but �it�s going to be kind of combined,� Truska said.

�Over here now, we have three rooms: a big dining room, middle dining room and our bar is actually walled off,� Truska said. �We won�t have it walled off in the new place. It�ll be just off to the side with tables and chairs, with an open floor plan.�

Current plans are to keep the Jackson Deli and BBQ�s phone number, �and we will keep our number also, for a while,� she said.

Truska said she doesn�t have all the required permits verified as of now, which will take some time.

Hours for Sassy�s in Jackson will be 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.

�And those are kitchen hours,� Truska said. �We can keep the bar open until 12:30 a.m. or 1 a.m. but it�s just going to depend on who�s there.�

Sassy�s Diner in Oak Ridge is slated to close Saturday. An opening date for Sassy�s at Jackson has not been set.

jhartwig@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3632

Pertinent address:

437 W. Main St., Jackson, Mo.