'Jenni Juggs' Bringing Southern Comfort Food to Learwood Square

Learwood Square will be soon be welcoming a new restaurant that will offer traditional southern comfort food with a few novelty items thrown in to keep it interesting.

Jenni Juggs, named after co-owner Jenni Sakal, is expected to open in mid-June. Renovations at the Learwood () Plaza store, which is a few storefronts south of the closed TrueValue Hardware store, are underway. Sakal will run the store with her father, Paul.

“We’re focusing on southern comfort food, including our own rotisserie, cast iron skillet fried chicken and southern steam pots with either dirty or white rice.” Jenni Sakal said.

Expect the menu to include southern staple sides including corn bread and a few surprises, such as fried alligator.

Between the two of them, the Sakals have about 50 years of restaurant experience between them. Currently, Jenni works at the Mayfield Sand Ridge Golf Club. Her duties there include functioning as a pastry chef, prep cook and working banquets.

“On Sundays we’ll hold a full-spread country club style brunch with southern comfort food,” she said. “It’ll be top-notch.”

Asked about the name, Jenni laughed and said it was a nickname she earned at another establishment for “obvious reasons.”

Paul Sakal has been busy since the beginning of April readying the store, including installation of rotisseries so the food is all prepared on site.

“We’ll seat about 70 when it’s done,” he said. “That will include booths.”

Sakal said he is also hoping to secure a liquor license to sell beer and wine.

The business is the second expected to open I the plaza in June. On June 14, a few storefronts down from Jenni Juggs.