Toast Johnny's Place Goodbye

Johnny's Place owner Terri Kettenbrink is known for wanting to make customers happy with her good food. She worries about plate presentation and whether customers are enjoying themselves. But last night was a tear-filled one for Kettenbrink, who had to shut down her restaurant operations, due to not enough business.

Johnny's Place was a family-friendly restaurant with flat screen TVs, an outdoor patio and private party room.

Kettenbrink re-established herself not long ago to the Central Avenue location from Washington, MO, to create an American cuisine menu in Eureka.

She supported city events, such as Mardi Growl and most recently participated in the Wild Wild West Hoedown sponsored by Old Town Eureka merchants during the annual Eureka Backdraft Rodeo hosted by the Eureka Fire Protection Department.

She recently also had added live music and additional healthy options for menu choices, plus novelties such as fried potato salad. What she couldn't add enough of to stay ahead of maintenance bills was diners.

Kettenbrink told Patch Monday evening that she wished more customers somehow could be directed to Old Town Eureka restaurants, given the traffic nearer Interstate 44 and Fifth Street. She also said she was concerned about the overall number of restaurants that recently opened in Eureka, given family's tight economic challenges.

"Air-conditioning this building this summer really hurt my budget," said Kettenbrink, who said she will truly miss customers while she stood worrying about the employees she had to release.

"I would still like to cater, and many people like my chicken wings, so they can still contact me about that," she said.

For someone whose business motto was "Good Food—Good Times," Patch wishes Kettenbrink a good future.