Latest news with #Jason'sDeli
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A popular Knoxville restaurant reopens 14 months after kitchen fire became an 'inferno'
The Burlington branch of Buddy's Bar-B-Q has reopened more than a year after it nearly burnt to the ground. The 3700 Magnolia Ave. restaurant first opened in 1983 as just the third Buddy's Bar-B-Q, a third-generation restaurant brand with 19 locations across East Tennessee. Buddy's CEO Mark Lemoncelli said the community response to the returning restaurant has been as if a brand-new location were opening. In February 2024, the Buddy's in Burlington suffered a kitchen fire that engulfed the building in flames. "The manager had just left the building, and it basically turned into a giant inferno," Lemoncelli said. "It just took on a life of its own." This location didn't look like the other Buddy's. It had a flatter, square-like roof and was missing the recognizable red top. The building was minutes away from completely collapsing during the fire, Lemoncelli said. Buddy's Bar-B-Q rebuilt its Magnolia Avenue restaurant in the Burlington neighborhood after a 2024 fire. Once the fire was put out, he knew the restaurant would need to be mostly redone. The location was closed for 14 months, Lemoncelli said, since "they had to go down to four walls and rebuild." This Buddy's now has the iconic red roof, along with interior renovations and kitchen upgrades. More than 60% of the staff that worked at Buddy's before the fire returned after the restaurant reopened April 28, Lemoncelli said. "They know a lot of the community that comes in," he said. "It's been good to see. It's been encouraging." Buddy's CEO also reopens Jason's Deli on the Strip Lemoncelli also is the franchise owner of Jason's Deli at 2106 Cumberland Ave., which returned to the Strip in April after being closed more than four years. The nationwide sandwich chain had to close its campus-area restaurant in December 2020 after developers began buying up real estate on Cumberland Avenue to make way for more private housing for University of Tennessee at Knoxville students. Jason's Deli has reopened on the same block but is now inside the new Union Knoxville building, a student housing project backed by global real estate firm Greystar. In 2021, the strip mall that housed Jason's Deli, Subway and Domino's in the 2100 block of Cumberland Avenue was demolished to make way for the apartments. Joanna Hayes is the restaurant and retail reporter. Email: | Sign up for the free Eat65 newsletter Support strong local journalism by subscribing at This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knoxville restaurant Buddy's Bar-B-Q reopens after Magnolia Avenue fire
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Jason's Deli Unveils Bold New Brand Identity and Restaurant Prototype, Marking the Brand's Next Iteration
The new look and format from the popular deli-restaurant chain enhances the customer experience while staying true to its roots. BEAUMONT, Texas, Jan. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Jason's Deli is stepping into a new era with a refreshed visual identity system and innovative new restaurant design. In partnership with experience agency ChangeUp, Jason's Deli wanted their environment and brand to more accurately reflect the exceptional quality of their food and service. The brand refresh, which began rolling out in recent months, is centered on a new core concept: "The Art of Deli-cious." This captures the essence of Jason's Deli's mission — to craft delicious, honest-to-goodness food served with the same care and attention that has made the restaurant a favorite for nearly five decades. The new identity is being integrated across all touchpoints and assets, from the website and app, to packaging, merchandise, and photography, all designed to deliver a more cohesive experience. "Jason's Deli is incredibly energized by this investment in our brand and experience," said Blake Parker, Chief Innovation Officer at Jason's Deli. "By giving it the same attention that we've always given both our food and service, we know we're creating an even better journey for our customers, and creating more avenues for new people to connect with us." The brand's new restaurant prototype brings their updated identity to life, while still integrating classic deli cues. The modern layout introduces a host of new features, including the addition of digital kiosks and diversifying its dining areas, in order to better serve customers with greater convenience and flexibility. Meanwhile, the brand's salad bar, their most popular offering, now takes center stage and has been reimagined with a more efficient one-sided line, empowering customers to craft their own salads with ease. "It was really exciting for ChangeUp to work with Jason's Deli because we were able to holistically look at the brand from top to bottom and consider how it translates into their physical environment," said Ryan Brazelton, Chief Creative Officer at ChangeUp. "Their product and service has always been amazing, so it was really about elevating their brand and experience to reflect their offering and in a way that felt authentic to who they are." Jason's Deli has plans for future locations to reflect the new branding and look. To celebrate this next chapter, their recently remodeled Beaumont, Texas restaurant will serve as the backdrop for a special event. On February 4th at 10 AM CT, at 535 N. Dowlen Road., Jason's Deli will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony and celebration. Representatives from the founding Tortorice family will speak, followed by a dedication from the local bishop. Brand executives, local community leaders, and media will also be in attendance. Customers are encouraged to come dine beginning at 11am, with raffles throughout the day. As a nod to the community, Jason's Deli will also be donating 20% of all dine-in sales at their Dowlen Road location on February 4th to the nonprofit Gift of Life, further underscoring the brand's longstanding commitment to giving back to the community where it all began. The very first Jason's Deli opened in Beaumont, Texas in 1976, and the city still serves as their headquarters. About Jason's Deli:Jason's Deli is a family-owned deli restaurant chain founded in Beaumont, Texas, in 1976 by Joe Tortorice Jr. With over 240 locations across 27 states, it was the first major restaurant to ban artificial trans fats in 2005 and to eliminate high-fructose corn syrup. Offering a diverse menu that includes gluten-sensitive items, vegetarian meals, healthy kids' choices, and a build-your-own salad bar, Jason's Deli ensures there's something for everyone. For more details, visit About ChangeUp:ChangeUp is an award-winning experience agency designing for the moments where brands and customers meet. We develop brand-led experiences that create change for businesses through strategy, brand design, store design, and architecture. We drive change for fast-moving brands, from startups to the F500, working with clients including Panera Bread, Burger King, KIA, Panda Express, Discount Tire, Baskin-Robbins, and Trek. We believe change is not a risk, it's the answer. Learn more about ChangeUp at Media Contact:Rebecca DershCommunications Director, View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Jason's Deli Sign in to access your portfolio
