THE JOLLIE FAMILY is pictured here in front of a teepee at their father’s memorial service. Pictured, from left to right, are Leslie (daughter), Jim (son), Charlene (wife), Dave (son) and Cheri (daughter).
To celebrate the 35th anniversary of Jollie’s Restaurant & Lounge on Oct. 21, the Jollie family is planning to run some different “throwback” food and drink specials all week.
William “Bill or Buddy” Jollie, who recently passed away Aug. 12, took over the original tavern in 1963 when it was the Kozy Kamp Tavern. In 1979, he made the decision to also add the restaurant and Jollie’s was born.
“His dream was to have a restaurant,” said Dave Jollie, one of Bill’s two sons. “I used to tell dad we were lucky to have been in business this long. We’re still very much a ‘mom and pop’ restaurant.”
Bill’s wife of 58 years, Charlene, and the couple’s four children – Dave, Cheri, Leslie and Jim – all continue to run and help with the family business. Cheri and Charlene said all of the restaurant’s food is still homemade and made completely from scratch.
The family said Jollie’s continues to be a hot spot for many regulars who have been coming there for years, some third and fourth generation families even come in with their grandchildren. A big draw to Jollie’s for many people, especially truck drivers passing through, is the fact that they serve breakfast 24 hours a day.
There is also entertainment at Jollie’s going on each week, including jam sessions on Wednesday nights, karaoke on Thursdays and live music on Fridays and Saturdays, and some Sundays.
Jollie’s house band, Gary Bennett and the Coat-Tail Riders, is from Nashville and plays most weekends.
The Jollie family invites customers to come to the restaurant during the week of Oct. 21 and check out what specials they have to celebrate their anniversary each day. Jollie’s Restaurant & Lounge is located at 17701 NE Union Rd., Ridgefield, right off of Exit 9 on I-5.
