Jenny’s Diner is a little place on Highway 90 that straddles the line between Sulphur and Lake Charles. It deals mostly in lunch traffic from the businesses that line the highway, selling hamburgers, fries, onion rings, sweet tea, and other diner staples to all comers.
However, what makes Jenny’s special isn’t the all fresh, hand-cooked ingredients, nor it’s proximity to both Sulphur and Westlake. What makes Jenny’s Diner special is that, at one time, Jenny’s was also both Shay’s Diner, and Harry’s Diner, popular places that drew in the crowds from all around.
Still, owner and operator Roger Williams wants people to know that he’s not trying to copy those establishments.
“That is the misconception: People think we’re either Shay’s or Harry’s. We’re not, we’re Jenny’s Diner,” he said.
Williams and his wife Jenny (whom the diner is named after) bought the place in April of 2009, and opened for buisiness in August. On August 25, Jenny’s Diner will be celebrating their first full year of business.
Williams said that his aim for the diner is to evoke memories.
“I’ve had a few people come in here and tell me that this is where they went on their first date,” Williams said.
Sitting in the diner, you can hear a multitude of sounds: the mumble of other patrons, the whir of the air conditioner fans, the radio tuned to a local station, and most importantly, the sizzle of the kitchen as another customer has his food made to order. You feel the tile underneath your feet, set in a broken pattern that has just enough order to it, which contrasts with the black and white checker pattern of the counter, complete with old school stools to sit upon.
Those floors are the original Shay’s Diner floors, which even has the Shay’s logo right in front of the door.
“We came in and found that someone had painted the floors black. We had to scrape that away, so now we have the original floors,” Williams said.
The best time to come into Jenny’s Diner, according to Williams, is just before or after the lunch rush, which begins and 11 a.m. and tends to end at 2 p.m.
“We’d like to get more in the evenings,” Williams said. He’s also thinking about having a buffet available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with fried catfish, butterfly shrimp, and even crawfish.
Another thing Williams is looking for is more people with memories from the days of Shay’s and Harry’s. Old photos, stories, anything that would evoke more recollections are welcome. Jenny’s also has a Facebook page. The number to the diner is 337-882-0277.
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Jenny’s Diner is a little place on Highway 90 that straddles the line between Sulphur and Lake Charles. It deals mostly in lunch traffic from the businesses that line the highway, selling hamburgers, fries, onion rings, sweet tea, and other diner staples to all comers.
However, what makes Jenny’s special isn’t the all fresh, hand-cooked ingredients, nor it’s proximity to both Sulphur and Westlake. What makes Jenny’s Diner special is that, at one time, Jenny’s was also both Shay’s Diner, and Harry’s Diner, popular places that drew in the crowds from all around.
Still, owner and operator Roger Williams wants people to know that he’s not trying to copy those establishments.
“That is the misconception: People think we’re either Shay’s or Harry’s. We’re not, we’re Jenny’s Diner,” he said.
Williams and his wife Jenny (whom the diner is named after) bought the place in April of 2009, and opened for buisiness in August. On August 25, Jenny’s Diner will be celebrating their first full year of business.
Williams said that his aim for the diner is to evoke memories.
“I’ve had a few people come in here and tell me that this is where they went on their first date,” Williams said.
Sitting in the diner, you can hear a multitude of sounds: the mumble of other patrons, the whir of the air conditioner fans, the radio tuned to a local station, and most importantly, the sizzle of the kitchen as another customer has his food made to order. You feel the tile underneath your feet, set in a broken pattern that has just enough order to it, which contrasts with the black and white checker pattern of the counter, complete with old school stools to sit upon.
Those floors are the original Shay’s Diner floors, which even has the Shay’s logo right in front of the door.
“We came in and found that someone had painted the floors black. We had to scrape that away, so now we have the original floors,” Williams said.
The best time to come into Jenny’s Diner, according to Williams, is just before or after the lunch rush, which begins and 11 a.m. and tends to end at 2 p.m.
“We’d like to get more in the evenings,” Williams said. He’s also thinking about having a buffet available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with fried catfish, butterfly shrimp, and even crawfish.
Another thing Williams is looking for is more people with memories from the days of Shay’s and Harry’s. Old photos, stories, anything that would evoke more recollections are welcome. Jenny’s also has a Facebook page. The number to the diner is 337-882-0277.
