Joshua Pickering stands behind the bar of Jack & JennyÃÛèÖÊÓƵ, 15 N. Main St., in downtown Janesville, which will have a grand opening Thursday afternoon. Pickering is the general manager of both Jack & JennyÃÛèÖÊÓƵ and Genisa, an Italian wine bar at 11 N. Main St., which opened in 2023. Janesville native Greg Hughes is the majority owner of both establishments.
Joshua Pickering stands behind the bar of Jack & JennyÃÛèÖÊÓƵ, 15 N. Main St., in downtown Janesville, which will have a grand opening Thursday afternoon. Pickering is the general manager of both Jack & JennyÃÛèÖÊÓƵ and Genisa, an Italian wine bar at 11 N. Main St., which opened in 2023. Janesville native Greg Hughes is the majority owner of both establishments.
JANESVILLE — The newest bar/eatery addition to downtown Janesville will be unveiled Thursday afternoon.
City native Greg Hughes will officially open Jack & JennyÃÛèÖÊÓƵ with a public ceremony starting at 3:30 p.m. in the courtyard between his other downtown establishment (Genisa Italian restaurant and wine bar) and Jack & JennyÃÛèÖÊÓƵ. The doors to the new establishment will open at 4 p.m.
Hughes and his group of minority investors aim to make Jack & JennyÃÛèÖÊÓƵ an entertaining complement to Genisa, an Italian wine bar that they opened in June 2021 at 11 N. Main St.
“ItÃÛèÖÊÓƵ been in my head for probably 4½ years,†Hughes said. “ItÃÛèÖÊÓƵ been in the planning stages since 2022. We did demolition work in 2023.â€
After encountering structural and architectural issues, construction work began last December to change the former law office building that was originally built in 1866. Many of the historic elements of the building have been saved and preserved.
Hughes credits the main architect Caroline Zimmermann and project superintendent Andy Nevar with making the place exceptional.
“Caroline understood and was able to translate the vision of an upscale dive bar with a retro-chic vibe. She really helped bring it to life…cause sometimes I’m not an easy guy to translate.â€
“Andy has been much more than than a construction superintendent†Hughes said of Nevar. “He was a thought partner and added some great touches that made the whole building better.â€
One of NevarÃÛèÖÊÓƵ ideas was putting the “Law Office†sign on an interior wall on the first floor of Jack & JennyÃÛèÖÊÓƵ. It is a reminder of what the building was for many years, just as Hughes kept part of the renowned former Legends bar logo on a wall of Genisa.
“People who know will know,†Hughes said.
Named in honor of his parents
Hughes named the bar in honor of his parents, father John “Jack†Hughes and mother Genisa “Jenny†Hughes.
Jack & JennyÃÛèÖÊÓƵ will open at 11 a.m. every day of the week for the lunch crowd.
Lunch items will include soups and salads along with smash burgers and other sandwiches.
The dinner menu, which will be available after 4 p.m., will feature steaks, bone-in chops, broasted chicken and salmon.
Joshua Pickering, the general manager of both Genisa and Jack & JennyÃÛèÖÊÓƵ, said the kitchen at Jack & JennyÃÛèÖÊÓƵ has more cooking appliances than Genisa, which has a stone pizza oven.
“We have fryers, roasters, flat-top grills, saute burners, pasta tanks and ovens,†Pickering said of Jack & JennyÃÛèÖÊÓƵ.
Customers can order from both menus at Genisa and Jack & JennyÃÛèÖÊÓƵ when both are open.
An additional 15 to 20 employees have been hired with the opening of Jack & JennyÃÛèÖÊÓƵ.
Hughes is also looking to attract sports fans to Jack & JennyÃÛèÖÊÓƵ, which will feature approximately 15 televisions on its two floors. Audio for all Packer and UW games will be played on the house speakers, and the audio system is considered state of the art. Music will be focused on country and classic/soft rock, favorites of Hughes and his parents.
“It turned out even better than my expectations,†Hughes said. “Can’t wait for people to see and experience it.â€
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