As I write this, I kind of feel like I just lost a family member. My favorite restaurant since I could talk, JB's Drive-In in Greeley is closing for at least the foreseeable future, and possibly forever.
The restaurant on the corner of 25th St and 8th Ave in Greeley has been famous for root beer, burgers, and most of all, tens of thousands of memories, for over 84 years.
I just got off the phone with my dear friend, and third generation owner/operator, Rod Clark. Rod told me that the restaurant was doing very well through the pandemic, and that had no bearing on the decision. Instead, his own health issues partnered with his mother's age (who still worked at the restaurant everyday), along with the inability to keep a reliable staff, among other things is what prompted the decision.
Rod did tell me that this is not a good-bye for good just yet. He plans on keeping the business closed for all of 2021 as he continues to evaluate options, but as of now, the future is bleak.
If this is indeed the end, the restaurant will not only go down as one of the best Greeley ever had, but one of the most cherished in our country's history. A huge thank you to the Clark family for their years of contributions to the community, mixed of course with opening the doors to a gathering spot so many generations used to make memories that will last forever.