AMERICUS
The New Breck Cafe in Americus is now open for business, and owners hope to have a grand opening soon.
The New Breck Cafe, 622 Main St., formerly Breckinridge Country Cafe, recently re-opened under new ownership. Jena Johnson and Doug Disney, both of Americus, are the new owners of the cafe. The cafe originally was opened in 1988. The cafe got its original name from Lyon County’s original name, Breckinridge County. Breckinridge County was created in 1855 and was changed by legislative enactment in 1862 to Lyon County to honor Gen. Nathaniel Lyon.
Johnson quit her job as an apartment manager in Emporia to re-open the Breckinridge. Johnson and her late husband have owned property in Americus for many years. She moved to Americus from Tampa, Fla. and wanted to open a cafe. She expressed interest in buying the Breckinridge, but at that time shareholders were not interested in selling. As shareholders aged, they became more open to selling the business, and Johnson recently purchased the business along with Disney, she said.
Johnson said if the cafe didn’t open back up in Americus there would be no place for residents, seniors, farmers and coffee drinkers to go.
“We thought we’d give it a go,” Johnson said with a smile as she was preparing for a lunch rush this week. “We (offer) food, family and fun.”
The New Breck employs all local people, Johnson said.
“We’re taking first-time people like kids in high school and teach them to cook and teaching them a job,” she said. “It’s a win-win situation for the community.”
One of Johnson’s goals is to be an active part of the community. The New Breck supports the Americus Recreation Organization and the Save the Pool fund.
“We’re putting money back into the community,” she said.
The cafe has been remodeled from top to bottom, with dining in the back and a bar up front. An ice cream parlor will open when it is finished. The cafe also features photographs by Johnson’s father, Ken Ferrell. The photographs are available for sale. See Saturday’s Gazette for a story on Ferrell’s work.
Lunch specials are served each day as well.
“We have a liquor license, so we can cater to everybody,” Johnson said.
The cafe’s food is all homemade. Steaks are served on Saturday evenings and are hand cut and aged. Specialty sandwiches were adapted from recipes and places where Johnson has visited, she said.
“It’s different than you get at a normal place,” she said, adding that she just added fresh-squeezed lemonade this week.
Johnson said the community support for the cafe has been overwhelming.
“I’m amazed at the response from the community,” she said. “They have just flooded our doors since we opened.”