When Jeff Coburn called last Wednesday it was the news we didn’t want to hear. He said he was closing Coburn’s Family Restaurant in just three days. For 13 years, Jeff and Brenda have been a husband and wife team operating their family business. In those years they have served millions of burgers to thousands of customers.
The closing brings an end to an Emporia tradition. The inspiration for Coburn’s was formerly Marshall’s Family Restaurant, which was formerly Vista. When Marshall’s closed Jeff and Brenda wanted to see the home-town eatery continue so they purchased the equipment and opened Coburn’s at West 18th Avenue and Industrial Road.
However, since they opened more than a decade ago the restaurant industry has changed greatly, with more food regulations and also more competition. The Coburns have been one of many “Mom and Pop” in a David and Goliath fight against the corporate chains.
The Coburns will be missed and so will their restaurant. The Coburns, Marshall, Vista hamburger tradition spanned several decades.
Over the last few years the Emporia business community has been hit hard with locally owned business closings. We have seen Winter Furniture, Hills Appliance, Crawford Furniture, Dryer’s Shoes, Honeysuckle Lane, The Shopper, Cooper Tire, Hallmark, Lunch Box and Jock’s Nitch all close, just to name a few.
With each of these business closings we lose part of our community. The owners and employees are our friends and neighbors and they helped make our community a better place.
As 2011 begins, we have a large void of family-owned businesses in our community that needs to be filled.
Chris Walker
Editor & Publisher
bobhornet (anonymous) says...
So true, Chris. Perhaps it's time for some of our community's leaders and the citizens to ask themselves, "What's the matter with Emporia?" Somehow, for some reason, we're not supporting our local businesses anymore. And until this community rallies behind family-owned businesses (in other words, rally behind one another), we will continue to lose what makes us an attractive, viable community.
January 17, 2011 at 1:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Free4all (anonymous) says...
I am not here to hammer Coburn’s because I have always had good service there. BUT some other places in this town have lost touch with who keeps them open and pays their rent and wages. We have gone to Topeka to make alot of purchases simply because of lack of customer service. Some of these have been for big ticket items. Others who live here from bigger communities have also discussed this with me. For example "I go to a hardware store and stand there waiting to talk to a rep while he talks with family or freinds about personal things while I stood there for 10 minutes getting an evil eye in return. Anouther time I was looking at trailors (not a cheap"o") and kept getting shuffeled around about who was going to help me. Or I go into a store and ask a question only to get a "I dont know" then they run off". I do not want to bring up the stores names because it is not just one or a few but ALOT. I can spend my money and will spend my money where I feel like I will get the best service. If you want to compete with big city stores then get to know/talk/sell your product or service. Myself and others I talk with would be willing to pay a little more or travel a little further for good customer service for the same product.If your employees do not want to do this then FIRE them, dont just let them hurt your company. I would rather stay here and shop alot more than we do, but when my wife and myself make the service here the butt of many jokes, our special nights or buys will be somewhere else.
January 17, 2011 at 5:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
http://emini-watch.com/recession-or-d...
January 17, 2011 at 6:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Grunt (anonymous) says...
I'd like to take an opportunity to say how much I appreciate Jeff and Brenda. There is no doubt that they'll be successful in ANY future business venture, or ANY venture, that they choose to embark on. Retail food service is a tough market in a town this size. And without a large marketing budget, the interstate traffic is going to look for those familiar banners they see plastered on signs, papers and TV that they can relate to. Just follow the sheep to McDonalds around noon to see my point. I don't think service, or taste or price has as much to do with it as corporate, cultural influence.
Unfortunately, I do feel a little of Free's pain, and certainly can certainly empathize.
I can say, though, that some of the best service that I've ever received was at Cliff's. And no, Jesse's not my relation, lol.
Grunt
January 17, 2011 at 6:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
fuggetabodit (anonymous) says...
Customer service is an issue in small towns and large cities alike. Having said that, it's particularly important in smaller communities to forge long- standing relationships with customers. It's all too easy for word to get around -- don't return to a particular store because you most likely will be ignored. In Emporia, I fear many of our local business people as well as the C of C happily ignore the ease of going to Topeka, Wichita, and KC to purchase small- and big-ticket items. And, let's not forget how simple it is to purchase online. Would big-box businesses in our town really pose that much of a threat? I don't think so; it would set up some healthy competition for dollars. I also hate to see local businesses close -- but the reality is that Emporia must become much more far-thinking into the future rather than living in the past.
January 17, 2011 at 6:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bobhornet (anonymous) says...
Great discussion! I hope our business leaders are reading this, too.
January 17, 2011 at 9:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
emporiahelper (anonymous) says...
Jocks Nitch was not locally owned.
January 17, 2011 at 11:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
http://beachsales.org/gerald-celente-...
January 17, 2011 at 11:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
unclejohn (anonymous) says...
Why are the businesses of Emporia being held to a higher level of standards than an out of town business? I do not believe that you are treated better out of town. You are a small fish in a big pond. Keep what you have and support what you have, or it too shall flee.
January 18, 2011 at 1:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
HenryVIII (anonymous) says...
"...Winter Furniture, Hills Appliance, Crawford Furniture, Dryer’s Shoes, Honeysuckle Lane, The Shopper, Cooper Tire, Hallmark, Lunch Box and Jock’s Nitch..."
I think I may have bought stuff from the Emporia Jock's Nitch once. I don't think I ever shopped at any of these other places. Who needs them? Why is there a great need for "mom and pop" stores? My idea of customer service is being able to buy from a vast selection for very low prices with free delivery direct to my door. Buying online, I don't even have to leave the house and deal with annoying customers or sales staff in the store. Now that's service! You just can't get that in a mom and pop store.
I stated in another thread why I didn't care for Coburns. Old people tend to think being a mom and pop store automatically makes you better. Being loyal to a restaurant is like religion; you need to question why you go there every Sunday. You might find you actually have no good reason for it other than "that's what you’ve always done".
Why doesn't this article mention the new businesses that have appeared in the last few years? Italian Garden, Braums (North), Freddy's... I'm sure there are many more. Please inform us!
'enry
January 18, 2011 at 9:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
HenryVIII,
Wouldn't it be nice to be able to order booze on-line in Kansas?
It's coming !
Well maybe not in this decade, but sometime.
January 18, 2011 at 9:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
HenryVIII (anonymous) says...
Steve_Corbin,
I have ordered wine online and shipped it to my house before, so I think that is legal. I haven't tried to get hard liquor online. I take it that's illegal in Kansas?
'enry
January 18, 2011 at 11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lcountyvictim (anonymous) says...
Henry - I just heard yesterday that Italian Garden is closed too.
Times are hard for some people now. Price is important, especially when there are several mouths to feed. I'm sure it's hard for local restaurants to compete with "dollar menus", but that feature is important to many.
That being said, the next time your hankerin' for a burger, don't assume
Freddy's is the best game in town because it's new and busy. Jay's on South Commercial is very comparable on many levels, and you can't beat them on service - plus you get your ice cream free. And no, I have no familial or special connection with Jay's - just an appreciation for great food, service and pride in supporting a local business.
January 18, 2011 at 11:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Free4all (anonymous) says...
MMMMMMM..... I get my Jay's Double burger with everything and fries twice a month. More if the wife is busy and need to cook for myself. That is the service that we should get everywhere we go. They are tops in my book.
January 18, 2011 at 12:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bobhornet (anonymous) says...
Henry, some of us take pride in supporting the businesses of our fellow Emporians. We take pride in supporting those local businesses who support our kids, our charitable organizations, and our civic clubs. In short, we take pride in supporting and building a better community. I know...this is probably Greek to you...
January 18, 2011 at 1:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TexasGirl (anonymous) says...
I agree with Free4All, and I've posted it on here before -- if you want me to Shop Emporia First, MAKE ME WANT TO!!! My husband and I are renovating a historic home in the community (the Terry home, reddog). When I can drive to Topeka to Lowes or Home Depot and get better selection, better customer service, AND better prices (even factoring in gasoline and turnpike costs), why should I shop here? What's my motivation? Help me understand!
January 18, 2011 at 1:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Jay's with grilled onions. Yum. I just shut my eyes at the grease drips on the side of that building. Wish he would change that.
January 18, 2011 at 4:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Italian Gardens closed already? That is so sad. I will say that they were rather high for what you got.
Somewhere, somehow, there's got to be someone out there who knows how to offer a good Italian meal that is genuine with a really crisp fresh salad and bread that won't break either the customer or the owner of the business.
You know, if a person were to open a place that served nothing but spaghetti and meatballs with a great garlic bread, a really crisp fresh salad, nothing else, they would make it. The service would have to be perfect too. And timely.
That's it, you don't get a choice. Just the very best spaghetti and meatballs you've ever tasted in your life with a good sized salad and bread. It would work. The parmesano reggiano cheese would have to be the very best too, none of that sawdust in the green can. Yuck!
January 18, 2011 at 5 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
barefooting (anonymous) says...
Create, the grease drips a testimonial to a hard working owner and good food. One of my favorite things about eating at jay's is smelling the grease and listening to the workers chatter. Call me nostalgic but it takes me back to the days before mickeys d's "heat it up fast and throw it out the window" fast food days. Jay's is good food and it its refreshing to go somewhere that takes pride in their food. I like when the workers ask how lunch was.
January 18, 2011 at 7 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )