Joensy's to close Solon restaurant

SOLON, Iowa— It became clear last week that Joensy's Restaurant, a local institution, was going to close. The local paper published a story about the city council's inquiry into a set of financial incentives for a North Liberty firm to raze the building and establish a microbrewery on the site. Word on the street is the final closing is tomorrow and a crew was loading up furniture when I drove by this morning.

The first death knell for the self-described "home of the biggest and best pork tenderloin in Iowa" was when the Johnson County Board of Health closed the restaurant based on a Sept. 25, 2007 complaint-based inspection. Brian Morelli, then of the Iowa City Press Citizen, wrote, "excessive filth and a roach infestation prompted (the closure)." He continued, "The inspection report identified four minor violations and five critical violations, including live roaches crawling on walls, shelves, floors, a preparation table in the kitchen, in coffee filters and packages of disposable cups; an excessively filthy kitchen and food storage area; and a two-inch thick pile of grease behind the fryers, among other violations." I read the public reports and talked to Brian Joens at the time and can affirm Morelli's account. Joens fell short as a restauranteur.

The action by the public health department confirmed what many locals already knew, that there were some issues with the restaurant. While Joens invested time, money and effort in making the needed improvements, and the restaurant re-opened, it never again appeared to be successful, at least to this writer. They hung on longer than expected.

When the restaurant recently closed for maternity leave, nearby restaurant Reggie's Weenies, was quick to fill the tenderloin gap and had placard up within hours, offering a substitute for the local specialty. There was no announcement about the closure, but vendors were seen removing their equipment at the time. The restaurant reopened, but Main Street now has two other restaurants, a bar and grocery store. These eateries, combined with several more in strip malls on the south side of town must have bitten into Joensy's business. It seems over this time.

The travel videographer Dan Kaercher did a favorable piece on the restaurant for his program "Taste of the Midwest." There is footage of Kaercher enjoying the famous tenderloin with gusto. Many knew of the restaurant and stopped by. For as many low opinions there were of Joensy's, there were favorable ones. But in a small town that is a bedroom community for urban centers, reputation counts for a lot in running a local business. Over time, things turned sour for Joensy's.

I don't have any criticism of the Joens family as they are an important part of our small community. Too, I am no expert on running a restaurant. But it is important to note the passing of a long established local restaurant, as we witness how changes in the competitive marketplace affect the community. For now, so long Joensy's Restaurant and may the people who worked there land happily in new positions.