Foodie Friday: Happy Jack's smiling through the pandemic

Happy Jack's in Downtown Bakersfield serving up smiles to-go.

IN THE FOOD SERVICE AND BARINDUSTRY.BUT FOR ONE LONGTIME STAPLE INDOWNTOWN BAKERSFIELD..THE OWNERS ARE STILL 'SMILING'THROUGH THE CHALLENGESTHEY FACE..

WITH A DEFIANT ANDJOYFUL ATTITUDE TO KEEP SERVINGTHEIR CUSTOMERS.IT'S HAPPINESS -- SERVED WITH ASLICE OF PIE -- ON THIS FOODIEFRIDAY.NATS - :25 - WE STILL HAVEORTEGAS TOSELL..NATS - GRILL SIZZLINGNATS - WALKING OUT THE DOOR...FROM THE SOUNDS OF IT..

HAPPYJACK'S IS STILL COOKING!SOT - RUBEN - 2:25 - PHONERINGING, YES,TO GO IS FINE, BUT TOO HOT OUTTHERE, HARD TO ENCOURAGE GOOUTSIDE TO EAT.RUBEN AND FRANCES ROSALES TOOKOVER HAPPYJACKS NEARLY 45 YEARS AGO..AND WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THEBIG DUST STORM OF THE70'S..

THEY'VE ALWAYS BEENOPEN... SERVING UP THEIR SWEET..COMFORT CREATIONS...SOT RUBEN 2:05 'LAST WEEK, FIRESVALLEYREALLY HURT, DOING 50% OFNORMALLY DO.'THIS ICONIC EATERY AT THE CORNEROF 20TH AND 'G' STREETSDOWNTOWN IS KNOWN FOR IT'SINTIMATE AND WELCOMINGENVIROMENT..WITH REGULARS ALWAYS SITTING INTHE SAME COUNTER SEAT.BUT FOR NOW..

THE CONVERSATIONAND LAUGHTERINSIDE..

IS REPLACED BY CAUTIONTAPE.SOT - RUBEN 8:25 - 'IT HURTS,NOT SAME,THAT'S FRIEDMAN, TAKE IT AWAY,GETS UPSET.'BUT THERE'S NO REMOVING THESMILE..

NOT EVEN TODAY..RUBEN STILL DOES ALL THE PREPWORK..

INCLUDING THEIRSIGNATURE PIES.AND FRANCES KEEPS EVERYTHINGRUNNING..IT'S A JOB THEY DON'T PLAN TOGIVE UP ANYTIME SOON..

AS LONGAS CUSTOMERS KEEP COMING IN.SOT - 8:55 - REMEMBER DIDN'THAVE SEATING,DID BETTER, THOUGHT GOING OUT OFBUSINESS..

BUYING PIES BURGERS,MAYBESAY THAT..9:30 - 'I'M NOT READY TO QUIT,NEEDSOMETHING IN MY LIFE, GUESSTHAT'S THE PASSION, LOVE THISPLACE, PART OFUS..10:00 - 'PART OF MY KIDS LIFE,YOU CANSEE THEM ALL OVER THE WALLS.'A SENSE OF FAMILY THAT EXTENDSTO THEIR EMPLOYEESAND CUSTOMERS..AND IF YOU EVER HAVE A DOUBTABOUT WHETHER HAPPY JACK'S CANSURVIVE..

JUST ASK FRANCES..SOT - 7:00 - SHE HAS ALL THEANSWERSRIGHT..

HAHAHAHA... IS THATSOMETHING TO LAUGH AT..

HAHA!HAPPY JACK'S HAS BEEN DEBT FREEFOR ABOUT 40 YEARS..

WITHNO PLANS TO ASK FOR ASSISTANCEDURING THE PANDEMIC.

RUBEN ANDFRANCES ARE IN THEIR MID-70'SAND SAY THEYDON'T THINK ABOUT RETIREMENT..ONLY SERVINGTHEIR CUSTOMERS AND KEEPINGTHEIR EMPLOYEESWORKING.AND LET'S BRING CHIEFMETEOROLOGIST ELAINA RUSK BACKIN FOR A LOOK AT YOUR EXTENDE