SPRING IS FINALLY HERE, bringing a fresh season of positive vibes, a changing of the guard for one Jacksonville eatery and a ten-year anniversary for another.
Hardworking single-mom, Jeannie Inman, has owned and operated The Mustard Seed Café on 5th Street for the past ten years. Ready for a change, Jeannie recently sold this popular stop to employees, Trevor and Jessie Driskell. Jeannie explained, “Trevor and Jessie are husband and wife. They actually met here… so between the two of them, they’ve been here eleven years. I call them my adopted children, so it’s less of a “sell,” and more of a passing the torch to family kind of thing.” Jeannie’s daughter, Taylor, 16, and son, Riley, 11, have grown up within the café walls. They’re very happy that familiar friends are taking over.
The day I walked into The Mustard Seed for an interview, I could barely squeeze through the door. The place was hopping. Jeannie says business is far better than she could have hoped when she first took over. I asked what prompted the sale. “It’s kind of been a long-term plan at some point for the two of them (Driskells) to take over. They’re ready, and I’ve been doing this type of thing for thirty years. I feel like I’m ready to try something else.”
Though changing careers, Jeannie won’t be leaving town. She’s working on obtaining her real estate license. Locals and those looking for a great place to settle down will see her smiling face behind her new desk at Jacksonville’s Windermere Van Vleet Real Estate office just down the street from the café on 5th Street.
Meanwhile, the popular Mustard Seed menu won’t change, nor will the hours. They’re open for business from Tuesday through Saturday 7:00am-2:00pm, closed Sunday and Monday.
Chef Paul Becking
Also celebrating ten years of restaurant ownership is Chef Paul Becking, owner of C Street Bistro. I asked if he could believe how fast the time had gone. “Not that fast,” he joked. “It’s a lot of hard work. But I finally got to make some changes I wanted to do in the kitchen. I got a new sign out on the main street. Since I’ve been here, I put in the front patio, the deck and now I’m just working on the back of the house.”
I asked about plans for the next ten years. “I’d like to eventually replace the chairs, flooring, update the bathroom. Just fix up the look of things. Working project by project as I’m able.”
If you’ve driven by C Street during high tourist season, you’re familiar with the crowd they attract. Reservations are highly recommended. Paul’s customers keep returning because he and his crew prepare high-quality home cooking with locally-sourced, healthful ingredients. While we talked, I noticed a new sign advertising hemp CBD dog biscuits. “They actually taste pretty good,” he laughed. Chef Paul is hoping to incorporate CBD into his food offerings this year.
C Street Bistro is open for lunch from 11:30am-2:30pm and dinner Thursdays through Saturdays, from 5:30-8:00pm. Paul also provides affordable dinners for Wine and Dine Wednesdays at South Stage Cellars. He enjoys hosting private parties at his cozy location and is open to booking more intimate gatherings. The café seats up to eighteen people inside where Chef Paul is happy to custom cater to individual needs and requests at reasonable rates. Pizza parties and burger buffets are another option. The good news for us is Chef Paul isn’t planning on going anywhere. “I love this town!”
Be sure and welcome spring with a visit to these Jacksonville treasures.
Featured image: Jessie Driskell, Jeannie Inman, and Trevor Driskell at Mustard Seed Cafe