New eatery opening in place of Agostino’s in Fairview Heights will be hard to miss

Jennifer Green
·5 min read

I know that many folks have been curious about what’s going on at the former Agostino’s Restaurant & Bar in Fairview Heights. I’m happy to say I can finally share more info about that.

The painting of the building’s exterior, which sparked people’s curiosity, started about three months after owner Dawn Goodwin-Malone signed the lease for 130 Ludwig Drive.

The color, branded Sunny Side Up, was not what Goodwin-Malone originally had in mind. But it’s the color she got, and she rolled with it.

“I don’t know how many times I heard, ‘What did you do?’” she said friends told her as the paint started going on.

But it worked out. When she told people where she was opening the restaurant, some didn’t even realize there was a building there.

With the bright new color, it’s harder to miss now.

That bright yellow is what got folks wondering what kind of restaurant would open. No, it’s not a Mexican restaurant. Or an Irish pub – there will be no green beer, Goodwin-Malone said.

Jack Henry’s, named for her grandfather who immigrated to the U.S. from Sicily, is not an Italian restaurant either.

*Record scratch*

Wait, what? A Sicilian grandfather and it’s not an Italian restaurant?

Goodwin-Malone said she can “make a mean Italian dessert” and spaghetti or mostaccioli but no fancy Italian dishes.

Due to open this month, Jack Henry’s will serve all-American fare that includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert.

What’s for breakfast … lunch and dinner, too

The Jack Henry’s menu is listed on DoorDash. Here’s a big taste of what’s on it:

Breakfast

  • Cayden Breakfast: Two eggs, hash browns, two bacon, two sausage, choice of pancakes or biscuits & gravy;

  • Cayden’s Egg Combos: Two farm fresh eggs cooked your style with hash browns, toast and varying options that include bacon, ham or sausage;

  • Three-egg Entrées with ribeye, sirloin tips, T-bone or bacon, sausage and ham. Served with hash browns, toast or pancakes;

  • Plus, Eggs Benedict, omelettes, waffles, crêpes and other breakfast sides.

Lunch & Dinner

  • Soups: vegetable, chili, potato, broccoli;

  • Salads: House, Chef, and Cayden’s Salad – spinach, bacon, ham, tomatoes and cheese;

  • Sandwiches: grilled cheese, BLT, grilled chicken, turkey & cheddar, hot ham & cheese, fried chicken

  • Burgers: Chastity Classic (with lettuce, tomato, onion) and Boogie Bar BQ Western Burger (grilled onions, BBQ sauce). Served with fries;

  • A selection of dinner entrées with fish (salmon, catfish, tilapia), chicken, pasta and steak.

Dessert

  • Pies by the slice include cherry, banana, lemon meringue, coconut, custard, blueberry, peach and apple;

  • Pies by the Half: peach, coconut cream, lemon meringue, blueberry and apple;

  • Whole Pies: peach, blueberry, banana cream, coconut cream, custard, lemon meringue, apple and cherry;

  • Cheesecake: strawberry, chocolate and turtle;

  • Cakes by the slice, half or whole: red velvet, double chocolate, carrot;

  • Ice cream and shakes.

There are also appetizers, a kids’ menu and a seniors’ menu.

Prices for the entrées run between $5 and $20.

Amenities at Jack Henry’s

Goodwin-Malone said the bar will be half regular bar and half non-alcohol bar.

With the growing popularity of mocktails and other tasty alcohol-free beverage options, she wanted to provide a more inclusive drinks menu.

I heartily approve. If you’re on medication, are the night’s designated driver or just an incredible lightweight like me, you can still feel included in the fun.

Plus, in my experience, mocktails can be quite tasty.

At the time of our first phone conversation in mid-August, Goodwin-Malone was still waiting for the liquor license. She said the no-alcohol side of the bar would be ready to serve as soon as the doors open, the other half available a little later, after the license is granted.

Jack Henry’s will also eventually provide entertainment five nights a week, including karaoke and live music.

On nights with no planned entertainment, Goodwin-Malone said there will be house specials to entice folks to come through the door.

If the bar and entertainment aren’t reasons enough for a visit, there will also be a small antique mall-like shop at the front of the store, she said.

Experienced in the business

Goodwin-Malone has more than 40 years of experience in the restaurant industry, officially speaking. Technically, she started working at age 14 at an IHOP and worked at different IHOP and Denny’s restaurants over the years, eventually opening her own place.

Cayden’s Café offered a menu similar to Jack Henry’s. With locations in East Alton, St. Louis and Brentwood, Missouri, Cayden’s Café went from sit-down restaurants to three bases of operations for catering services.

Despite her years of experience, Goodwin-Malone is nervous about opening Jack Henry’s.

When she opened her first restaurant, she worried a lot about what people would think and admitted that she “takes everything personal.” She kept putting off opening until her kids decided to just open and deal with any issues as they came up.

A written list is still necessary for her to keep organized, and she still worries about what needs to be done and what could possibly go wrong.

I asked if she was ready to open Jack Henry’s. In her mind, no, but she’s doing it anyway.

Preparing to open Jack Henry’s is being done “on a wing and a prayer by the seat of my pants,” she said.

About Jack Henry’s

Jack Henry’s is located at 130 Ludwig Drive in Fairview Heights and is slated to open in mid-September. Hours will start at 4 a.m. to midnight Sunday-Thursday and 4 a.m. to 3 a.m. Friday-Saturday.

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