Jake's Ice Cream and McDonough Street Market Closed
Decatur Metro | October 4, 2008Next Stop…Decatur has the photographic evidence that Jake’s and McDonough Street Market have suddenly closed.
One of Dennis’ pics is of a hand-written sign posted on the door that says “Thank You Decatur For All Your Support Through the Years! This Jake’s location will close Oct 3rd. Please visit our other Decatur location at Jake’s Just Desserts 2144 N. Decatur Rd”.
Geez…guess that McDonough Street Market concept was just a stop gap until they evacuated up Clairemont.
No more ice cream downtown.
It isn’t the same, but Cold Stone Creamery is still there, right? And there’s always the firefighter’s favorite, the DQ.
Cold Stone’s been gone for a while Steve…but you’re definitely right about DQ.
I never patronized them and wasn’t paying attention, so that’s my excuse. Is that where Little Shop of Stories went in?
Decatur Living magazine, which just arrived in our mailbox today, has a feature about the Market, and I had resolved to go check it out. Oh well.
As for Jake’s, does anyone know what is up with their business model? It seems like they open a location, close it, then an identical ice cream business opens in the same spot with a different name. Perhaps coincidence, but I always got the feeling there was something weird going on.
My understanding is that’s the Jake’s franchises as a whole have a checkered past.
A Jake’s has opened in Oak Grove, right by Rob Atherholt’s Taqueria.
Incidentally, the best (and only) homemade ice cream in town continues on at Café Alsace. When I stopped in for my regular chocolate-cinnamon waffle cone on Monday, one of the servers informed me that there would be no more this season once they were out. But on my visit last night, Benedicte said they would continue to offer it as long as people are seeking it. She had no idea that Jake’s had closed, and it makes sense that demand may remain steady or increase now. Although I usually prefer cups other places, I love the cone there since the base of the ice cream gets warmed by the hand and the last of the chocolate tastes like hot fudge made with the highest-quality cocoa.
Apparently I had it backwards. An anonymous source reports…
“The McDonough Street Market failed to reach an agreement with the landlord. Jake of Jake’s Ice Cream no longer had a lease and was subletting from the Market, so everyone is out.”
We checked out Greene’s yesterday – I didn’t try it, but they do have frozen yogurt if you’re looking for a cold treat downtown.
Jake is a snake. He has shady business practices. There are several people in line to sue the heck out of him. Never liked is ice cream either. Too icey.
You should have seen the sad faces on my toddlers when we pulled up to Jake’s in our stroller after playing around on the square and enjoying the lovely weather this evening. At their young ages they often reject disappointment by expecting mom or dad right all wrongs, but I could tell by their wide eyes looking into the window, seeing that not even the ice cream counter was left that there was nothing that mommy could do. (We’ve been going to Jake’s for over two years now.) Then the older of the two snapped out of it and reminded me that Chick-fil-A has ice cream so we went there. It was also Family Night, so they got their faces painted and the clown made custom balloons for them and the got a free kids meal…oh yes, and ice cream. It was a good save, but it will still be sad the next time we need to stroll by Jake’s.
JohnD hit the nail on the head. Jake is a scam artist whose main business is talking other people out of their money. Anyone considering doing business with this guy (or any of his surrogates) beware!