GARY, Ind. — J’s Breakfast Club is a physical representation of hope in the dark.
Opened on Oct. 1, 2015, by Gary native Jocelyn Kelly, the restaurant has since become a staple in the Gary community.
Not only is it a place to be nourished internally, but it also serves food for the soul, offering strong Southern values, good food and community inclusion.
J’s has far surpassed being “just a restaurant” and has become a home not just for the community, but for Kelly and even her staff.
Who is Jocelyn Kelly?
Kelly graduated from Lew Wallace High School and later graduated from Spelman College in Atlanta with an undergraduate degree in economics and an MBA in finance.
During her pursuit of education, she became pregnant with her first and only child, Jalyn. She moved back home in 1996.
Kelly said that after leaving more than several times, she always found herself circling back, feeling that there was always something special about her hometown.
With more than 20 years of experience in financial services and banking, Kelly never intended to become a restaurant owner.
Even though food was always a source of joy and comfort, and even though she received encouragement from peers and confidants alike, she never envisioned herself becoming the owner of a restaurant.
She bought into what is now J’s Breakfast Club in 2007.
“And it was cool,” she said. “A lot of times, for me, most of my life has been spent allowing people to tell me I was good at this and that. And then I would explore what they were telling me I was good at as opposed to staying in my truth.”
Turning tragedy into purpose
Even though Kelly bought into the restaurant, the idea would stay dormant for years — until 2014, when tragedy struck.
Her first and only son, Jalyn, died by suicide at age 19. Just six months later, she also lost her job.
Kelly said that in those moments, she had to decide how she was going to spend the next phase of her life. She was called to travel.
Coincidentally, everywhere she traveled was a breakfast club. During her time traveling, she said she came to an epiphany.
“And I said, ‘OK, God, I got it. Jay’s Breakfast Club,’” she said. “Came back and put pen to paper. On Oct. 1, we opened.”
Building a home for the community
The original location sits at 12th and Grant. The opening received strong community support.
But with the opening came a huge problem: no one would leave.
It was a moment of chaos that solidified J’s importance. A devoted regular customer marched in, deposited a heavy crate of china onto the counter and delivered a two-word ultimatum: “Figure it out.”
Fast-forward, and Kelly said they are still figuring it out, evolving, adapting and always putting the customer and community first.
Going from a takeout facility to a full-service restaurant has been described by Kelly as “a labor of love.”
The responsibility of it has been immeasurable. It gives her a chance to do something for herself and her community, but in exchange, she has put everything on the line to establish the J’s Breakfast Club brand.
Stewarding more than a restaurant
Through her commitments with J’s, Kelly has taken on the responsibility of stewarding.
“I’m learning in this season that stewarding is not just what you’ve been blessed with, so to speak, materialistic things, but it’s people,” she said. “But more than people, it’s thoughts. It’s my mindset. It’s my time. So I have to make sure that I make the most effective decisions with the time that I’m given.”
Jocelyn Kelly is not only an inspiration to her community, but to all of Northwest Indiana.