BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) \u2014 The restaurant business can be a minefield. Between 14 and 30% of all restaurants fail in the first year, half fail within five years and two-thirds fail within 10 years. But 50 years? Almost no one lasts 50 years. Less than 1% of restaurants last 50 years.<\/p>\n
Well, the 1% club has a new member.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s none other than Happy Jack\u2019s Pie \u2018n Burger, a cozy little mom-and-pop lunch counter a block behind the Fox Theater, 20th and G streets. Frances and Ruben Rosales raised a family thanks to Happy Jack\u2019s and its three generations of satisfied customers.<\/p>\n
Watch \u2018After Sunrise\u2019 on KGET+; Click to learn how to get KGET+ on your smart TV devices <\/a><\/p>\n Most of the 17 News team descended on Happy Jack\u2019s late Monday morning for hamburgers, chips and a double helping of Frances \u2014 and Ruben too.<\/p>\n The original Happy Jack\u2019s opened in 1963, the year Frances graduated from high school. She and Ruben bought it from Jack in 1976, a half-century ago. That\u2019s the anniversary they celebrated with the help of several local dignitaries on Monday.<\/p>\n The burgers are great, but that\u2019s not the only reason customers crowd around the 30-seat, U-shaped counter.<\/p>\n \u201cI think much more for Frances\u2019s talking,\u201d Ruben said. \u201cYou know, she\u2019s just a good PR person.\u201d<\/p>\n Yes, Frances can talk. And she takes the Happy in Happy Jack\u2019s seriously. Employees must know how to smile.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause I\u2019ve had a couple of sad girls come in (to work) and I go, \u2018Come on, it\u2019s Happy Jacks, you\u2019re not at Sad Jack\u2019s,’\u201d Frances said. \u201cSo that door opens, I want a smile and \u2018Hi. Welcome. Come on in.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Burgers, smiles \u2014 let\u2019s see, what else? Ohhh. Pie. Several flavors, but the go-to choices for most people are peanut butter and a Reese\u2019s-like PB-and-chocolate combo they call Rudy pie.<\/p>\n It\u2019s all part of what makes Happy Jack\u2019s an institution.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s iconic, and it\u2019s Bakersfield,\u201d said Allie Rubio, who came in for lunch. \u201cIt\u2019s burgers and pies by genuine people who are locals here. She knows everybody. Everyone knows her. It seems like it\u2019s a fun experience and you always leave meeting somebody new.\u201d<\/p>\n