Lifelong ambition realized, finally, in new business

By Sonny Smith
Special Correspondent

Elgin resident Jerry Starling gave himself a premature birthday present two months ago; the opportunity to own and manage his own restaurants.

The Five J’s Inn opened its doors in July inside a renovated two-story hour at the corner of U. S. 1 and Bowen Street in Elgin. The restaurant serves from 4 to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Named for Jerry, wife Jackie, sons Jerrylee and Jeff and daughter Jennifer, the restaurant caps a lifelong ambition for its owner, who celebrated his 40th birthday in August. Also assisting in the work are daughter-in-law Elizabeth Starling and Starling’s sister, Mrs. Linda Corey.

Starling, one of five children, showed an early culinary love which was fostered during 17 years of institutional food service sales – much of the time spent with Yarborough Distributing Co. of Columbia.

“That was the time when my interest in cooking really increased,” he said. “I got lots of opportunities to see both the good and bad parts of restaurant management. In my restaurant, I have tried to combine the best of all the knowledge I could gather, using my limited financing.”

Starling left the food service sales business several years ago to pursue other interests, including becoming director of the Blaney Baptist Church Day Care Center.

The Five J’s Inn is housed in a building about 90 years old which was retored by the Starlings.

“We had been kicking around the idea of owning our own restaurant,” he said, “and when this old house became available, we fell in love with it. It has the look of an old country inn.

. . . With all of its atmosphere, it was a natural to work into a quaint little restaurant with a decor of handicraft items.”

The restaurants has seating for 40 persons.

Popular menu items include Ribeye steak, grilled chicken and pork chops and a variety of sandwiches. There also is a house salad coupled with a choice of potatoes or brown rice and green beans or broccoli casserole. THe featured dessert is homemade banana pudding.

Starling, who honed his cooking skills while assisting with special events and Wednesday evening family meals at Blaney Baptist Church of Elgin, operates on the philosophy of eye-appeal for the customer.

“Sixty percent of what you enjoy eating depends on how it looks to you,” he said. “Then you go by how well it taste. I like eye-appeal and variety in my cooking. I like to take a familiar recipe and then see how creative I can become with it.”

Starling has put this talent to good use, not only with his restaurant but with a full-scale catering service.”We cater to private parties and wedding receptions on the nights when we are not open for regular business,” he said, “and we also will take our catering on the road.”

Noting that public response has been good, Starling said he plans to expand his menu as the need arises. “When we opened we felt like we were providing another eating opportunity for our area, something that was not available at the time. And we eagerly look forward to the future.”