Local steakhouse closing

By Staff
Nathan Strickland
Russellville is losing its only steakhouse after six years of business.
Jonathan’s Steakhouse decided to shutdown on the last day of 2009 due to a struggling economy and another business wanting to purchase their building.
Manager William Nelson said it was fun while it lasted.
Nelson worked as a cook in the building when it opened as Golden Coral. He said the economy was just too hard on the restaurant.
Nelson said the owners, Betty Sandusky and LaShea Gilbert, talked about keeping it opened until the middle of January, but it would have just been avoiding the inevitable.
Nelson believes the restaurant may have been able to make it if the city allowed alcohol sales.
The steakhouse ran with 35 employees and hosted the town’s civic meetings and musicians in its banquet hall.
The building will not be empty for long. Rancho Viejo has purchased the building and plans to move into it within the next three months.
Rancho Viejo employee Poncho Marquez said his son Jorge is the one who runs the show.
Marquez believes the location is great and will help his son compete with their nearest competitor El Patron.
A date to open back up as a Mexican restaurants has not been set as of yet.