Bryce Mayer, North Vernon Plain Dealer & Sun
One of North Vernon's oldest restaurants closed its doors this week.
Dave Reasner, president of J.D. Restaurants Inc., announced the closing of the Jim Dandy Restaurant at 1420 N. State St., North Vernon, as of Tuesday.
"We have enjoyed being in the North Vernon community since 1989 and very much appreciate the patronage of our loyal guests for those 18 years," he said in a press release.
Among those who was surprised by the closing and will miss the eatery is Fred Robinson, a regular patron.
"I went there almost every day for coffee or meals," said the North Vernon man. "Jim Dandy's was also a good place to catch up on the small talk of the community."
J.D. Restaurants, a chain based in Tipton, Ind., purchased the former Amick Family Restaurant from Mel Amick almost two decades ago. Amick owned and managed the restaurant since he opened it as an A&W Root Beer stand in the 1950s. Back then, the A&W stand featured car hops, no inside dining facilities and was a lonely outpost on Highway 7, then only a two-lane road, long before the North State Street strip became the bustling retail area it is today.
Continued efforts to increase sales and cover costs of operation had not worked out at North Vernon's Jim Dandy Restaurant, according to Reasner. The closing of the North Vernon unit should improve overall company performance, he said.
By 5 p.m. Tuesday, the familiar Jim Dandy's sign had been taken down and workers were clearing out and cleaning up the restaurant. The property will go on the market, said Gary Sampson of the corporate office who was in town helping close the restaurant.
The company's four other Jim Dandy Restaurants - in Greenfield, Tipton, Noblesville and Marion - "remain very strong," noted Sampson.
The J.D. Restaurants chain also operates Dairy Queen restaurants in Tipton, Greensburg, Shelbyville, Rushville, Noblesville, Frankfort, Elwood, Greenfield, Crawfordsville and Peru.
© 2025 North Vernon Plain Dealer and Sun