Bill Kozlak, Jr., 33, is now the third generation owner of JAX Café in northeast Minneapolis, and he’s watched the traditional steak house grow long before he became involved with the family-owned business 10 years ago.

Kozlak and his staff focus on the long history of customer friendly service for which JAX is known. “We hear from our customers that we’re a trusted friend,” says Kozlak. As owner of the business, he wants to get to know every customer that walks through the door. Special touches like personalized matchbook place settings and the trout stream where you can net your own fish for dinner add to the overall dining experience.

He and his staff know many of their customers by name, even if they’ve only been there a few times. “It’s fun now,” he says, “because we’re starting to see the grandkids of our clientele grow older and become customers as well!”

It’s ironic to say that a business that has been around for almost 70 years is a trendsetter, but now more than ever JAX Café is becoming a “hip” place to be. “Northeast Minneapolis is now like the new Uptown,” says Kozlak. “And we’re proud to have been part of this community from the beginning!”