By JUDD WEIL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Ol’ Jake’s Convenience Store and Deli in Hutchinson in the Plaza Towers building is struggling after a few months short of a year in business.
After growing tired of traveling for a living, owner Jodi True opened the store on Jan. 4, 2022, with a dream, a sense of duty, and nothing but the people of downtown Hutchinson and their needs in mind.
“I saw potential for this area,” said True, a born and raised Hutchinson native. “Around here a lot of these people don’t have vehicles so they would have to walk to Dillon’s to get things, and so I just thought these people really need some place like Ol’ Jake’s. And then there’s not a whole lot of businesses downtown to eat.”
The original intent was to just be a convenience store before the addition of the deli. True named the business after her beloved and departed dog, Ol’ Jake.
“I had him one month shy of twenty years, he was a kid to me, he was our family” said True. “We lost him last year and it just broke our hearts, so I wanted to honor him some way.”
A massive photo of Ol’ Jake the dog currently hangs in the store named after him.
When preparing to open Ol’ Jake’s Convenience and Deli, True visited other convenience stores to look at their prices.
“I thought in good conscience, I could not charge those prices,” she said. “The people who live here don’t have that kind of money. I try to price it how they [other stores] price to be competitive, but I try to price things so people can afford them.”
True added, while Ol’ Jake’s does not make as much as money as it could, she is determined they perform more of a community service because of how they price.
“We barely make it,” said True. “I don’t make a dime off of the store, but I want to keep it to provide a job and provide a service. So that’s the way I look at it, it’s not for me to make a profit.”
Still, Ol’ Jake’s Convenience Store and Deli sees a lot of foot traffic. According to manager Patrick Nelson, on a good day, the store will see 130 people.
The deli’s homemade food, especially their soups and desserts, draw in a great deal of customers. People like the frozen homemade soups, especially during the winter.
Frequently purchased soups include the chicken noodle and gumbo.
A favorite dessert is a stuffed nearly half-pound cookie.
True takes pride in their homemade food, put together from locally sourced ingredients.
“If we have a soup on the menu, you know it’s going to be homemade,” said True about the deli. “We use Jackson Meat, Smith’s Market for vegetables, nothing comes pre-packaged. We bake our bread. Everything here is homemade or fresh.”
Jackson Meat is located 13 W. 6th Ave. and Smith’s Market is located at 211 S. Main Street, both in Hutchinson.
True said Ol’ Jake’s has a strong repeat in their customer base for their soups and sandwiches, with many preferring them as opposed to some big-name chains for their quality, quantity, and prices.
Additionally, all of the sandwiches are named after family pets, past and present.
True cited the ‘Molly,’ their Mediterranean veggie sandwich, as her favorite. However, their best-selling sandwich is the ‘Milo,’ a sandwich with ham, turkey and bacon.
Other examples include the ‘Fred,’ a ham sandwich, which True said was named after a particularly overreactive basset hound.
Despite all of their charm and matching sense of community, Ol’ Jake’s Convenience Store and Deli is struggling.
“Share us around, visit us on Facebook, come in,” encouraged True. “Spread the word around, think of us for catering.”
People wanting to order Ol’ Jake’s catering services for lunch or breakfast can expect things from small sandwiches to appetizers.
Parking has also been an issue. True said the owners of their building are going to order signs so people can park in the alley.
True said if they gather enough business, they will offer delivery either with UberEats or DoorDash.
“I’m not in this for the money, I make no money off of this,” said True. “I see this as a service. I had to get another job, back to nursing again, to supplement the store. I just want this place to succeed for my employees and the people who live here in the community.”
True’s aspirations is to make Ol’ Jake’s a hometown favorite for people.
Ol’ Jake’s Convenience Store and Deli is located at 15 E. 2nd Ave. They can be reached at 620-500-0005 for questions and call-in orders. Ol’ Jake’s also accepts EBT cards.
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