As the sun rises over Campbellsville, students from Campbellsville University walk into a little restaurant at the intersection of North Columbia Avenue and Meader Street. It’s not a chain restaurant, and only has around 20 seats. Open for breakfast and lunch from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays, this small diner has become one of the most beloved landmarks around campus by both students and locals.
“Jeff has his crew that comes in every morning just like Hardees and Druthers, but you see a retired guy talking and hanging out with a 21-year-old kid that’s just stopped in for breakfast or something,” said Alex Meade, instructor of mass communication for Campbellsville University.
Meade first started going to Jeff’s as a freshman at CU in 2013-14.
“It just seemed like something that would remind me of a store really similar to it back home,” said Meade. “You can get a few little grocery items or something, but someone is there to make a sandwich.”
Very little has been altered at Jeff’s from the time Meade first visited.
“It’s still Jeff. It’s still classic sandwiches,” Meade said. “I think he adds to and takes away some stuff on the menu. The ingredients and items that he can get for sandwiches may change some, but those kinds of things are almost out of his control.”
Meade has a go-to breakfast meal whenever he visits.
“It is impossible to beat a classic fried bologna sandwich on white bread toasted with butter,” said Meade, with a smile.
Jeff Wright has run the restaurant since 1980.
“[Working in the restaurant industry] started when I was about 15 years old,” said Wright. “I worked for a guy for five years. He bought this place and another place and kind of got in over his head a little bit. One day he asked me if I would be interested in buying this place. I was, and that’s how I got started.”
When Wright first took over in 1980, Jeff’s wasn’t a restaurant—it was a convenience store.
“This used to be the main road in and out of town,” Wright said. “When that changed, the traffic started going in different directions, so I had to be creative.”
Wright didn’t have a huge vision planned out when he bought the store.
“My vision was just to stay in business,” said Wright. “I think if you come to work every day and you do your job, it’s all going to fall into place.”
Wright doesn’t do any advertising because he feels his work speaks for itself.
“I think if you put out a good product, people will talk,” Wright said. “It’s just people that come here and eat. If they like it, they go tell their friends, and that’s how it keeps going.”
CU students are a major part of Wright’s business, but he has built up enough of a community that there isn’t too much of a difference during the times class isn’t in session.
Wright hopes that people feel at home in his store.
“I like to think my place is a place that people enjoy coming to,” Wright said. “They see people that they know. I think people feel safe here. It’s just the little hometown atmosphere.”
For a long time, the most popular sandwich on the menu was “The Lou,” which is a warm sandwich on a bun with turkey, bacon and Swiss cheese.
“That was created by a former assistant baseball coach at Campbellsville University,” said Wright. “His name was Luther [Bramblett]. He is now at Midway University as the baseball coach. One day I put his name on it and put it on the menu, and then I just started naming sandwiches after different people.”
Currently, the highest selling sandwich is “The Mad Shepp,” named after Madison Sheppard Wigginton, the former CU basketball player and older sister of NBA guard Reed Sheppard. It is also a warm sandwich on a bun, but it includes Cajun turkey, pepper jack cheese and bacon.
Wright keeps his products at a relatively low price.
“I am my only employee,” said Wright, “and I have been here long enough that I have no overhead anymore. I don’t owe anything for my business, so I don’t have any big payments to make or anything. I can keep my prices low.”
While Wright has been the only employee since 2006, he is assisted by George Wise on a volunteer basis.
“He was my tennis coach in high school,” Wright said. “We’ve been friends since we were kids. He retired and wanted something to do, so he comes here every day. He works for free. He just likes coming over here, and he loves talking to kids. He sees kids out different places, and they all know him now, and they call him by his name. He just wants to be here.”
The people aspect is the area that Wright identifies as his favorite part of being a restaurant owner.
“[The coolest part] is seeing and interacting with people every day,” Wright said. “There have been friendships that have been made that would have never been made if this place hadn’t been here. It’s just fun to come to work and see your friends.”
The students who come to Jeff’s feel the same connection.
“There are other good places to eat, but you don’t get the personal feel,” said CU senior Cordell Brooks. “It’s like Jeff is doing it all himself, and he’s just a really cool guy all around.”
Other students appreciate the quality of the food.
“It’s a little healthier [than other spots on campus],” said CU junior Joslin Barnard. “Taste-wise, it has more flavor. Prices are reasonable. It’s literally $3 to $4, which is very cheap for a sandwich that actually fills you.”
For Jeff Wright, what started out as a career running a convenience store has turned into nearly 50 years of running a restaurant where people feel at home.
Jeff’s is located at 115 Meader Street.
