Temple restaurant serves up family tradition across three generations

TEMPLE, Texas (KWTX) - At The Old Jody’s Restaurant in Temple, three generations are working under one roof, serving up southern homestyle cooking.

The staff is ready for another year after they opened in 1963.

Owner Joey Franks took over the restaurant from his dad Jody Franks before he passed away in 2012.

Joey’s daughters Jessica Franks Coufal and Jennifer Poff say the restaurant has always been family run.

“Our mom and dad they were working, our aunt was working, our grandpa was working, our granny was working, so that’s just how it is we don’t know any different,” Poff said.

Joey’s daughters came back from their teaching jobs to help him when he was fighting throat cancer.

“I was just worried to death that I was going to lose some of my momentum and all that and everything, but my daughters came in and stepped up to the plate, and like I said for about a month I was worried sick and I’ll be danged, it just started getting better,” Franks said.

Now he’s cancer free and says he’s glad his girls and their kids are here to stay.

“The grandkids, I see them doing things, like a mirror. Seeing them doing things we were doing back then,” Franks said.

Grandkids Rinna, Raylee and Ryker Poff are now working together at the restaurant, continuing the family tradition.

“Now, working with my siblings here its something really special to see, the way we kind of flow the way customers notice it, just a lot of pride in what we do keeping it going,” Raylee Poff said.

They say are excited to maybe someday be the new owners in their family line.

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