Reynolds, after all, is the co-founder of Des Moines Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival, better known as BaconFest.
He joined Iowa State Fair CEO Gary Slater; business partner Carey Hansen, the owner of Greek House Chefs and Hansen s Manhattan Deli; and others Monday to symbolically break ground for the new eatery, to be called JR s South Pork Ranch.
The new eatery will take over the cavernous space long occupied by Diamond Jacks, which shut down after the owner and two others were charged in connection with failing to pay a quarter-million dollars in sales taxes. The case is still pending. One of the things that we re proud of this year is that this facility is coming under new management, and it s going to have a facelift, said Slater. It s going to be improved, and it s going to be a lot of fun.