SULPHUR SPRINGS — Judy Becker opened Judy's Cafe, on Main Street in Sulphur Springs, on Oct. 26. Hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Saturday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Becker says she may start staying open later on Mondays and Tuesdays if demand is great enough.

Becker is not new to the food service business. She operated the Cowboy Cafe in Sulphur Springs for a time, has worked at the Maysville Handi-Stop and the Gallery Cafe in Decatur and owned the Maysville Cafe at one time. She says she started working in the school cafeteria back in the third grade in her native Fredonia, Kan., to help pay for her lunches. She worked in the cafeteria up through high school and later worked in a cafe in Kansas.

The walls in Judy's cafe are decorated with items of country Americana, giving the dining area a cozy atmosphere. It is reminiscent of going back home for dinner at Grandma's house. In fact, the business is a family affair. Judy is assisted in the operation of the cafe by her son Larry Becker and his wife Kris of Gentry, daughter-in-law Gina Becker and husband Mike of Maysville, grandson Randy Becker and his wife Amber of Gentry. Granddaughter Jaci Becker, 7, of Gentry, helps out on weekends. Gretchen Bandy, of Maysville, assists as a waitress.

Becker's father was in the Army, so she moved a lot as a youngster. She and her husband Vernon moved to Arkansas from Kansas in 1992. Vernon was also a Kansas native.

Daily specials are served at Judy's Cafe. The special on Tuesdays is beans, cornbread, and fried potatoes. Wednesday's special is Indian tacos, and catfish is served on Friday. Free drinks are served to truckers and all CDL holders.

Breakfast is served from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Eggs are served with toast and hash browns and may be accompanied by bacon, sausage or ham. A variety of cheese omelets are available, plain or with the addition of bacon, sausage, ham or three-meat. Western, veggie and supreme omelets are also on the menu.

Other popular breakfast choices are biscuits and gravy, French toast and pancakes. Cereal lovers may choose oatmeal or grits, and fried potatoes are available with the option of adding onions and peppers. A children's menu features choices of a half biscuit and gravy, a piece of French toast, one small pancake or one egg and one piece of bacon, each for only $1.79.

Dinner service begins at 11 a.m. Dinner choices include chicken-fried steak, fried chicken, hamburger steak and chicken strips. All dinners are served with a salad and choice of baked potato, mashed potatoes or fries. Dinner prices are $6.99 and $7.99.

Hamburgers, cheeseburgers and bacon cheeseburgers are on the menu and may be accompanied by French fries, chive fries or Tater Tots. Diners who prefer a sandwich over a burger may choose a BLT, ham and cheese, grilled cheese, chicken-fried steak or a chicken strip sandwich. Prices range from $3.99 to $5.99. Chef salads, chicken-strip, and grilled-chicken salads are available for $5.99 or $6.99 and a half chef salad may be purchased for $4.99.

A children's dinner menu offers a mini corn dog, grilled cheese, peanut butter and jelly, a half ham sandwich, two chicken strips or dino bites, all with French fries, for only $3.49.

The Becker family invites all in the area to come in and get acquainted, come and enjoy a meal or just drop by for a cup of coffee and a piece of pie. The coffeepot is always on. The telephone number at Judy's is 479-298-0068 for those who wish to call ahead for a takeout meal.

Community on 11/15/2017