FOLSOM, Calif. — J. Wild’s BBQ on Sutter Street in Folsom is shutting down.
The restaurant, located in the city’s Historic District, is closing in the coming weeks due to financial challenges and a desire for more family time, according to a Monday news release published by co-owners Sammy and James Youmans.
J. Wild’s was opened by Sammy Youmans’ father, Chicago Fire owner Eric Schnetz. He turned the location into J. Wild’s from an existing Chicago Fire in April 2020. His daughter and son-in-law officially took over March 29, 2023.
“To make J. Wild's our own, we wanted to add happy hour, trivia nights, improve the whiskey selection, a loyalty program, seasonal specials and more…all of which we accomplished, but none of it was enough to overcome the financial challenge of running a restaurant ‘in this economy,’” the couple wrote in their statement. “By that, we mean in a place where costs only continue to rise thanks to both legislative changes and general inflation.”
Schnetz declined to comment on the closure, reportedly telling his daughter that he felt the story is not his to tell anymore.
The Youmans said on top of the day-to-day fight to stay open, they had their first child in March.
“Realizing we would never have the family time that we desire solidified our decision to close,” the couple said. “We have no more to give of ourselves after sacrificing so much of our time and all of our resources to J. Wild's, our wonderful staff, and you, our guests.”
The couple said the decision was not easy, and neither of the pair has been happier than when they were running a restaurant.
“We dreamed about our daughter growing up playing with the POS stations like Sam did and working her first job on Sutter Street,” they said. “It’s a vision that is heartbreaking to let go of.”
As of Monday, the restaurant is open daily 4-9 p.m., but they are closed Thursdays. The couple said they expect hours to change as staff leave to find new employment. The restaurant is also not accepting reservations or catering orders, and the exact closing date has not yet been set, the couple said.
“With heartfelt gratitude and no regrets, Sammy and James,” the couple wrote, signing off their joint statement.
What's next for the Youmans?
Sammy Youmans told ABC10 what's next for the family is a proper getaway.
"To start, we got our baby girl a passport and we're thinking of fleeing the country for a bit," she said. "James and I got together right before the pandemic and every chance at international travel we've had has been thwarted. So, we're long overdue for a real vacation and excited to plan that as a family."
She said after that, she and James will explore "real jobs."
"We would love to open a new concept and we've had other ideas...but realistically there's no way we would get into that in California right now," she said. "It's just too expensive and too risky for the stage of life we are in."
Joe Gagliardi, CEO and president of Choose Folsom, said the city's business network is saddened to hear about the closure.
"Their contribution to the local culinary scene will be greatly missed," he said. "At Choose Folsom, we recognize the challenges faced by small businesses. We remain committed to supporting our local entrepreneurs and ensuring that Folsom continues to be a vibrant destination for residents and visitors alike."
Gagliardi said he wishes the Youmans the best in future endeavors.
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