SUPERIOR – The community lost two big contributors as well as a good family restaurant recently as Jackie’s Home Cooking closed its doors before owners Mike and Jackie Perotti left the area.

The restaurant closed its doors around January 10. According to George Gupton, the owner of the Old Schoolhouse, the couple has moved back to Oregon, where they lived before they came to Superior. He said they decided to return and be around family again. He felt they were excellent tenants and good friends who he hated to see leave.

“I think they’re a loss to the community, for sure,” said Gupton. “They were very loved and they were an important part of the community…We hate to see them go, but we wish them luck.”

The Perottis were also very active in the community and sponsored a number of events. When the restaurant was not hosting something, the owners sponsored other events held around the community. They were also involved with the Mineral County Chamber of Commerce and let the car show use the lawn outside the restaurant.

Apart from effects of the business closing, their departure will have an impact on residents in the area. Their friendly and selfless attitude made them loved by many in Superior who will be sad to not have them around.

“I just hate to see them leave,” said Rosie Schreckendgust, a fellow member of the chamber of commerce. “I think they’ve done a good job while they were here.”

The sudden departure also meant many did not get the chance to see the Perottis one last time.

“I didn’t want to see them go,” said Sue McDonald, a resident of Superior. “We’re going to miss them. I didn’t even get to say goodbye.”

The restaurant closure has already impacted other local businesses. While no details were given, Castles Market acted as a food supplier to Jackie’s. The town’s economy will also be impacted with fewer places to spend money. The staff of Durango’s, another restaurant in Superior, said they will feel the loss as well.

With Jackie’s closed, Durango’s has become one of the two remaining restaurants in Superior. Talley Wilday, an employee at Durango’s, recalled some people had come in grumbling about how they would rather go to Jackie’s. She said some preferred the atmosphere there than in Durango’s.

The shut down had a mixed reception for the other restaurant.

“Along side of us, they had a different kind of…menu,” said Wilday on behalf of the restaurant’s owner. “They brought people in. More businesses give more promise for the town to grow…[The owner] feels it wasn’t a good thing to lose another business.”

She said there were also people who came to the community from outside Superior, specifically to eat at Jackie’s.

Wilday felt people liked to have choices and one fewer option could have a big impact on how people ate out. However, the business gap may not be empty for long.

According to Gupton, some people have shown interest in the restaurant portion of the schoolhouse. He said it would likely be a couple months before anything came from it, but the interest was there.