NFL linebacker Jaylon Smith opens ramen restaurant near Notre Dame alma mater
The sleek new 65-seat restaurant in South Bend, Indiana opened to the public on July 9, with the first 100 customers in line for the 11 a.m. opening receiving a free bowl of ramen ― and the chance to interact with Smith, who's now gearing up for his eighth season in the NFL.
'I wanted to bring something back to Notre Dame and the community,' Smith said of the restaurant that he partnered on with restaurateur Jim Wang. 'And I'd like to open several more in Indiana.'
Smith, who originally is from Fort Wayne and starred at Bishop Luers High School before coming to Notre Dame, said his hometown would be an obvious choice for a location in the future, and suggested he's already begun scouting out possible locations.
'I'm Indiana through and through,' he said, while enjoying lunch at the new restaurant that fronts East Pokagon Street between Napoleon and St. Vincent streets. 'I bleed the Hoosier state; it's where I'm from.'
Founded in 2010 by CEO Tomo Takahashi, the new Jinya is the 74th for the Los Angeles-based chain that prides itself on serving fresh, made-to-order entrées and appetizers with plenty of vegan and vegetarian options.
For the curious, Jinya means a place of community and connection in Japanese, according to the restaurant.
Prices for appetizers range from about $5 to $15 and dinners run from $20 to $40, and there's a full bar with mixes and syrups made on site. The restaurant, which is family friendly, is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and from 11 a.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays.
Pro athletes raise money: NFL's Gronkowski throws pickleball fundraiser, raises thousands for The Jimmy Fund
Mixing business and football
The new restaurant is one of several business interests for Smith since being selected by the Dallas Cowboy in the 2016 NFL draft. 'I've been an entrepreneur for nine years,' he said.
Clear Eye View or CEV glasses and sunglasses and the Cycle Management Group, which provides financial education and insurance services, are among several business and philanthropic interests for the linebacker.
Unlike some athletes who have famously burned through career earnings, Smith said he does a lot of research and verification before deciding where to invest his money. 'I don't hand money over with blind trust,' he said.
'That's being lazy,' said Smith, who knows about the extreme work it takes to come back from a devastating knee injury like the one he suffered in the 2016 Fiesta Bowl. The winner of the Butkus Award for linebackers, Smith was projected as a top five pick in the NFL draft prior to the injury.
But work, determination and faith helped him overcome the knee injury and enjoy a lengthy career in the NFL. 'It was the first time that I worried that football could be taken from me,' he said.
Now, Smith is planning for his future after football, developing businesses while splitting time between Fort Wayne, Texas and now Las Vegas. He even hopes to eventually partner with one of his old teammates at Notre Dame on a project.
'God willing, I have three more years of football,' he said.
Email Tribune Market Basket columnist Ed Semmler at esemmler@gannett.com with tips about retail and restaurant openings and closings.
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