Meet Jeff Good

Another Zippity Doo Dah® ‘mover & shaker’: meet Jeff Good

“Do the right thing….and do it in abundance!” That’s what you might hear if you are in Sal & Mookie’s at 4:45pm during the dinner service “line up” meeting. That is Fondrenite and restaurant owner Jeff Good’s mantra, often repeated to staff in an effort to emphasize the deep culture of service that he and business partner Dan Blumenthal strive for in all three of their Jackson restaurants. And it’s that level of right things in abundance that cause Good to be a major player in this weekend’s upcoming Zippity Doo Dah® activities. His Sal & Mookie’s Children’s Carnival was made a part of the first annual event last year because of a phone call from a friend. “Jill Conner Browne contacted me and asked if I thought Fondren would support a new event”, he says. Good was quick to respond. “I said yes, and the rest was history.  Fondren is inhabited by doers… and boy did we all pull together and get it done”!

Good says last year’s experience has helped them to learn – and grow this year. “We purposefully kept the size and scale to a manageable level, since last year was our first year”, he tells us.  Good says their efforts to make everything safe and fun paid off. “The result was 10,000 parade watchers and a great day of events.  Goes to prove the old adage: If you build it, they will come”! The restaurant owner hopes you’ll make the Sal & Mookie’s carnival a big part of your Saturday, but there’s more. “The three day weekend of festivities is geared to appeal to all ages”, he says.  We have Arts Eats and Beats for the young adults and up age group – folks who want to gallery walk, enjoy refreshments, eat, and hear music.  The children’s carnival is for families, as is the parade.  And, don’t forget the Clydesdales”!

The neighborhood is poised to offer a celebration unlike any other and Good believes it’s one simple truth that makes that so: “Fondren is a neighborhood that makes things happen”, he believes.  “None of the things that happen here happen without tremendous effort from individual volunteers.  I am lucky to live here and we are all lucky to enjoy this great place”. And Fondren is lucky to have him. He lives here, works here, his office is here, he goes to church here, and serves on a number of Fondren-related boards. Good moved to Jackson 30 years ago from Salt Lake City, Utah, when his father took the job of dean of students at Millsaps College. zddcomm