Over the years , the Somerset Mall has had its fair share of restaurants outfront : Bonanza , Ponderosa , Tumbleweed , and Old Town Grill . But now a new restaurant has moved in , and it ’ s taking a different approach from all its predecessors .
MJ ’ s Casual Dining is a Christian-based family restaurant that opened on February 12 of this year . Melanie and John ( the “ MJ ”) Hite are the married couple that own and operate the establishment . Having lived in Florida for many years of their lives , the couple experienced quite the journey to end up in Somerset , Kentucky .
The couple have been together since they were 14-yearsold . They met when they were both working at the same restaurant . Since then , their love , family , and culinary experience has only grown , all which is evident in their current restaurant .
At 17-years-old , John graduated from Withlacoochee Technical College in Florida with a degree in culinary arts . After that , he found himself managing restaurants for “[ his ] whole life .” Each endeavor has involved his family , especially his wife and their youngest
daughter Maria Hite . “ As soon as I could walk , they had me working in the kitchen ,” she said .
While not technically certified , Maria only ever learned to cook in a restaurant
for her entire life . She credits almost everything she ’ s learned to her father , who she calls a “ culinary master .”
How the Hite family found themselves where they are today starts in London , Kentucky . Coincidentally , John was partnered with the owner of Old Town Grill and helped build and renovate their restaurant in London . Eventually , the two went their separate ways .
John and his family sought to open up a whole new restaurant in Corbin . In the process , they were looking into purchasing furniture for it . As fate would have it , they came across an ad for such in Somerset . Come to find out the furniture was being sold by the once vacant restaurant that was also for sale at the time . They figured to cut out the middle-man and just buy the whole restaurant . While the family still resides in Corbin , forcing them to commute on an almost daily-basis , it ’ s “ passion ” that keeps them going . In the meantime , John says they have to “ make it before [ they ] make the move .”
Melanie adds that they have to “ move into the community at a gradual pace .”
Nonetheless , the Hites feel that the community has already accepted them with open arms . They feel this is especially true with the Somerset-Pulaski
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“ We ’ ve put everything we ’ ve learned all our lives into one menu ”
-Melanie Hite
22 • SEKY - Life in Southeast Kentucky June 2022