J’s Restaurant closes landmark San Jose location after four decades

J’s Restaurant has confirmed the permanent closure of its longtime San Jose location after more than four decades of operation, with Super Typhoon Sinlaku delivering the latest blow to an aging building that had repeatedly required costly repairs following major storms.

Juan “Shine” K. Tenorio, operations manager for J’s Restaurant, told Marianas Press that the restaurant ceased operations when Typhoon Condition 2 was declared ahead of Sinlaku and never reopened.

“And that was the last of the operation,” Tenorio said.

Tenorio said the building was already old and had endured numerous typhoons during the decades his family operated the San Jose family-style diner.

Sinlaku damaged the front portion of the building, allowing wind to enter and tear apart ceiling tiles inside the restaurant. Tenorio said another section toward the rear of the former bowling area was also damaged.

The latest damage came after years of costly repairs, including following Super Typhoon Yutu in 2018. The bowling operation itself never resumed after Yutu.

“So Yutu, we sustained a lot of damage. I think more damage for me in Yutu,” Tenorio said.

Complicating matters was the inability to obtain typhoon insurance for the aging structure.

“Our building's not able to be covered by typhoon insurance no more because I think it surpassed the age, and then it's also not a full concrete structure,” Tenorio said.

Tenorio said the final decision to close the San Jose location was largely his father’s, after decades of operating the restaurant and repeatedly rebuilding following storms.

“I think, you know, my dad's been through a lot with the building, man. It's, you know, 40, 44 years of operation. Numerous typhoons, you know, just rebuilding after those typhoons,” he said.

Even when insurance was available, Tenorio said it did not cover all expenses and the family repeatedly had to spend its own money on repairs.

Looking at the condition of the building after Sinlaku, another round of repairs no longer made economic sense.

“It's too old already and, you know, even if we just, you know, it's just basically doing patchwork to it,” Tenorio said.

“If we're going to, you know, if we're going to spend full renovation, we might as well try and go brand new or something like that,” he added.

While the San Jose location has closed, J’s Restaurant continues operating in Gualo Rai. Tenorio estimated that about 18 to 20 employees from San Jose were moved there as the company tries to keep its workforce employed. Some staff members, he noted, have been with the company for more than 20 years.

Tenorio thanked employees, including longtime staff, for helping sustain the business through the years.

“We're very grateful and appreciative of our staff,” he said.

He likewise thanked generations of residents and visitors who patronized J’s Restaurant.

“Of course, you know, our customers, not only the customer, I mean, all our customers, whether they're from Saipan or from abroad or from elsewhere and all that, we're very much appreciative and humble, you know, for their patronage to our company,” Tenorio said.

The family is also trying to preserve bowling trophies and other memorabilia accumulated over the decades, although Tenorio said some items were damaged by water and exposure following Sinlaku.

As for whether another J’s Restaurant location—and potentially bowling—could someday replace the San Jose operation, Tenorio said the possibility has been discussed but emphasized the substantial investment that would be required.

“There are plans, you know, I mean, there's always been plans. But of course with anything that's a big investment to get something going,” he said.

Any new operation would essentially require starting from scratch, Tenorio said, and would have to be carefully considered given current economic conditions.

“There’s always been plans to look at something, but it is a big investment that needs a lot of good thought process to it,” he said.

Tenorio said he would personally like to see bowling return, noting that generations of families on Saipan grew up with the activity.

“That place is a generational place. You got grandfathers, you got parents, and you got kids that have, you know, have been to that place,” he said.

For now, J’s Restaurant continues through its Gualo Rai location, and Tenorio closed with another message of gratitude to customers who have supported the business through its ups and downs.

“We are very grateful for all our customers. You know, I cannot even put into words how appreciative we are the patronage to whether it be San Jose or Gualo Rai and the continued patronage to this day,” Tenorio said.