Deep Roots

Jackson’s grandparents Curtis Luckey and Jeanne Solberg created the original ‘Luckey’s Woodsman’ in Springfield, Oregon in the 1956. In its prime the Luckey’s Woodsman had 6 locations including a restaurant in the Salt Lake City area and the others landing in the Willamette valley, Portland, Salem, and Albany areas. The Luckey’s Woodsman was known for their Broasted Chicken and Choice Cut Steaks as well as being a “go to” destination for those in Springfield and Eugene.

Their Mission: “To make available to our customers the ultimate in specialty foods at a reasonable-price, served in a friendly manner, in a comfortable atmosphere”. Jackson’s grandparent’s were able to live out their mission in their Springfield, OR restaurant and in their community. They helped fund the construction of the Springfield High School stadium in 1969. They also developed a relationship with the local mill by providing meal services to keep the workers fed and production high.

The Luckey’s Woodsman was a well established name in Oregon for over 15 years before meeting its demise in the early 70’s when the recession hit. The Luckey’s Woodsman had to file for bankruptcy and every location was closed.

Fast forward several years to my childhood. I was fortunate to grow up with my grandparents camping out in my backyard every summer. I knew Grandpa Curt as the ‘Diet Coke’ drinking handy man that built his own camper out of a 1980 Ford van (before it was cool). As I aged I realized that the time I spent with Grandpa Curt in my backyard had a strong influence on my life. Ironically enough, I became a passionate chef just like my grandpa once was. Maybe it’s not that ironic, after all.