Jake’s Diner Receives Restaurant Neighbor Award
Each year, the National Restaurant Association (NRA) awards $5,000 to four restaurants through its Restaurant Neighbor Award. This awards program, in conjunction with American Express, recognizes outstanding community service efforts among our nation’s restaurants. Jake’s Diner was chosen by the Oregon Restaurant Association to represent Oregon in the small business division.
According to the ORA, “Jake’s Diner, owned by Lyle Hicks in Bend, Oregon donates an immeasurable amount of meals to its community annually. Jake’s largest event on Thanksgiving Day provides 400-450 seniors with a warm meal and a family to celebrate with. Additionally, the restaurant holds events throughout the year to honor service men and women including the Fire and Police Chaplains, American Legion, Vietnam Veterans and the Volunteers of Medicine.”
Click here to read more about this award.
Race Night & BBQ
On the Wednesday before Memorial Day, Jake’s holds “Race Night” with drag racers and speedway racers joining the local cruisers with their cars in the parking lot. Chef Jimmy will cook up one of his famous BBQ’s, and all will be entertained by Richard Taelour and Friends live from 6PM to 8PM.
Cruise In & BBQ
On the Wednesday before Labor Day, Jake’s holds their end of the summer big cruise in. It is meant as a “Thank You” for all of the support given to us by many of the local cruisers (some of whom are in every week during the entire year). Richard Taelour and Friends will entertain while locals chow down on Jake’s last big BBQ of the year.Profits from this event go to the High Desert A’s Model A Ford Club, where it is used to provide scholarships to students in the COCC Automotive Technology Program.
Show ‘n’ Shine
Jake’s holds a Show ‘n’ Shine every Wednesday evening during daylight savings time. On any warm Wednesday evening, you will find dozens of locals showing off their cars or just hanging around listening to the sounds of the 50′s and 60′s played by a local DJ. Two larger Cruise Ins are held every year on the Wednesdays before Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Hold ‘em for Habitat
In 2006, Lyle, along with his friends Frank Patka of Printer Resources and Richard Smith of Habitat for Humanity, began hosting poker tourneys on Monday nights to support Habitat for Humanity. They coined the phrase “Hold ‘em for Habitat” and Lyle had a logo drawn up to help in it’s promotion. Their goal was to give people the ability to help others gain housing while having fun at the same time. The cost each week to play is just $5, and you can rebuy as many times as you wish before the first blind raise. The winner of each tourney wins a prize such as a free meal, T-shirt, or Coffee mug from Jake’s, or other prizes donated by local merchants.
In 2007, they began a larger tourney on the first Monday and Tuesday of October which they call “The World Series of Hold ‘em for Habitat”. In order to qualify for that tourney, you must win one of the earlier weekly tourneys, score points for being in the final table of those same tourneys, or qualify for the second day on a special first day qualifying tourney.
To date, Hold ‘em for Habitat events have raised over $30,000 and have assisted in the building of two Habitat houses. You can join the fun any Monday evening with signup starting at 5:00 pm and play at 6:30 pm.
Fourth of July VVA BBQ
On the Fourth of July, Jake’s holds a BBQ and blues band concert starring father and son team Richard and Ted Taelour. All profits for this event go to Vietnam Veterans of America, an organization dedicated to Vietnam-era veterans and their families. 
After the band plays, customers can stick around in Jake’s parking lot, which is an awesome position from which to watch the Bend fireworks display off of Pilot Butte.
