Hottie Jay Page is keeping cool this summer by running the Dairy Queen restaurant where he was practically raised. His grandfather bought the DQ, on the corner of Park Avenue and Joe Clifton Drive, back in 1948. His father is also involved in restaurants, making Page, 23, a third-generation restaurateur and entrepreneur. And a super-cute one, at that.
iList Paducah: Jay Page, you are just cute, cute, cute, no doubt about it. Were you cute as a kid?
Jay Page: I don’t know. I’m the only child and the only grandchild. I had a lot of attention – probably more than what was good for me!
IL: You graduated from Tilghman in 2002 and were voted Mr. Tilghman. Oh la la! And you were a very young entrepreneur, right?
JP: Yes. I come from a very entrepreneurial family. When I was 12, I started Wall Street Snacks, which was a glorified vending machine business.
IL: Wall Street Snacks? In New York City?
JP: No, here in Paducah. I just called it Wall Street Snacks. I’d become interested in the stock market about the same time. It was during the dot-com bubble. I had big aspirations!
I restored and serviced vending machines in 10 businesses around town. Since I was only 12, I didn’t want the business to get too big because my mom had to drive me around with candy bars in the car so that I could keep them all filled. I used the money to pay for flying lessons. When I turned 16, I got my driver’s license and pilot’s license in the same week.
IL: The Paducah Sun reported that you sold Wall Street Snacks for an “undisclosed sum” after you graduated from high school.
JP: Yeah, that was pretty funny. It sounded like I’d made a fortune or something.
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L: Did you?JP: Not that big a fortune!
IL: So then you went to Boston?
JP: Yes, I went to Babson College because it offers the No. 1 entrepreneurship program. Some people say you can’t study entrepreneurship, but I think you can. I began studying business from day one. I wanted to prepare myself the best I could to start a new business and get financing. Babson was the right place to do that.
IL: And you had an internship before you graduated in 2006?
JP: I had an internship with a mobile software company during my junior and senior years. But I worked in a cube and almost knocked down those four walls! I really love working on the front line with customers, not being behind a desk.
IL: What brought you back to Paducah?
JP: I really didn’t have any plans to come back to Paducah. When I was in college, the LowerTown Artist Relocation Program was just getting started. And when I came home to visit, I could just see that Paducah is a great market. I love the people here, the sense of community and the sense of excitement. And I started seriously thinking of joining the family restaurant business. My parents pleaded with me not to.
IL: Really? Why?
JP: They wanted me to be a doctor or attorney – anything but the restaurant business. But I love the restaurant business. I grew up learning the restaurant business. In fact, I’m hoping to open a restaurant in the mall area and then later, in LowerTown.
IL: Where! What kind of restaurant?
JP: I can’t say yet.
IL: Please? I won’t tell!
JP: Well, I can tell you it’s a fast-casual restaurant. It’s a hot segment in the industry right now.
IL: In the meantime you’re running the Dairy Queen for your grandparents, right?
JP: Yes, that’s right.
IL: Now Jay Page, for those of us watching our weight, what can we eat at Dairy Queen?JP: All of our ice cream is reduced-fat. We use fresh milk, with no additives, so it’s nutritious. That Super Size Me movie scared a lot of people. It’s hype. Everything in moderation. We have several people who are very fit and come in and eat an ice cream cone.
IL: Rock on. I love ice cream. Give me a Dilly Bar any day!OK, so tell us your idea of a perfect date.
JP: I’m a old-school date. I spent almost a year in Paris, so I love that culture. I love going to the symphony and a nice dinner. Any of our downtown restaurants do a great job. I like Cynthia’s because it’s dark and mysterious. It’s a great place for a date. And I also love to go to the lake and drive go-carts and eat at Catfish Kitchen. I’m happy either way.
IL: What were you doing in Paris?
JP: I spent three semesters studying at The Sorbonne. I studied French and all the classes were in French. It was a great experience.
IL: And what about the French femmes? They’re fabulous, aren’t they?
JP: They are. But dating is different there. You really have to woo French women. They don’t make eye contact. Trying to ask someone out on a first date when you don’t speak their language, it’s very tough.
IL: Hopefully you’re having an easier time of it in Paducah!
JP: Well, I’m not really dating that much now because I’m busy working on the new business.
IL: The new restaurant that you can’t tell us about?
JP: Yes. But hopefully I’ll be able to tell you about it – and start dating again – soon!
IL: We hope so! You are just too cute to spend your Saturday nights pouring over business plans. Businessmen need a little love, too! Entrepreneur on, Jay Page!
