Shawbucks: A Local Favorite Looks to the Future with MindfulEatery

For 30 years, Shawbucks has been a beloved gathering place in downtown Jamestown, and the beloved spot is getting some well-anticipated additions that patrons are sure to love.

Located at 212 West 2nd Street, the restaurant and bar opened its doors on March 31, 1995, and has become known as a comfortable spot to enjoy a meal, catch live entertainment or simply relax with friends. Today, owner Kurt B. Johnson is developing an exciting new chapter for the building. While the first floor will continue operating as the familiar Shawbucks restaurant and bar, the upper floors are being developed to serve a wide range of community needs, from celebrations and entertainment to learning and personal well-being.

“I’ve owned this building since 1995 in December,” Johnson said. “I’ve always wanted to develop the upper floors and I’ve had this idea for the MindfulEatery project since probably 2010, when I really started living that way myself, focusing on foods, environment and creating health.”

As a carpenter by trade, Johnson is doing most of the renovation work himself with assistance from his sons, Colin and Kadan, and longtime friend, Tim Desmond of Desmond Construction.

The upper floors are being transformed into MindfulEatery, a multi-use community space focused on bringing people together through food, learning, wellness and shared experiences. The project includes several unique features, such as four-story decks facing the National Comedy Center, a rooftop greenhouse, outdoor gardens and a balcony. These spaces are being designed to offer both indoor and outdoor environments that support community gatherings, events and wellness activities.

“MindfulEatery is kind of an experiential philosophy that I made up,” he said. “It is just paying attention to what you consume, whether it gives you energy or takes it away and the areas of what you consume. What do you consume? You consume food, you consume your thoughts and you consume your environment. Those are the three pillars that support MindfulEatery.”

Johnson said regular customers of Shawbucks don’t have to worry: the foods and experience they love aren’t going anywhere.

“I don’t want to get away from the food I have, but I’d also like to serve other food with other options,” he said. “I want to have the MindfulEatery kitchen focused on more of an ‘awakened’ menu. It would be nice to promote locally sourced, organic, plant-based foods and farmers. I want to create a demand for locally sourced foods if I can.”

Johnson said the second floor will host weddings, conferences, private events, live entertainment/bands and comedy shows. It will also provide flexible space for educational workshops, community programs, with opportunities to work alongside Jamestown Community College and local schools. The third floor will focus on wellness, with dedicated space for energy psychology, energy healing and energy medicine.

Johnson has been meeting with the Cornell Natural Food Co-op and Jamestown Community College to explore hands-on educational programs centered on regenerative farming, indoor growing and practical food skills. One concept in development is a workshop series called “Plant a Plate in 15 Minutes,” aimed at making fresh, healthy food more accessible.

Johnson, who is not only a business owner but also a carpenter, said he is doing the work himself. He expects the first-floor decks to be available for use by late Summer. He said the upper decks may take several months to complete, and the rooftop gardens will be a project slated for next year.

For those interested in more in-depth information on the MindfulEatery concept, Johnson shares regular Mindful Monday reflections on social media, offering thoughtful messages about personal growth and choosing a more positive way of living. He hopes these may one day grow into the success of the restaurant over the years.

His book, “Lone Star Rising: The Energy Within Me – Choosing Love Over Fear,” serves as the foundation for the MindfulEatery vision.

Johnson said he is thankful for his wife, Tammy, who has played an important role in the success of the restaurant over the years. He said he and Tammy are also deeply grateful to their dedicated team of employees, who they credit as a key part of Shawbucks’ success over the past three decades.

“As Shawbucks moves into this next phase, the goal remains simple: to create more ways for people to connect, learn and enjoy time together in downtown Jamestown,” Johnson said.

To follow the project and learn more, visit shawbucks.com or kurtbjohnson.com