ELLINWOOD — Owned by Ann Christiansen, Annie Mae’s, 518 E. Santa Fe has opened in Ellinwood. The former John Henry’s now also serves breakfast and has takeout and delivery in Ellinwood.
The restaurant opened as Annie Mae’s in September.
They serve a full breakfast menu; lunch daily with a special home cooked plate and burgers.
“We do pretty much the same (as John Henry’s) because it worked,” said Christiansen. “I liked to hang on to some of those things.”
“Our big thing is hand breaded onion strings,” she said. Onion strings are thick cut onions with batter and fried.
She has also have other new menu items including chicken-broccoli alfredo, and beef and noodles. On weekends, they serve a 16 oz. rib eye.
    They serve 3.2 beer.
Christiansen worked as a waitress at John Henry’s for several before she began managing the Ellinwood American Legion kitchen, which she did for three years.
What she enjoys most about her job are the people. “I enjoy people,” said Christiansen. She likes to visit with the customers.
Hours are M-F: 6-10 a.m. breakfast; 11 a.m.  -  2 p.m. lunch; 5-9 p.m. supper; and all day Saturday.
The first order of business, Christiansen said after taking over John Henry’s was cleaning.
In the future, she would like to add booths and start a working history of Ellinwood in pictures and memorabilia working towards remodeling over the next couple of years.
She would like to add booths, tables, chairs and redo the flooring.
The building used to be a filling station.
She graduated from Ellinwood High School and still lives in Ellinwood. She has five children and a new grandbaby.
“My family helps out,” she said. “It’s nice to have everybody pitching in.”