Genisa Wine Bar and Jack & Jenny’s: “It's Clearly A Partnership”
When Greg Hughes is not preparing to get the NFL, Olympics, or PGA Tour on-air at NBC Sports, you’ll find him managing his family of restaurants in Janesville, Wisconsin. Starting with Gameday Sports Bar & Grill in 2007, Hughes has since opened Bazinga Classic Pub & Grille; Barkley’s Burgers, Brews & Dawgs; Genisa Wine Bar; and Jack & Jenny’s, a new dining and drinking experience currently under construction. A Janesville native, Hughes has focused on the revitalization of Main Street, first with the historical renovation of the Italianate building that houses Genisa Wine Bar and now with the aging building next door—the new home of Jack & Jenny’s.
Despite coming from an extensive broadcast background, Hughes says that the restaurant management world “allows me to be creative with design and marketing and the naming process and all the different aspects of it. I enjoy running businesses and helping them succeed, and there’s so much to learn in the entrepreneurial space of these bars and restaurants. And they all are helpful to my hometown, which I love.”
The Friede & Associates team loves an exciting historical renovation project, so we were thrilled when Hughes asked us to come back to construct Jack & Jenny’s. Historical renovations are not your standard construction project. Before the first sledgehammer was raised at Genisa, which is celebrating its second anniversary this July, Hughes had done his research. After meeting Friede Executive Vice President & Partner Scott Truehl at the Young Blood Beer Company project in downtown Madison, Hughes was impressed with both the project's similarities and Friede’s professionalism.
Genisa Wine Bar was originally constructed in 2021 by Friede & Associates. This historical renovation project has brought new life to Main Street in Janesville.
“They were very prepared. They had done some research on what I was trying to do, and they identified something that they had done that made apples-to-apples comparison,” says Hughes. “They had answers to all of my questions. I think it was obvious to me that they were prepared and could do this project, whereas others that I interviewed were clearly not prepared, and hadn't professionally approached it the way Scott and the team did at Friede. And it was fairly obvious to me early on that that was where I was going.”
Hughes recently unveiled the new logo for Jack & Jenny’s.
And it was those same qualities that prompted Hughes to work with Friede on the Jack & Jenny’s project two years later. Hughes was impressed with “the quality of the work, the follow-up, and the continuing engagement with what's going on. They immerse themselves in their work.” Members of the Friede team regularly visit Genisa for an exceptional Italian meal. Hughes remarks that “there’s a feeling of attachment to a project as opposed to just, ‘Hey onto the next.’ And I really appreciate that part of it, that they care. If people really care, it's noticeable, and they do a better job. They want it to succeed.”
The Friede team approaches all of our projects with a partnership mindset and working with Hughes is no different. “Friede is there to answer questions, and they’re part of the plan. It's clearly a partnership—it's not just somebody hiring somebody else in a transaction. That's important to me,” says Hughes.
While Genisa and Jack & Jenny’s are located next to each other on North Main Street in Janesville, share a patio, and are named after Hughes’ parents John T. “Jack” & Genisa "Jenny" Hughes, their atmospheres are markedly different. Genisa is a restaurant and wine bar, featuring classic Italian dishes and an extensive wine and drinks list. Jack & Jenny’s will take a more American approach to dining, offering more casual food and beverage menus. And, like Genisa, Jack & Jenny’s is also located in a historic building—one that housed a local law firm for the past 60 years.
Construction is already underway at Jack & Jenny’s, located next door to Genisa Wine Bar at 15 N. Main Street in Janesville.
Located at 15 N. Main Street, the Jack & Jenny’s building was in better shape than the building that now houses Genisa. A full historic preservation is not necessary with this property, but care will be taken to improve its curb appeal. The building will feature large windows overlooking N. Main Street and a connection to Genisa’s private patio with views of the Rock River. With a grand opening slated for Fall 2023, another defunct structure in downtown Janesville will be brought back to life.
