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18 OUR YUCAIPA | JANUARY 2016 By Natalie Palmer JoJo's Grill-a-Dog opened just one year ago in the Vons shopping center, but already the popular restaurant feels like an integral part of Yucaipa. Owners Ryan Molnar and Jason Tang say part of their business philosophy is to give back to the community and they've been doing just that by giving students jobs, hosting fundraisers, and feeding law enforcement and public service employees anytime they get the chance. "Yucaipa is our home," said Tang. "Everyone opens a business to make money, but we have a very realistic view of that. An important part of our business model is to help the community we live in." As evidence of JoJo's community commitment, owner Ryan Molnar was recently named the 2015 Yucaipa Citizen of the Year by the Yucaipa Chamber of Commerce. "Ryan has such a big heart and steps up in a variety of fashions to help the community," said Chamber of Commerce President Amy Minjares. "He has been a chamber member since the very beginning and is truly a leader in the community." Molnar takes the honor in stride and said he's just trying to help like he would hope others would help him or Tang in the same situations. They feel strongly about giving opportunities to kids and said they have hired great local high school and college students who are gaining skills to help them land their dream jobs later. Part of their unique business model is to train every employee in every job from grill master, to bread maker to customer service. The business also works with Yucaipa High School's ROP program to provide much needed training for students preparing to enter the work force. JoJo's also hosts fundraisers for almost every sport in town from Little League to high school teams. "We always try our best to help," said Molnar. "We try to meet any request within reason and really find a way to make it work." The JoJos Grill-a-Dog food truck helps with the restaurants busy schedule and rolls up to schools and events to host fundraisers in style. "Everyone is excited to eat off a food truck," said Molnar. "Ours is one of the first in the Inland Empire and people love it." The truck also offers flexibility, enabling JoJo's to feed the FBI Agents during the San Bernardino shooting investigation while they did their work. They also fed over 100 city volunteers at the Yucaipa AutumnFest and served hot chocolate and coffee during the candlelight vigil for the San Bernardino shooting victims. Of course, the restaurants popularity has to be based on great tasting food. JoJo's Grill-a-Dog serves 100 percent all beef quarter pound hot dogs. The buns are made fresh every day on site, as are on the home made potato chips. The chili is a family recipe passed down through Molnar's wife Charity's family who has been in the food business for 50 years. She also created Jojo's wildly popular Mojo Sauce and Awesome Sauce. Vegetarian and vegan menu items are available every day. The restaurant's Hawaiian Shave Ice is made with the most highly purified water available and the mouth watering syrups are actually imported from Hawaii, said Tang. "We have some great new menu items planned for 2016 including hand dipped corn dogs and funnel cake fries," he added. JoJo's is opening a second location in Redlands in March in the Mountain Grove Plaza near where a new movie theater is planned. "We're excited but it's probably going to feel a little different there," said Molnar. "Yucaipa is our home and we will always be based here." JoJo's Grill-a-Dog is at 33694 Yucaipa Blvd., Suite 1 in the Von's Shopping Center. Hours are Monday through Thursday 11 am to 9 pm, Friday and Saturdays 11 am to 10 pm and Sundays noon to 6 pm. JoJo's Serves Great Dogs With A Side Of Awesome