September 13, 2024

The Mason Jar In Umatilla Has Been Sold To New Owners After 42 Years

1.8 min read| Published On: September 13th, 2024|

By Kyle Coppola

The Mason Jar In Umatilla Has Been Sold To New Owners After 42 Years

1.8 min read| Published On: September 13th, 2024|

After 42-years of ownership by the Key family, The Mason Jar Restaurant in Umatilla is under new ownership. An employee confirmed that owners Glen and Byron Key, and their sister Keri Carter, have sold the restaurant to a new owner. The restaurant has been a family owned establishment from the beginning, calling the exact same spot home since their mom, Latrell Key, with help from her sister Paula and her Aunt Lou, first opened in Dona Vista more than 42 years ago.

(The Mason Jar has been serving up hometown meals for over 41-years. Glen Key shows off some of the many dishes offered.)

Upon walking into The Mason Jar, you may have noticed some unique features: door handles made from rifles, country/barn décor featuring wagon wheels and sunflowers, a stuffed black bear near the entrance, a sign reminding all to “Eat like no one is watching,” old black-and-white framed family photos on the walls of the waiting area, and more. 

Most of all, the smells coming from the kitchen may remind guests of their own mothers’ southern kitchens. Days when things like bacon and eggs, meatloaf, chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes and gravy, liver and onions, fried chicken, beans and rice, shepherd’s pie, biscuits, corn muffins, chicken and dumplings, and spaghetti were staples. 

(As far as a southern home cooked meal it does not get much better than Mason Jar. It’s like being transported back in time to the Key’s family kitchen.)

The restaurant is known for its big portion sizes and just a hometown feel to it. While we do not have any information regarding the new owners, this is a developing story and we will provide more info when we have it.

In an article posted last year in Style Magazine, Glen said – “The type of food we serve here is based on good old homecooked meals. We use a lot of my mother’s and grandmother’s recipes and everything we serve are things we would’ve been served for dinner back in the day,” he adds, explaining that along with traditional southern-style meals, The Mason Jar kitchen produces favorites like burgers, sandwiches, salads, and more.”

There are pictures and items from the family that tell the 41-year history of the restaurant inside. The place is one of the most popular restaurants in Lake County for a reason – its charm and good food. It has kept people coming back for over 42 years and we hope that continues with the new owners.

4 Comments

  1. Avatar
    Dale Tahner September 13, 2024 at 12:02 pm - Reply

    Hopefully the servers all remain, at least the breakfast staff because they are the best in Lake County.

  2. Avatar
    Jenifer Louer September 13, 2024 at 2:18 pm - Reply

    It is not broke do not change anything. Leave it the same as it is now

  3. Avatar
    John Maine September 13, 2024 at 6:26 pm - Reply

    Well betting it won’t be as good. Seems when new owners they start cutting corners.
    .
    Sad cause I still have $50 of coupons for there. Will give it a try. But I am a 1 strike guy. If bad never see me again.

  4. Avatar
    Paula Suhay September 13, 2024 at 8:47 pm - Reply

    Hope the servers and food will stay. It’s a great place with great people

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About the Author: Kyle Coppola

Kyle Coppola was born in Newton, Massachusetts and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications from Curry College in 2016. After traveling to Florida on a family vacation, he decided he could not get enough of the warm weather and made the move from snowy Massachusetts to central Florida 8 years ago.

For the last decade Kyle has gained valuable experience in social media content creation, marketing and sales, writing, video production, sports announcing and even broadcasting for local radio stations, such as FM 102.9 in The Villages and FM 91.5 in Massachusetts. Every year he volunteers at The Villages Charter High School as a play-by-play sports announcer for the football games as well as a public address announcer for the basketball games, including the annual Battle at The Villages Tournament.

Outside the office Kyle is a husband and father to two beautiful girls along with their cat. In his spare time he likes to spend time with his family, travel, play golf and swim. He is also a huge sports junkie and even bigger motorsports fan and loves to attend racing events when he can.

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