Jailer buys My Dad's in Flatwoods

May 17—FLATWOODS — One longstanding business in Flatwoods is mixing Pancake with pizza.

Larry Pancake, that is.

Greenup County's jailer is now a Greenup County business owner, as Pancake bought My Dad's Pizzaria on April 1. The Flatwoods Parks and Recreation Board and the city conducted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 1007 Argillite Road on Friday afternoon.

My Dad's has been a Flatwoods staple since 1989.

After former co-owner Mark Pratt passed away, his wife, Vicki, operated the restaurant on "Wheeler Hill." Vicki Pratt's mother, Garner Gayheart, is the founder.

When Pancake heard Vicki, his friend, talk about retiring, he began thinking about purchasing the pizza place.

"I never had any intentions of going into the pizza business," Pancake said. "I've prayed about it for a long time and got the signs I felt like I needed."

Judge-Executive Bobby Hall, Flatwoods Mayor Buford Hurley, Joshua Joseph, of the Flatwoods Parks and Recreation Board, and others joined Pancake to celebrate the occasion.

"I was raised in Flatwoods, so it means a lot to stay here," he said to the crowd gathered in the parking lot.

Pancake said My Dad's will offer the same menu, featuring pizza, wings, the famous "Libwich," chef salads and more.

"Menu's the same, recipes are the same, everything's the same," he said. "It's great food."

When a former adjacent business moved out recently, Pancake expanded My Dad's to include a party room, which he called the "biggest party room in the city" that "anybody can use."

Pancake's future plans include featuring live music and/or karaoke.

"I would like to have young people come after football games and make it little hangout place for everybody," Pancake said. "It's clean, and it's a safe place to eat."

Pancake has been in law enforcement since 1998. He said, as a police officer and now jailer, he is always on the lookout for safe places for the public to enjoy eating and congregating.

He said he got "lucky" that he managed to take over an established, successful business.

"You wouldn't want to start all over again," Pancake said. "People know the taste, they know the name."

My Dad's in Flatwoods is closed on Monday. It is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and on Sunday. It is open on Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

(606) 326-2664 — asnyder@dailyindependent.com