R&R Caribbean Jerk co-owners, standing, Detrick Ross and Dwayne Rancifer with RailCats general manager Brian Lyter, seated

RailCats and R&R Caribbean Jerk strike a deal

Contributed By:The 411 News

R&R Caribbean Jerk is making plans to serve their popular jerk chicken to baseball fans on May 18, opening day at the Gary Steel Yard. R&R’s East Chicago restaurant has become a favorite destination for lovers of Jamaican-style dishes since its opening last year.

The RailCats Baseball team announced at Wednesday’s meeting of the Gary Redevelopment Commission that it had entered into a 5-year lease deal with R&R Gary LLC for the rental of the old Bennigans Restaurant.

The deal includes an $85,000 contribution from the city of Gary for permanent fixtures at Bennigans. It’s an agreement that pleased the commission about the space that has been vacant since 2008.

Dwayne Rancifer, R&R co-owner said Bennigans has “all the options and amenities we’ve been looking for. With the city’s contribution and investment upwards of $250,000 ourselves, we’ll have an operation that the city will be proud of.”

Expansion is key for R&R’s new 6,000 square feet site that could easily hold 10 of its current operations in East Chicago. The menu will expand to include traditional American style items. It will have an arcade room. And it will be the only restaurant within miles of downtown Gary with a liquor license.

Another deal that pleased the commission came from Joe Van Dyk, the city’s redevelopment director. The city signed agreements with four salvage companies to demolish 102 structures. “I remember the time when announcements like this called for a press conference.”

The city will pay $683,700 from its Hardest Hit Fund to Actin Contracting, Aavatar Enterprise, C. Lee Construction Services, and N&T Auto Salvage to demolish the properties.



R&R Caribbean Jerk co-owners, standing, Detrick Ross and Dwayne Rancifer with RailCats general manager Brian Lyter, seated

Story Posted:03/22/2018