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Madison’s Newest Restaurant Q&A with the founder of JD’s Taste of Chicago S teakburgers, sausages, chicken, and fish are all on the menu at JD’s Taste of Chicago. James Davis and his son are the founders of the new restaurant. Born and raised in Chicago, Davis moved to Madison with his family after being released from prison. When did you decide on starting a restaurant? In 2009, I started a food truck. I then started my first restaurant in 2012. Four years later, I closed that restaurant and moved to Florida, where I founded JD’s Taste of Chicago. I always wanted to have multiple restaurants. I wanted to eventually get to the stage of turning them into a franchise. What was it like first starting JD’s food truck? When we started the food truck, we were selling fish and the other foods from the event tents. Then we grew a large base downtown and drew crowds that were in the area late at night.

Do you have prior experience making and serving food? I’ve been in the food business for a while. I have a degree in hospitality management, and I’ve been in business management since 2007. Before the food truck, I was making food for events in Madison, like Taste of Madison,The Willy Street Fair, and football games. I would set up a tent and sell Polish sausages and snowcones. When did you decide on starting a restaurant?

In 2009, I started a food truck. I then started my first restaurant in 2012. Four years later, I closed that restaurant and moved to Florida, where I founded JD’s Taste of Chicago. I always wanted to have multiple restaurants. I wanted to eventually get to the stage of turning them into a franchise.

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