Jack Holder: A Legacy of Connecting Family, Food and Community
Jack Holder was more than just a WWII Marine Corps veteran, as his life encompassed two world wars, the Great Depression, and the challenges of being a single father to a son. In 1945, like millions of other servicemen and women, Jack returned home to Tacoma, Washington, searching for his next chapter in a rapidly changing world.
After a stint distributing sodas with Nesbit Bottling Company, Jack's entrepreneurial spirit took off. In 1948, he dove into the food scene, opening his first Dairy Queen in Roseburg, Oregon, followed by another soon after. By 1955, he launched Jack's Drive-Up in Medford, serving up burgers for just 19¢ and bringing affordable eats to the community.
In 1952, during a chance encounter on a cross-country train, my mother Anne was traveling from New York to visit family in San Francisco, while my father Jack was headed home to Roseburg, Oregon from Chicago. On Sunday, January 13, their train derailed after crashing into a deep snowdrift 20 miles west of Donner Pass, stranding 200 passengers in a blizzard for three days. While waiting for rescue, Jack and Anne had ample time to get to know each other and they married in 1954.
Never one to stand still, Jack and his family moved to Silicon Valley back when it was still called the “Valley of Heart's Delight.” On July 4th, 1957, they settled in Santa Clara, and that December, opened Uncle John's Pancake House on the iconic El Camino Real. Jack's recipe for success—delicious comfort food, fair prices, and real hospitality caught on, and he expanded with more locations in Millbrae, San Jose, and Palo Alto.
In 1967, Holder's Country Inn opened in the old Town & Country Village, becoming a beloved community hub until the rise of Santana Row led to a new era for the business. Through it all, Jack and his wife Anne built a home full of love, laughter, and seven children, teaching them the value of hard work and genuine care for guests.
Our original locations are in capable hands of past employees, but the Holder family's commitment to warm service, awesome food, and fair prices still lives on at Jack Holder's Restaurant & Bar, launched in August 2016 to pay tribute and honor the memories of our parents, Jack & Anne.
Today, we welcome everyone—from the Greatest Generation, Millennials, Gen Z, to Gen Alpha—to pull up a seat, grab a bite, vibe with friends, and be part of a tradition that's been serving the South Bay for nearly 70 years.
Thank you for being part of our family's story!
— Daniel Holder & Family
