Jett & Sons opens in Charleroi
Paul Paterra
Michael Madigan, owner of Jett & Sons Retro-Robo Cafe with some of the robots that are part of the unique dining experience.
Paul Paterra/Observer-Reporter
Michael Madigan, owner of Jett & Sons Retro-Robo cafe, displays some of the donuts that are available at the Charleroi eatery, as well as some of the decor.
Courtesy of Jett & Sons
The Southwest burger is one of the options on the menu at Jett & Sons.
Staff writer
There is a new eatery in Charleroi that offers quite a unique experience.
A customer may be shot with a Nerf gun, have a robot dance on the table for tips or be on hand to celebrate the birthday of the restaurant鈥檚 patron saint, cartoon character George Jetson.
Jett & Sons Retro-Robo Cafe is open from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at 437 McKean Ave. The restaurant had a soft opening Jan. 3 with a grand opening set for whenever schedules can coincide with the Mon Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce for a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
鈥淲e want people to come here and be entertained,鈥� said Michael Madigan, owner of Jett & Sons. 鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to enhance the dining experience.鈥�
Jett & Sons is known as the world鈥檚 first metaverse restaurant. A metaverse is described as a network of 3D virtual worlds focused on social connection.
The seeds for Jett & Sons actually stem from the minds of Madigan鈥檚 sons, Jasper, 8, and Jameson, 7.
鈥淭his has the magic of a child鈥檚 imagination,鈥� Madigan said of Jett & Sons. 鈥�(My sons are) always coming up with ideas. They wanted a space age restaurant. It just fell into place. The whole 鈥淛etsons鈥� theme made sense.鈥�
There are eight interactive robots at Jett & Sons, each with different capabilities.
鈥淪ome of them demonstrate the different types of technology, voice technology, program technology,鈥� Madigan said. 鈥淭hey all have different nuances. One has the capacity for vision, one has the capacity for listening. Some are remote control. Some are just pre-programmed.鈥�
T9 can dance on command, and of course, will take tips for a dance at the customer鈥檚 table. T9 also will perform other duties on command such as transform or open fire.
Miko is the most advanced and can respond to people鈥檚 emotions. Madigan said if you yell at Miko, he鈥檒l frown. A smile brings a return smile from the robot.
Madigan has been involved in several eatery ventures, which offer unique experiences, such as food trucks with themes from TV shows like 鈥淏reaking Bad鈥� and 鈥淕illigan鈥檚 Island.鈥� His onsite catering brands have sorted names such as Snails & Quails, Caravan Carnivorous Connoisseurs and Surf on Turf. Plus, there鈥檚 the always moving Vagabond Taco Truck.
Madigan also has a background as a chef and attended the Culinary Institute of America. He said he鈥檚 worked 鈥渁ll over the world, from Ireland to Hawaii to Guam and everywhere in between.鈥�
Madigan also said he was a chef on a yacht for years.
Funding for the project was provided by the Mon Valley Alliance Foundation鈥檚 (MVAF) Microloan program, designed to help small businesses create and retain jobs, renovate downtown buildings and encourage economic development in the Mon Valley.
鈥淭his is a fantastic project for the MVAF with the results of not only creating a new restaurant in Charleroi but also reactivating a vacant building in the heart of the downtown commercial district.鈥� said Ben Brown, CEO of the Mon Valley Alliance Foundation.
The menu includes three types of burgers, which have been his most popular items to date, as well as steak and waffles. Madigan said the beef that is used at the restaurant is raised in Washington County.
There also are three types of doughnuts: the Springfield, with pink icing and sprinkles that are inspired by 鈥淭he Simpsons;鈥� Orbit City and PB&J.
There鈥檚 also an Elroy menu for children named after George Jetson鈥檚 boy, Elroy. That menu includes chicken fingers, a personal pan pizza, mini pancakes and macaroni and cheese.
Future plans for Jett & Sons are to not only operate as restaurant but include a virtual meeting and gaming destination on the second and third floors of the building. Small glimpses of the virtual world are on display in the restaurant in the d茅cor.
Also planned in the future 鈥� a birthday party for George Jetson, patriarch of the cartoon, 鈥淭he Jetsons.鈥� George鈥檚 birthday is Aug. 22, and on that day, prices will be rolled back to 1962, the year 鈥淭he Jetsons鈥� series premiered.
鈥淲e are paying homage to George Jetson,鈥� Madigan said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e calling him our patron saint.鈥�
It will be quite an experience for anybody who comes to Jett & Sons 鈥� especially on a social level.
鈥淲e want people to come in and enjoy a wonderful burger and enjoy talking to their neighbors,鈥� Madigan said. 鈥淧eople can come and play with the robots. My children actually want to come here now. When I see the videos of them smiling, I know it鈥檚 a winner. If you can get the kids to like the place, then their parents will follow.鈥�
Plus, the customer can probably expect to be shot with a Nerf gun.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got Nerf guns all over the place,鈥� Madigan said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a fun atmosphere.鈥�