There are a handful of area eateries that are considered by residents and visitors alike to be authentically Marquette.

By authentically Marquette, we refer to the business being longterm, extraordinarily familiar with great food, service and character.

We won’t attempt to name them all in this writing as we might inadevertantly overlook one or two. We will, however, use this space to underscore how much area residents and vicitors are going to miss Jean Kay’s Pasties & Subs.

Owner Brian Harsch has announced he will shutter the popular concern at the end of the year and retire.

He does not plan to sell the business, which is named after his mother. It was started as a family operation in Iron Mountain in 1975. The Marquette location opened in 1979, according to a Mining Journal story on the matter.

What’s his secret? Ask him and he will tell you it’s all about the crust.

“The crust is kind of what she brought to the table,” Harsch said. “The filling is a real Cornish-style pasty.”

What has drawn people to Jean Kay’s Pasties & Subs over the years?

“Obviously, good food, right?” Harsch said. “A good pasty, right? I think fair pricing, and we’re able to handle things. It’s a very good set-up.”

We couldn’t agree more.

Jean Kay’s will be missed by the pasty-eating public. But after working seven days a week for many years, Harsch has earned a respite.

We wish him the best of everything going forward.