The J-Barn Country Inn on Monroe Road in Sarver was known to many in the past as Jardine's.

BUFFALO TWP — Knoch High School alumna Meghan Pohl remembers the J-Barn Country Inn's Frangelico chicken and the complimentary family-style platters of deep-fried mushrooms, marshmallow fruit salad, rolls and fresh veggies that preceded each delectable meal.

The Monroe Road restaurant that was known as Jardine's for decades before becoming the J-Barn in the mid 1990s under new ownership again changed hands in 2014, when it was sold to Ronald and Judith Kutsch.

“I was sad when I went there last summer,” Pohl said. “The food wasn't very good at all and I thought, 'Oh, this is it.'”

Pohl's prediction was correct, as online court records show that The Kutsch Company filed for bankruptcy in August, and listed its industry as a restaurant.

The records list the case's assets and liabilities as up to $50,000.

Ronald Kutsch, who lives in Apollo, Armstrong County, declined Tuesday to comment on the longtime restaurant's closure.

A sign on the door states “The J-Barn is closed due to a family emercency (sic).”

Many others in southeastern Butler County said they would miss the J-Barn of old.

“We loved that restaurant,” said Saxonburg resident and Realtor Joyce Hutterer. “We went there quite often through the holidays and throughout the years.”

She noticed the “closed” sign on the door in September, and wondered where many local businesses and organizations would hold their Christmas events.

“I know a lot of people count on (the J-Barn) for the holidays because that was a great place for holiday parties for businesses,” Hutterer said. “It'll be missed.”

She said she knew the Walsh family, who previously owned the restaurant, but did not know the Kutsches.

Michelle Lesniak, the director of the South Butler Community Library in Saxonburg, grew up in Cabot and dined at the J-Barn on special occasions.

“It was always a great place,” she said. “We used to take some family gatherings there for the birthdays, so it was always a special place to go.”

Lesniak said her sons loved the country atmosphere of the restaurant, which contained several dining rooms that seated a total of more than 200 people.

The boys enjoyed the eatery's family-style appetizer platter.

“It was unique,” Lesniak said. “It was different.”

The final listing on the bankruptcy filing came on Sept. 4, when Federal Bankruptcy Court in Pittsburgh scheduled an October meeting of the creditors. It is not known if that meeting took place.

The Kutsch Company filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which allows the company's assets to be liquidated and the proceeds distributed to the creditors.