Jesse’s Embers North on 86th Street in Urbandale is under new ownership, but that doesn’t mean its name or reputation as a fine steak and seafood restaurant is changing.

Patrick and Gail O’Connor purchased the restaurant from Rick Roush on April 2. That same day, they rushed back to their new business in time to serve the lunch crowd.

Though the O’Connors plan to continue the tradition of Jesse’s Embers, they are slowly making updates and redecorating with financing from a $150,000 Small Business Administration loan. They hope a few minor improvements will liven up the environment and make it an inviting location for families to dine.

“It’s a good business,” Patrick O’Connor said. “We want to make it a great business. We want the next generation to come back to the Jesse’s Embers on 86th and create their own traditions.”

Jesse Roush started the original Jesse’s Embers on Ingersoll Avenue in 1963. About 30 years later, his son, Rick Roush, opened two new restaurants: one at 50th Street and E.P. True Parkway in West Des Moines and the one in Urbandale. A Russian couple purchased the West Des Moines restaurant and plan to make it a Russian restaurant. Rob Roush, Jesse’s other son, still manages the original location.

Patrick O’Connor had considered running a restaurant after spending his career in the business. At age 14, he played banjo at Happy Joe’s Pizza, and was eventually given the job of pizzamaker, too.

In 1987, he moved to Des Moines and became the manager of a Village Inn. Four years later, he joined a grocery distributor, and for the next 18 years, sold food items to restaurants. When he left his job at Sysco Foodservice he was a district sales manager, managing 13 sales professionals.

Almost two years ago, he married Gail O’Connor, who also recently made a career switch from administrative assistant at Gilbert Community School to real estate broker for Century 21 Signature Real Estate.

“When we married, we just had some goals in life and we’re following that,” Patrick O’Connor said.

Though the O’Connors plans to keep the steak and seafood dishes, Embers burgers and other familiar menu items, they are looking to add some contemporary dishes, including summer and fall features. They also want to take a “hands-on” approach to managing the business. In the future, they may host events such as wine dinners and cooking classes.

O’Connor said he decided to purchase an existing restaurant to avoid taking on too much debt. “Not having the experience of running a business before, a start-up would have just been overwhelming,” he said. “Here we have some great resources, some key people and customers already coming in the door.”

In the future, he may consider opening more Jesse’s Embers in other communities.

After a month of owning the restaurant, the O’Connors are still getting into the swing of it. “Before we got into this,” said Gail O’Connor, “I knew it was going to be long hard hours. The first week, I put in 70 hours here.”

“I don’t even count,” Patrick said.

But despite the time, he added, “when you drive away at the end of the night, you know you’ve done all you could to make it a success.”