The new PJ’s restaurant located in the revamped SentryWorld. (Contributed photo)

For the City-Times

SentryWorld celebrates its future by honoring its past. PJ’s – SentryWorld pays homage to the Stevens Point man who gave back to his hometown in so many ways. PJ’s – SentryWorld is the name of the redesigned restaurant located within the SentryWorld fieldhouse.

“PJ Jacobs brought the fledgling Hardware Dealers Mutual Fire Insurance Company to Stevens Point from Berlin, Wisconsin in 1912,” said Pete McPartland, Sentry Insurance president, CEO and chairman of the board. “Because of PJ Jacob’s connection with both our company and the community, it’s only fitting that we name our newly reimagined restaurant after him.”

Under PJ’s leadership, the young mutual company flourished and developed into a stalwart of the central Wisconsin business community. Through his direction, the company built a three-story home office building on Strongs Avenue in Stevens Point. PJ Jacobs was deeply involved in the community too. He served on a number of boards, as a charter member of the Stevens Point Rotary Club and was an active member of St. Stephen’s Catholic Church.

“It’s such an honor for our family to have Sentry name their new restaurant after my grandfather,” said Mary Joerns Nass, PJ Jacob’s granddaughter. “My mother shared stories of his love of family gatherings. Because PJ’s restaurant will be focused on families, I think he would be very proud.”

PJ’s – SentryWorld opens to the public on Monday, September 22. The inaugural fish fry will be held Friday, September, 26. PJ’s regular hours will be 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The restaurant will be open year-round.

“We’re excited for the public to join us at PJ’s – SentryWorld,” said Mike James, SentryWorld general manager. “They’ll find a restaurant completely different than what they may have encountered previously. Our staff worked hard to design a new menu to complement the new design.”

PJ’s menu is a tribute to the flavors of Wisconsin, using locally sourced ingredients wherever possible. Menu items range from fried perch bites, hearty beer cheese soup or venison chili, potato & bacon salad, hand-made burgers, an all in-house made Reuben, wood oven maple chicken, daily blue plate specials and desserts including warm apple pie with Wisconsin sharp cheddar or a Point Root Beer float.
“Wisconsin’s agriculture industry is showcased in this menu,” said Brandon McCormick-Guthu, PJ’s – SentryWorld Executive Chef. “Every item has some sort of tie to Wisconsin. The flavors will be comforting, not overshadowed by exotic spices.”

An exciting addition to the restaurant is a wood oven, used for hand-made pizza and other entrees. The pizzas are a fusion of Neapolitan-style and Wisconsin comfort featuring a thin crust with great authentic flavors. You will be able to watch pizzas bake in the 900 F wood oven.

The restaurant features a Wisconsin-inspired theme to create a warm, inviting and relaxed atmosphere where guests feel comfortable gathering for a lunch or dinner meal. Guests will find a wide variety of soda, wine, beer and cocktails to pair with their meals. Among the more than 25 tap beers served is PJ’s White Ale, a private label exclusively brewed by Point Brewery for PJ’s – SentryWorld.

In addition to the renovation at PJ’s – SentryWorld, the golf course and fieldhouse received extensive remodeling throughout the past 20 months. The golf course renovation was overseen by famed course architect Robert Trent Jones, Jr., who created the original layout in 1982, along with co-project architect Bruce Charlton and onsite architect Jay Blasi. The renovation to SentryWorld’s sports complex—now called the Fieldhouse—was led by architect John Sather of Swaback Partners; with restaurant architect Jim Smith focusing on creating an entirely new restaurant at SentryWorld.

“Guests will find that we’ve made good on our promise of keeping a community and family focus. They will feel welcomed and comfortable, whether they’re dining in PJ’s, playing a round of golf or attending a wedding or event.” said McPartland.

Wedding, meeting, event and holiday party bookings are now available. For more information on event planning, contact Tawnya Schilt, SentryWorld Sales Manager at 715 346-8793 or [email protected]

SentryWorld is located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin and is owned and operated by Sentry Insurance, one of the largest and strongest mutual insurance companies in the United States. The company and its subsidiaries sell property and casualty insurance, life insurance, annuities and retirement programs for businesses and individuals throughout the country. Headquartered in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, Sentry employs nearly 4,000 associates in 41 states.