There’s a phenomenon among many Dads in the world that I call the “forever burrito.” It’s when a Dad gets stuck on a certain type of food and eats it for days or even weeks on end. Commonly, it’s burritos. One year, my Dad got stuck on Long Johns. He was obsessed, and I was the lucky beneficiary of his obsession, although it annoyed him deeply that I ate fried foods “like a ferret” by peeling half of the batter off.
Why Lubbock Loves Long John Silvers
I think for many of us, like me, it’s something our parents ate, so it’s nostalgic and comforting. There’s also a playful potential streak of, “Why YES, it is me that’s keeping them open!” Which I call the “Arby’s phenomenon.” Additionally, there’s the fact that fried fish, chicken, and other fried items taste really, really good, and LJS has years of expertise to do it right. It’s also worth mentioning that LJS is a great source for a quick and inexpensive lunch during Lent, which many in Lubbock observe.
2025: The Year Of One Long Johns (For Just A Bit Anyway)
Briefly, there was only one LJS open in Lubbock at 5402 4th St, meaning many folks chose to go without their fix, as this location is much further west than the one at 50th and the Interstate. Now, the 50th & Interstate location has reopened with a beautiful new store, restoring those fried fish diamonds to many obsessed Dads and grateful ferret daughters in Lubbock.
A post in LBK Foodies that stated:
Grand reopening Day! How do you feel about Long John Silver’s? Did you get your fix today?
… had folks gleefully expressing their joy for LJS’s reopening, here are some of my favorite comments:
I don’t care what anyone says. I still devour some Long John Silvers like once a month. It’s good!…