Fort Payne restaurant helps make dreams come true for special friends

When Floyd and Marcia Jackson moved back to Fort Payne in early 2024 to open a new location of Rib Shak in the city’s historic downtown, they didn’t expect one early job application to shape the heart of their new venture. Kendle Leigh Larson, who lives with Down Syndrome, was the first to apply when the restaurant announced its plans. Her dream was simple but powerful: she wanted to be a waitress. With determination and confidence, Kendle told her mother that she was going to work there. Her mom, Jamie, reached out to the Jacksons to explore the possibility, and from the first conversation, F