Dr. S. L. Sethi (or Doc as everyone knows him) was ten years old when Punjab and India split due to an internal civil war. All Hindus had to leave Pakistan, so he and his family had to find a way out of the country. Dr. Sethi made friends with the soldiers at age 10. As a result, it helped his family, three sisters and five brothers leave Pakistan safely. They went to refugee camps with no money and little possession. He had no shoes and no sweaters in the winter. His entire family lived in one room that was 12’ X 14’. Doc washed dishes in people’s homes and carried baggage as a caddy at the train station to help his family survive. He was determined to get an education.

Once he was educated, Dr. Sethi came to the United States to further his knowledge and earn his PhD. He worked as a research associate and sent home money which built a new home for his family to live. After achieving his PhD from Oregon State University, he went back to India to marry Raksha, his dear wife. She has been the pillar that stood behind him his entire life.

Doc could not find a good job in India, so he and his wife made the decision to come back to the US. It was 1968, and he had just $50 in his pocket when he arrived. With that $50 and a professor’s position, he settled in Mississippi.

Jackie’s International was started over 47 years ago in 1973 with the opening of Doc’s first drive-in in Brookhaven, MS. Others soon followed in Hazlehurst and Yazoo City. With their initial success, Dr. and Mrs. Sethi soon stopped teaching at Mississippi Valley State University and continued to build new restaurants and add new divisions such as Western Sizzlin. In addition, Doc would build hotels which he sold to others to own and operate.

The rest is history. With his determination, his faith in God, the belief that absolutely nothing is impossible, and an amazing family of team members, Dr. Sethi built Jackie’s International into a multi-million-dollar company. Today, our company consists of over 50 properties in four states including Bumpers America's Favorite Foods, Fresh Market Cafe, additional independent restaurants as well as numerous hotel properties like Hilton Garden Inn, Hyatt Place, Hampton Inn and Suites and Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites.

The favorite thing Doc loves to say and truly believes is “When I came to Mississippi, I came to heaven on earth.” He says that if he were ever to die and be born again, he’d want to be born in Mississippi. We as a company love the South and believe firmly in Southern hospitality and good people. That is why we continue to grow our operations in Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee and Alabama.

Our associates are the backbone of our company and have made us what we are today. We currently employ over 1200 team members. As Doc loves to say and as we all feel, we would be nothing without the hard work of our team members.