Same restaurant, new food and look
It’s a local institution. Generations of nighthawks, from
students to retirees, have planted themselves in one of the booths
or on a stool at Jerry’s Restaurant for some coffee and a plate
heaped with familiar food.
Same restaurant, new food and look
It’s a local institution. Generations of nighthawks, from students to retirees, have planted themselves in one of the booths or on a stool at Jerry’s Restaurant for some coffee and a plate heaped with familiar food.
The decor – inside and outside – is rooted in the early ’60s. And until recently, the same might be said of much of the menu.
But change is coming to Jerry’s.
The menu is already evolving away from packaged and prefabricated dishes. Soon, the exterior façade is headed for transformation, with input from Hollister architect David Huboi.
After the company that owned the business told the owner of the building that’s become a landmark at Hollister’s northern gateway that it was pulling out in 30 days, three people with a longtime connection to the business decided to step in.
Jill and Steve Goodwin and longtime manager Matt Hart elected to become partners rather than to close or sell the business. Jill Goodwin’s grandfather bought the building at 111 San Felipe Road in 1977. Upon his death in 1994, it went to Jill’s mother, who continues to own it.
Jerry’s was run by Hawaii-based Sun West. It’s decision to pull out led to some anxiety at first. Building rent represents a significant portion of Jill’s mother’s income. The decision to keep it in the family was a small leap for Hart who’s managed it for the last decade and a bigger one for the Goodwins. She is a teacher, currently taking time off to be with a young daughter and Steve works as an information technology manager. The couple lives in San Jose. At the restaurant, she handles finances, while maintenance is Steve’s area.
“I’d like to see it looking more like a steak house,” Jill said, “with more of a rustic type feel, but something still casual. I want it to be a family-type restaurant, but I want to kind of move away from the coffee house thing. We axed the frozen and canned vegetables. We started buying raw meat instead of warming up the precooked stuff.”
While the food continues to change, the building is about to follow suit.
“It’s been really fun working with the new owners,” Huboi said. “We’re real glad they chose us as the architects for the project.”
Describing the building as having “kind of a Jetsons theme to it,” Huboi said it’s been “a challenge to come up with a look for the outside.”
But it’s a welcome challenge.
“If you look at the building, it has some nice art deco features that can be enhanced,” Huboi said. “The freestanding sign that says Jerry’s – I like that sign. Some historic preservationists … there’d be an inclination to classify it in a historic vernacular. It certainly has a presence.”
The landmark sign, with enhancement and restoration, will stay.
“If you look at the top of the building, it has wood shakes,” Huboi explained. “That actually is used to hide equipment on the roof. It looks like it doesn’t know if it wants to be modern art deco or a California ranch style building.”
Huboi’s proposed design calls for a façade that emphasizes the corner entrance, with new landscaping that includes lush planting and pavers.
The exterior shades that have long been used to keep the afternoon sun at bay are headed for the scrap heap, to be replaced with interior blinds.
“That’s one of the first things to go,” Jill said. “The name Jerry’s will actually be on the building itself. The [exterior] blinds make it look like it’s closed.”
The wooden shakes will be replaced with a more streamlined metal roof.
The owners hope to have much of the work completed before Hollister is mobbed with bikers during the Independence Rally next July, Jill said. But further improvements to the interior and exterior will come in phases.
Irrespective of how it looks, Hart and the Goodwins are in for the long haul. Jill’s family has ties to Hollister that run through the family. An uncle, Roy Gulla, was employed at the local Bank of America for many years.
And one thing about Jerry’s is sure not to change.
“Every time I go there, I notice they do good business,” Huboi said. “It’s a loyal clientele.”
Among its fans is Hollister City Manager Clint Quilter, who can be found at a table nearly every day. And if it’s good enough for Mr. Hollister …
