Minden restaurant - All in the family

Three generations of women from a Gardnerville family got together to open their own restaurant, Jimmy G's, in Minden.

Doris Kerkla, her daughter Susan Melvin and Susan's daughter Nicole Melvin, chose the site of the defunct B'Sghetti's restaurant on Highway 395 to open a new breakfast, lunch and coffee house. They chose the name Jimmy G's after Kerkla's brother, Susan Melvin's uncle, James Gerald, who died in January of this year.

Gerald had lived in the Gardnerville Ranchos, not far from the rest of the family.

"We loved him a lot," said Melvin. "So we were happy to name it after him."

The three are working hard to do the hiring and renovate the restaurant, including helping with the painting, tile work and curtains. They hope to open Jimmy G's by mid-January.

Jimmy G's will feature an extensive coffee bar, including gourmet coffee by the pound or the cup, homemade soup in bread bowls, different types of salads, sandwiches and burgers.

They are still searching for a chef, waiters and waitresses and bus boys and girls.

Susan Melvin and her husband, Jeff Melvin, a deputy sheriff at the Carson City Sheriff's Department, besides 19-year-old Nicole, have two boys, Brandon Melvin, 16, and Steven Passalacqua, 16. When Susan and Jeff were married, the boys, who were born one day apart, were only 4 years old.

Currently a student at Western Nevada Community College, Nicole, who is majoring in psychology, will transfer to the University of Nevada, Reno in the fall. Susan and Nicole plan to combine their waitress and coffee house experience to make their restaurant a success. The three women said they will be open for banquets and company parties. They all want to see it become a meeting place for Minden and Gardnerville residents.

"We'd like to make it a cozy gathering place for people," said Susan.

"We'd like to keep happy customers and happy employees," said Kerkla.

"Just generally a happy place," Nicole added.

Jimmy G's is located at 1595 Highway 395. For information, call 783-4873.



-- Jo Rafferty can be reached at jrafferty@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 213.