In 1947 Bill Davis, a retired Naval Lt. Commander purchased a surplus WWII Quonset hut from the Navy. The hut was transported to this site where it was reassembled and opened as Bill Davis’s Hut, a popular watering hole for the lumber and mining workforce.
In 1950 Wilma Kenney leased the Hut and it was renamed Wilma’s Hut. Wilma sold sandwiches, hot lunches, beer and soft drinks to the logging truck drivers as they roared up and down Hwy. 49. She subsequently purchased the property and leased the hut to a local couple, Smokey and Smitty and it became The Hut.
In 1963 Bob and Peggy Tucker purchased The Hut and renamed it Tuck’s Hut. With lumber from a local mill they enlarged the bar and added a covered structure on the east side where they built a grill pit and served hamburgers through the window to the bar patrons. A Gold Miner’s special (burger and a beer) cost 60 cents.
In 1969 the Tuckers leased the property to a local tavern owner, Frank Williams who was forced to relocate the Willo Bar he then owned on the Grass Valley Hwy. to make room for the freeway. He partnered with Veda Folden, converted the covered structure into the main dining room and the Willo Steakhouse was born. The banquet room was added in 1973.
In 1976 Ken and Jeannie Hiebert bought and combined the bar and restaurant operations as well as purchased the property (still owned by Peggy Tucker). They operated The Willo for 26 years.
In 2002 The Willo was purchased by Mike Byrne and Nancy Wilson who embraced and grew the legacy of The Willo for the next 22 years always seeking to improve the dining experience. Land was purchased for more parking and a patio garden was added.
Your current hosts John and Christina Gemignani purchased the business and property in November 2024. John is 3rd generation Nevada County and Christina has been here since 1971, both have grown up with the Willo. We are proud to carry on the tradition of what The Willo means to Nevada County and for generations to come, by being committed to preserving the California roadhouse heritage of The Willo. Featuring its award winning signature choice New York Steaks carefully aged and cut daily from Midwestern beef striploin. The Willo has served over 1,000,000 choice New York Steaks. It’s no wonder our grill cooks know how to cook a great steak. Many folks through the decades have asked why the Willo has no “w” on the end (Willow)??? The Willo is a combination of old Frank Williams last name and his wife’s first name Lola. Whether you order our signature steak dinner or one of our other fine entrees you can be assured everything is prepared here on site from scratch. Thank you for joining us and allowing us to serve your
dining pleasure.
Enter As Strangers • Leave As Friends
John and Chris
