Deux Gros Nez To Close–Not Cheesy Enough
That’s right folks—you have about a month and half to eat as much of Deux Gros Nez’s famous Breakfast Potatoes, Transendental Brown Rice, and of course the delectably sinful Cookie Bombs–the beloved Reno restaurant and social gathering place for cyclists, vegetarians, cycling vegetarians, hippies, hikers, and even straight folks like me is closing on November 30th. Believe it or not, Deux Gros Nez was the first restaurant in Reno at which I dined thanks to my vegetarian family members who worship bike-riddled disorganized funky friendliness of the place. And did I mention the Cookie Bombs?
Its seems the excessively clean, rich wine and cheese loving yuppies who own The Cheese Board don’t appreciate Deux Gros Nez, at least that’s what it said on Deux Gros Nez’s myspace site a few hours ago. It has since been edited a bit, probably to remove any documented insults about the excessively clean, rich wine and cheese loving yuppies who are kicking them out that could be used in a defamation law suit.
But here’s the text of a recent bulletin they sent out on their myspace site:
ATTN: While the Cheese Board and their management is playing a big role in the deux gros nez closing…they are not the direct reason, allbeit still a big reason, of why we’re closing. While many of us may feel anger and aggression towards them, it is inappropriate to take out our pain on those who run the Cheese Board. We only wish a happy and fun last few months. Tim is tired, and the time and current situation and provided him a way out. Higher rent, taxes, etc. are also playing a role in our closing. *I still woudn’t ever eat there anyway…..but lets keep this civil people.
And still up on the myspace site there is a mention of fighting the good fight, “tax issues,” and a “dying business.” Damn, Deux Gros Nez has been taken down by the man–the tax man, the excessively clean, rich wine and cheese loving yuppy man, and the RSCVA man. Or maybe Tim Healion just got tired of running a restaurant? Who really knows. At this point, its hard for me me to believe that the Tour de Nez will be called off. After all, Tim Healion will have more time to make sure the finances are in order now if he isn’t also running the restaurant. Its a great event for the city so I hope Tim is not surrending to the man on that one.
Many find themselves experiencing rage and sadness over the idea of Reno without Deux Gros Nez. One despairing reader writes:
What does the Wine and Cheese Board do for the city? Do they put on huge bike races that bring money to the city and joy to the community? I’ve probably been to to Deux Gran Nez like 100 times, and Cheese Board zero. You know that was one of the only places we could actually go late at night besides the bowling alley when I was underage.
Now the kids can go to all ages clubs and the bowling alley.
And while its natural to be upset, don’t let the man get you down. If you find yourself riding your bike around in circles in front of The Cheese Board with a rock in your hand. Put it down. Tim wouldn’t want to go out like that.
Although the California Avenue Merchants Association( call it CalAve), are calling their neighborhood “artsy,” something tells me Deux Gros Nez is not the “pre-eminent” retail they have in mind for the future. Blue Moon Pizza probably is. Gentrification has its costs. Maybe the kids can get Blue Moon to stay open late?
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Oh, that’s a drag. I didn’t particularly care for Deux Gros Nez, because you can get the same menu at Pneumatic with better service, but I’ve eaten there plenty. And I notice that they’ve been trying to work on their service lately.
It’s places like the Nez, anchoring the street long before the Kalifornia Jean Bar and the Blue Plate, that deserve special consideration in redevelopment and neighborhood growth efforts. Ironic that developers and retail people feel free to shun the very businesses that drew them to the neighborhood.
I agree, but most of that is pure speculation on my part. But I’d much rather get my fat ass into a cookie bomb than a $150 pair of jeans (its easier too). Plus, Deux Gros Nez provides that authenticy CalAve will try and manufacture 20 years from now.
I do have a soft spot for the Blue Plate though—I am in love with eating gyros on the back patio.
I will miss the wifi there. There are not enough free wifi places downtown…and now one is taken away
Speaking of WIFI, at the Council Meeting Sept 13 there will be some discussion on improvements to West st….I say someone from WIFI attend and lobby to have the area’s name officially changed to WEFI. it rocks! This city needs to label some of its neighborhoods.
What in the heck is WIFI? I thought that stood for wi fi (wireless). Ha–so we are official? The minx claims all credit. Whow lobbied and what did they say?
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Sorry for that. This news put the piss in my cornflakes, let me tell ya.
I have been a customer and groupie of the Deux since I was 16 years old. I am 37 now and I love everything DGN has brought to our community. It has been like Cheers for the underground. I have had some life altering experiences there– such as sitting at the bar while my then husband, Scott toiled away. As he worked, we discussed with great joy and anticipation (and some anxiety), the positive results of the pregnancy test that I took in the downstairs bathroom minutes before. I have lifelong friends that I met there and I have received a solid education in everything from the Boston Red Sox to Allen Ginsburg to the tao of John Wayne and the opinions of Tim H. (Right or Wrong… right chief???). Dgn provides and always has provided a necessary alternative to the stilted canned and processed consumption peddled in other restaurants and cafes. I will miss being teased by Mr. Healion and I will miss the serendipity and magic of this wonderful place. Thank you Tim and Rose for creating such a transcendent environment within what looks like a simple cafe.
Well, we’ll all just have to go to the Red Rock now for conversation and interesting people.
maresa
Wow, way to make my day crappy. I have memories of DGN back to when my sister first took me there when I was 11. While I like the Cheese Board I don’t know if I’ll be back.
Now I’m depressed. I need a frappe and some apple cake.
Deux Gros Nez was my first interaction with Reno
20 years ago. I was a ski bum in Tahoe and my girlfriend and I were on a day trip to Reno. She wanted to eat at this cool little place that she had discoverd
on her last trip to the big city; I wanted to eat at
Taco Bell or some shit like that. We chose The Deux
and my life would never be the same. Two years later I moved to Reno, I got a job at The Deux and lived in a tiny little studio in the big yellow building across the street. I worked the grave shift, but over the next 8 years off & on I worked all the shifts includeing The Diner. I loved it! I was fast and my food was the bomb, my foam was tall, I could jump over that counter with style and run up and down those stairs stocking the restaurant all night long.The place was busy; I mean really busy! On fridays & Saturdays the place would be packed. The Deux was a total scene and the place to be seen. The only 24 hour non-casino non-fastfood available and it had style and felt like home. It was an all-star cast and crew, we were cool. Tim and John,BRAVO! Too many stars to name them all: Rose, kristian, Bill L, Jim M, John E, David K, Palo, Cyril & Martina, Ben & Gloria, Chris Earthman Tuma, Ian, Scott H, My beautiful wife Monique; who I met at the Deux, worked with at The Deux and kissed for the first time in the parking lot during the party on june 19th, 14 years ago. And talk about a cast: Mrs. wolly, Carter King, Bruce Linsey, Big Dave, Martin Holms, Mike Mcdonald and all the goths, jocks, rockers, preps, posers, geeks, artist, students, lovers, parents and grandparents. The Deux taught me how to work hard and play hard and blend the two together. Most of my long term friendships in Reno track back to the Deux. It is sad to see the Deux go away, but the genie is out of the bottle. The insperation, the seeds that were planted and relationships formed will continue to flower.
Monique and myself are expecting our first child on November 7th.
Like I said, we chose The Deux and my life would never be the same. Thank you Tim & John, much respect and love to you both… Namaste
Was the “Man” the same guy looking for $20K for a sponsorship?
That is the worst news of the day. Maresa, where oh where is this Red Rock place? Can i davesturbate there?
Dave!! Of course you can. You and your little lady should stop over there. It’s cool.
Here’s a blurb on Red Rock–its a cool place alright. Completely different than DGN though.
http://www.renodiscontent.com/index.php?s=red+rock&paged=2
“Deux Gros Nez is kind of like an international embassy of expats, repats, down-and-outs, up-and-comings, cavern of secrets better left unrepeated, house of good repute in spite of what’s written on the wall, nothing ventured, nothing gained, all sailors on deck and whathaveyou. You can see a kid with a bright green Mohawk sedately playing chess with one of the attorneys who work across the street on California Avenue. Oh, Deux Gros Nez, great chaotic, churning beast of delirious, long-lost desire, comical half-conceived love child, proverbial phoenix rising and falling again and again, teetering on the brink of disaster and always leaping up from a hastily-placed safety net below it. “This is not a cafe, this is a war zone,” Mrs. Walley wrote on a crumpled napkin, right before she cursed Duane, who was emulating her bird-sound with the skill of a professional ventriloquist, throwing bluebird squawks across the room without moving his lips.”
(small excerpt from the Deux Files…someday I’ll write a book and change all the names to protect my co-conspirators. I cannot fathom a world without the Deux, but if it has to be, I can only be profoundly grateful to have been a part of it. Like Eric says, the seeds were planted. Someday I’ll be an eighty year old woman yelling “Right or frickin’ wrong, dude?!” to my grandkids while chasing them up and down three flights of stairs. Thanks, Tim. Dude.
Might have been our first Reno Restaurant adventure - quite comfortable with the bikes, the climbing of the stairs, walking sideways to find a seat….a menu that really needs to STAY somewhere in Reno…an ambience…a fixture…no way to have it registered as historical landmark? Sigh. California Street is going to be the RODEO Drive of Reno? And good comment about what the RACE does for the city!!!