Old Restaurants

[Jim Kyle]

Tokyo Gardens was where Jack's (Sussy) was for a few years, Lincoln and about 47th. It's an Italian restaurant now.

Are you talking about the same place that Jack Sussman went to prison for setting on fire after he and Jake either had a falling out (public story) or had him, alone, take the fall for (reporter's suspicions)? If so, that's where my best man took me and my bride to dinner after our wedding in February, 1958 -- and embarassed both of us horribly by having Jack announce the event over the P.A. system!

After Sussy got out of prison, he returned to the restaurant business. I remember one of his (bearing his name) near the corner of SW 29 and May in the early 60s, and the last time I ever saw him he was holding court at Nomad, on N May a bit north of NW 70 or so. I always thought that Jake was still behind the scenes pulling his strings... And Prunie is totally correct about Jake's personality! However it fit perfectly for the man who ran the Jamboree and Derby clubs.

[Prunepicker]

Are you talking about the same place that Jack Sussman went to prison for
setting on fire after he and Jake either had a falling out (public story) or had
him, alone, take the fall for (reporter's suspicions)?

If I remember he set the place on fire two years in a row. I'm thinking it
was in the late 60's. Maybe 67 and 68 or 68 & 69. I'm not sure. I just
remember it.

After Sussy got out of prison, he returned to the restaurant business. I
remember one of his (bearing his name) near the corner of SW 29 and
May in the early 60s, and the last time I ever saw him he was holding
court at Nomad, on N May a bit north of NW 70 or so. I always thought
that Jake was still behind the scenes pulling his strings...

I don't remember the place on SW 29th and May. Those were my
stompin' grounds. Where was it supposed to have been? I just don't
see it.

And Prunie is totally correct about Jake's personality! However it fit perfectly
for the man who ran the Jamboree and Derby clubs.

Jake wasn't a very likable person if you were doing business with him.
The other Samara Brothers took care of him. Cesar and Carroll had the
same personality. You were going to get bit.

[Jim Kyle]

I don't remember the place on SW 29th and May. Those were my
stompin' grounds. Where was it supposed to have been? I just don't
see it.

It was an A-frame standalone building just east of May on the north side of SW 29; I think it was originally built as a Beverley's that didn't last long at all. I think it was Sussy's first effort after getting out of prison, and didn't last very long. He personally vetted customers coming in and if he didn't like their looks, told them to get out. He particularly didn't want long-haired hippies cluttering up his premises!

I think the building is still there but no longer a restaurant. I don't get down that way very much any more, though.

[ljbab728]

I think the building is still there but no longer a restaurant. I don't get down that way very much any more, though.

It's still there and is currently a pawn shop.

[ctchandler]

I thought I would include a couple of DOK articles/ads about Jack Sussy's Italian Restaurant.
C. T.

[ctchandler]

Prunepicker,
It burned in November, 1966, and I think summer of 1967. Also, I have stumbled onto another Sussy restaurant that I remember vaguely, but I never ate there, it was Tally Ho's at May and Hefner.

If I remember he set the place on fire two years in a row. I'm thinking it
was in the late 60's. Maybe 67 and 68 or 68 & 69. I'm not sure. I just
remember it.

[Prunepicker]

Prunepicker,
It burned in November, 1966, and I think summer of 1967. Also, I have
stumbled onto another Sussy restaurant that I remember vaguely, but I never
ate there, it was Tally Ho's at May and Hefner.

Did Sussy have anything to do with the Nomad on N. May?

[ctchandler]

Prunepicker,
I think he did, shortly before he died. Also, there was a place on the North side of Reno, just East of Meridian called Sullivan's (I think) that advertised Sussy's pizza and I always wondered if he was involved in that restaurant or if they just had the Sussy recipes.
C. T.

Did Sussy have anything to do with the Nomad on N. May?

[Prunepicker]

Prunepicker,
I think he did, shortly before he died. Also, there was a place on the North
side of Reno, just East of Meridian called Sullivan's (I think) that advertised
Sussy's pizza and I always wondered if he was involved in that restaurant or
if they just had the Sussy recipes.
C. T.

I believe Sullivan's was a big corporate type restaurant.

[ctchandler]

Jim,
That would be the place. I believe it was called "Jack's" or something catchy(?) like that. I worked in that area (4401 N. Lincoln, 4545 N. Lincoln, and 4900 N. Santa Fe) for quite a few years so I was fairly familiar with the restaurants there. I sure don't remember the S. W. 29th and May location. I still enjoy the Nomad II pizza and have enjoyed their other items in the past. By the way, Tokyo Gardens was open from about April, 1969 till sometime after September, 1975.
C. T.

Are you talking about the same place that Jack Sussman went to prison for setting on fire after he and Jake either had a falling out (public story) or had him, alone, take the fall for (reporter's suspicions)? If so, that's where my best man took me and my bride to dinner after our wedding in February, 1958 -- and embarassed both of us horribly by having Jack announce the event over the P.A. system!

After Sussy got out of prison, he returned to the restaurant business. I remember one of his (bearing his name) near the corner of SW 29 and May in the early 60s, and the last time I ever saw him he was holding court at Nomad, on N May a bit north of NW 70 or so. I always thought that Jake was still behind the scenes pulling his strings... And Prunie is totally correct about Jake's personality! However it fit perfectly for the man who ran the Jamboree and Derby clubs.