Community Corner
Johnny's Gets New Sign with New Name
The establishment formerly known as 'Johnny's Tavern Healdsburg' is making some changes to become 'Johnny's Off the Plaza.'
With a new name, new sign and menu changes, is hoping his corner hot dog stand will attain still more renown –- and more customers.
“It’s a hot dog, plain a simple,” says the owner of the new sign that will announce the name, Johnny’s Off the Plaza. “I’m expecting business to jump 1,000 percent, once people know what’s in this house.”
The turn-of-the century wood frame building at 60 Mill St. is also home to Twirl Beauty Lounge, at the northwest corner of the busy five-way intersection of Mill and Vine streets and Healdsburg Avenue.
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Healdsburg's , and a supporter of voluntary live performance (), the establishment formerly known as is making changes to its menu, too, to become more “family oriented,” Gavello says. “We were family-oriented before, but ‘tavern’ kind of gives the wrong message. We have kids in here doing karaoke who are 5, 8 years old.”
The newly organized menu will include five hot dogs, four of them specialties –- like a California Dreamin’ hot dog with avocado, crisp bacon, cream cheese and garlic salt; or the Ragin’ Cajun with aioli and Louisiana hot sauce. The hot dogs are steamed then barbecued to give an extra flavor. “It’s unique,” says Gavello.
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“I don’t know if we’re in competition with anybody,” he says. “Like this place – it’s a different dog, it’s bratwurst. It looks like a hot dog, but it’s not.”
The new sign is going up on Tuesday morning, an oval the roughly shape of a 10-by-3- foot hot dog atop the business's north-facing eaves. Bob Bjorkquist of Signs by Bob is putting the finishing touches on it today, hoping to meet Gavello's Tuesday deadline.
The sign was designed by Bjorkquist “to my specificiations,” says Gavello. “And he hit it right on the first time, we just love it.”
Tuesday night Johnny’s Off the Plaza will celebrate with live music, the popular local rock and funk band Undercover – appropriately, given Johnny’s own past as a private investigator. Music will start about 8:30, on a night (Tuesdays) when karaoke usually plays. There is no admission charge.
Again on Saturday night, Oct. 29, Undercover will play – this time with a $10 cover for the .
“We’re expecting everyone to dress up,” says Gavello. “I’m coming as myself – that’s plenty scary right there.”
NOTE: Check back later on Healdsburg Patch for a live photo of the new sign.
