When Greg Cook opened Sherwood Restaurant & Bar in 1973, he was 24 years old. He had star-shaped chandeliers made from stained 2x4s, torch-burnt plywood tables, and a ceiling lined with burlap. He had wine and music and a belief that those two things, in a room with good people, were enough.
Fifty years later, the bones are different — the 2002 fire took care of that — but the spirit is unchanged. In June 2023, we marked five decades with a weeklong celebration that felt less like an anniversary and more like a reunion. Two musicians every night. Discounted food and drinks. And on Wednesday, June 14, a full street party with Dyn Breed playing from 4 to 10 PM while the whole of Nevada City showed up.
Ken Paige stood in front of a room packed with regulars, first-timers, and people who'd been coming since the burlap days, and said the only thing worth saying:
"It was your hearts that brought us back to life. Let's continue to celebrate life together."
That's the whole story, really. Sherwood Restaurant & Bar has always been about the room full of people, not just the room. Here's to fifty more.