Schellville Grill goes on the market

Grill owner Matthew Nagan trading in flames for Florence|

Matthew Nagan has taken the big step he’s been hoping to make for years.

He has purchased a prize piece of property a stone’s throw from his Casa Zio in San Gennaro, Italy near Florence and has put his Schellville Grill up for sale.

After 14 years of slinging hash and finer food with his Culinary Institute of America – Hyde Park background, Nagan nearly shudders with excitement at leaving Sonoma and starting a wonderful restoration project and new life in his beloved Italy.

When asked if he is really moving to Italy, Nagan replied, “Yep. On a one-way ticket.”

Having restored his Casa Zio “luxury farmhouse” from scratch, which many Sonomans have visited, he has joined with Dario Cecchini and other Italian friends for this new project, dubbed “TNT” for Texas & Tuscany. The duo plans to feature Nagan’s smoker and barbecue, with hopes of sparking and feeding a Texas & Tuscany BBQ craze throughout Italy.

Nagan bought Ford’s Café at this juncture of highways 12 and 121 in May, 2001 and opened on “02-02-02.” In Jerry’s and my first edition of our guidebook, “Sonoma Valley – The Secret Wine Country” in 1996, I wrote: “William Ford Cook moved his wonderful greasy spoon from its original site, now occupied by Carneros Deli with all of his funk and junk up the road a tiny piece and his legions of loyal customers followed right along, never missing a beat or a cup of coffee.”

Ford took most of the old photos with him, but Nagan has done a great job of collecting and hanging copies, while adding music outside in the patio.

“The walls tilt slightly, the people tilt slightly, the American flag got stolen, and the building flooded and Sonoma Creek overflows,” continued our entry. Ford’s sign at the end of the kitchen warned. “Beware. Mean Junk Yard Dogs. Will Bite.” A chicklet machine and an empty chewing tobacco dispenser hung from the wall.

Matthew Nagan changed lots. Some of the farmers who hung out at Ford’s took a while to adjust to Nagan’s herbed biscuits and sauces, but they seem to have adapted and many come in daily for breakfast and every Friday night for dinner.

Nagan has made many improvements over his proprietorship, including a new solid floor in the restroom, with others yet to come.

Nagan’s updated food and outgoing personality attracted Food Network star and Sonoma County resident Guy Fieri to record a couple of segments for his hit show “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” which brought new popularity and fans from throughout the United States to Schellville Grill. In fact so many that you can no longer see the map under the post-its marking guests’ hometowns.

Nagan is selling his business and will keep the half acre or so property north of the Schell-Vista fire station.

Those seriously interested should contact Realtor Matthew Martinez at 888-3881 or matthewmartinez@remax.com.

Buon viaggio, amigo!

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