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Papa Nick - A Legacy Served Hot Every Day
by Rachel Dudley
Jerry Nikla took pleasure in our mountains
And Deborah Turner's garlic rolls will keep his memory alive forever
At the Original Papa Nick's
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The original Papa Nick had advice for his daughter Deborah Turner: "Give them a good meal. Give them a good product, always. Never compromise the ingredients."
Papa Nick, Jerry Nikla, of the pizzeria on College Street , died on March 15.
Turner, one of his three daughters, took over the family business when her father's health started to decline. Today she owns and manages the only restaurant left of several founded by her father over the years -"The Original Papa Nick's."
This small restaurant located in downtown Mars Hill has been open for four years as of April 7. "It is not a full service restaurant, because it is not sit-down, but we do offer a full service menu," said Turner.
To some people, Papa Nick's is just "a good little pizza place"; however, it also serves calzones, stromboli, salads, and hoagies, as well as chicken, lasagna and eggplant dinners. All are prepared with special care and attention, says Turner.
Jerry Nikla opened the first Papa Nick's in Miami, Florida. The business was known best for its garlic rolls and special marinara sauce. It used all secret homemade recipes and original ingredients.
To try to get away from the city life for a while, the family sold the Miami restaurant in 1988 and moved to Western North Carolina. Prior to traveling to Madison County, they had secured a location and help to start a new sit-down Papa Nick's. The new location on Murray Mountain (hwy 23) had 100 seats and was open for about eight years.
As Papa Nick's health started getting worse, and the extension of the four lane Interstate promised to divert traffic, the family sold this branch in 1998. Papa Nick stayed with the new owner for about six months free of charge to train him and show him the tricks that had made it famous. He said, "Don't change a thing, it works. If it's not broken, don't fix it." According to Turner, soon after her father left, the owner changed everything, and it went out of business within a year of the opening.
Trying to open a new restaurant in Mars Hill, they couldn't call it Papa Nick's because when they had sold out, they sold the name, too. Turner then put "The Original" in front of the name because her father was the unquestionably the original Papa Nick.
"The name Papa Nick's came from a tattoo my dad had on his arm that said Nikla, and it quickly became Nick. I assumed it was because no one could ever seem to pronounce his last name," said Turner.
When asked, "Why Mars Hill?" Turner replied, 'We vacationed up here for a few years and just sort of fell into it."
Turner said that about 35 percent of the business is from college students and faculty. The other 65 percent is from the community and visitors. "People come from as far as Johnson City on the weekends to get their usual Friday and Saturday night dinners or pizza."
"We get more college business during the summer months than during the actual school year," she added.
Papa Nick's employs two college students at this time. They will be graduating soon but will stay close and continue working.
Reader Comment
Rick Rogers, 4/24/06, 8:54 a.m.
It's nice to read a small town news paper that still believes in its people, and is able to give time to its citizens. Jerry is the citizen that believed in his town and the people within. He gave a chance to people that others gave up on. He cared. Many thanks to both Mr. & Mrs. Nikla. Good luck, Debi. Carry on.
Gail B. Harley 4/28/2006, 12:57 p.m.
As I told Debi this morning, my youngest son Keith says he still misses Papa Nick's. He loved to come and visit and go to Papa Nick's and sit on the deck and eat in the chilly weather. My brother Wesley will be returning home from Iraq this month. Before he left 1 1/2 years ago, he said, "When I get home I want some of Ms. Lila's black bean soup!" We miss Papa Nick but are so grateful to have all of you still with us. -Much love from Gail Harley.
Lari Powers, 8/24/2006, 5:29 a.m.
Papa Nick will forever be in our hearts, and his great delicious garlic rolls will continue on, as well as all the other good dishes he served. Best of luck to you, Deb, with the restaurant.
Angie Fry, senior, 9/21/2006, 11:32 a.m.
I miss Pizza Pop. He was my favorite grandfather. I don't even know what else to say but that he was amazing. I love him and miss him so much. Everything he did was great, and I can never ever forget him.
Silvia Gatrell, 5/31/2008, 12:39 a.m.
My husband and I were eating at a small Italian restaurant here in Vegas when we of course started reminiscing, again, about "Papa Nick's" in Miami Florida. You see we lived there for many years and LOVED that place. It was always packed and I always got the chicken noodle soup and devoured the garlic rolls dripping with oil and chunks of garlic. Those are the best rolls ever! Everytime we go to an Italian restaurant, we wonder if we'll get lucky to get anything nearly as good as those darn rolls ! My husband still can't find a place that has the awesome white bean soup he used to get. The lasagna ROCKED and my other favorite was the stuffed shells. AND, the salad was great too. Always served on a cold metal salad plate with banana peppers and great ranch dressing. Heaven.
Miss you guys so much. If you ever want to take pity on us and send us the recipe for those gosh darn excellent rolls, please feel free to email it to us. Sorry to hear about your Dad. His name will always be fondly remembered in our house !
Best Regards,
Gary & Silvia Gatrell, Las Vegas, Nevada
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