Gold Dust Pizza owners bringing old-Hollywood flair to Ripon with new lounge, restaurant
Some old-time Hollywood glamour is coming to Ripon.
The family behind the popular Gold Dust Pizza parlors dotted across the valley and foothills are opening a new restaurant in their hometown. Ripon native Moe Willey is readying Falcon’s Lair, a new small plates and craft cocktails lounge in the former site of the Canal Street Grille.
The new restaurant is named after silent screen-era star Rudolph Valentino’s famed Hollywood Hills estate, where he would throw lavish parties. Willey said she wanted to bring some of that glitzy allure to the valley and give local diners a unique night out.
“(Valentino) hosted a lot of parties at his beautiful mansion. So the idea was when you eat at (Falcon’s Lair) it feels like it would have at a Hollywood party,” she said.
So instead of large entrees and traditional dishes, the new eatery will offer small bites, appetizers and top-shelf cocktails. The menu also will include specialty pizzas (but made in different styles from their existing Gold Dust pies) as well as a burger.
But otherwise expect offerings like oysters on the half shell, lamb lollipops, charcuterie boards and brunch items. Willey said they want to provide high-end offerings while keeping prices more reasonable (starting around $14 for cocktails and plates). Falcon’s Lair will be open for dinner weekdays and for lunch/brunch and dinner Friday through Sunday.
The new establishment is a departure for Willey, whose family has created a mini pizza empire in the region over the years. Willey’s husband, Bob, started Pizza Plus in 1984. Then in 2015, the couple opened their first Gold Dust Pizza location in Oakdale and changed their existing Pizza Plus in Sutter Creek to a Gold Dust at the same time.
They have since sold all their Pizza Plus locations, but now operate four Gold Dust Pizzas: the first Oakdale and Sutter Creek locations plus sites in Copperopolis and Ripon. They opened the Ice Cream Emporium, two doors down from their downtown Ripon pizza shop on Main Street, in 2020.
Willey said her family’s love for Ripon — where their three children Katie, 22, Jeremiah, 21, and Hannah, 19, all went to school, live and help with the business — inspired them to purchase the building to open the restaurant.
“We wanted to bring to Ripon what we’ve seen in other places we really enjoyed visiting like Los Angeles and San Francisco and Las Vegas,” Moe Willey said. “Nowadays they go with a lot of appetizers and craft cocktails. Something that is more about the experience and environment.”
The building’s previous tenant, the steak and chops restaurant Canal Street Grille, had been in the location since 2007. But after the Willey’s closed the deal on the building last September, the Grille closed in early November.
Its Facebook page posted a note to customers announcing the closure and thanking them for their patronage.
“All of us at The Grille are thankful and grateful for the opportunity to serve you, our wonderful customers, for the past 15 years! We are saddened to announce that due to our building being sold, we have no choice but to close our restaurant. We appreciate your loyalty and support over the years!”
It is unknown if the owners plan to reopen elsewhere.
The 6,000-square-foot building has been remodeled and redecorated completely. The Willeys have installed a new bar and turned the old banquet room into a lounge area. The new restaurant can seat about 200, with an outdoor patio bistro area as well.
Following its Hollywood inspiration, Willey said she wanted to emulate a 1920s speakeasy atmosphere, but with upscale bites and decor filled with antique and contemporary touches. There also will be plenty of gold, Willey’s favorite color (which is reflected in the pizza chain’s name based on the Fleetwood Mac classic “Gold Dust Woman” — that also doubles as a Gold Rush-era homage for its foothill locations).
Another area the Willeys want to splash out is on hiring, with a planned staff of 60 to 70. Moe Willey said they are striving to provide “superb customer service,” and allow employees to give customers better attention and care.
By comparison, between their four Gold Dust and one Ice Cream shops the family employs about 150 workers.
“I used to be a waitress when I was young and I know how exhausting it is when you’re working the whole place,” she said. “So I don’t want to overload the servers. I want people to have a great experience.”
The restaurant is still hiring for some front and back of the house positions. Willey said they are aiming for a late March opening.
For more information visit relicincorporated.com.
This story was originally published March 6, 2023 at 7:00 AM.
