An interview with Jim Puzey, Co-Owner
What made you decide to get into the business of food & drink?
Rick Murdock is a good friend of mine, he has been Vice President of Marketing at the Eldorado for the last 37 years and I have known Rick for a long time. I had a restaurant up in Incline Village, 941 Eatery, and about a year and a half ago, Rick and I came across the opportunity to take over Brickies Tavern. We both have known this place since it’s been open, since 1956, so we thought that we could get in and see if we could continue the tradition that’s been going on here for that long.
Why Reno?
I’m a native Nevadan — a Hunter Lake, Swope, Reno High, University of Nevada kid.
Family has been from here, family is still here — I have adult children now who have kids so I’m a grandpa. Rick has adult children here too. Roots have just spread and besides, Rick and I have been around the area so long, being natives, this is where home is. This is where our friends are.
Why are you excited for Reno Restaurant Week?
It’s an opportunity for people who might not otherwise have gone to Brickies to come by. Brickies is off the path a little bit and there has been a lot of growth in the midtown and downtown areas. With this event, you get to see a place that truthfully the locals know about and have known about for a long time but we would love to increase the exposure.
What is one thing you’d like your guests to know about you and/or your establishment?
We’ve got the best burgers in Reno!
How are you complying with safety guidelines for COVID-19?
We are following all the directives of the CDC and are in full compliance.
Final thoughts …
The group around here are all local folks, we all have played sports in some manner or attended the University of Nevada. All of our kids have played sports. We’ve got folks behind the bar that have been involved. We’ve got football players, boxers, female boxers, people who’ve played softball and baseball — it runs the litany of it. So, again, when you look to situations like this, you turn to family and the Wolfpack family has been very important for us too. If there’s something I’d like for people to take away from this, it’s this — we’re going to be fine … we’re family and family sticks together.
2020 RRW Menu
