S
ociologists claim that peo-
ple in every culture need
a third place—a place to
go separate from work and
home. A third place allows
us to relax in a welcoming
environment, share the company of others,
and indulge in food and drink. Gilroy’s Straw
Hat Pizza is a third place that offers some-
thing for everyone: young and old, groups,
clubs, sports teams, families, and sports fans.
Straw Hat has thrived under the ownership
of Raj Nayyar since 2015. At 7,000 square
feet, the restaurant serves pizza, beer and soft
drinks. As a venue it boasts 40 large screen
TVs, an arcade and two party/meeting rooms.
Customers keep coming back because as a
third place, it’s like Cheers: where everybody
knows your name.
Raj Nayyar, 45, is short and compact, brim-
ming with energy. His black hair is combed
straight back and his neatly-trimmed beard
and moustache are lightly sprinkled with
gray. Customers get his full attention. “I like
the restaurant business. I enjoy meeting new
people, interacting with people. It keeps me
busy,” he said.
“Hey, bro,” Raj said, shaking a customer’s
hand. “How’s it going. Good to see you.” The
man tells Raj he’d like to speak with him when
he has a moment. “Sure, sure,” Raj replied.
“Get something to drink, I’ll come and find
you.”
Customer Lillian Silva says, “Raj is an
amazing person. I work for the Youth Alliance
nonprofit in Gilroy/Hollister. I was a part of
Leadership Gilroy in 2019, and every time I
needed anything for fundraising or anything,
he’s open arms: ‘What do you need? How can
I help?’ He has a heart of gold. He’s a com-
munity man.”
On the night of the Garlic Festival shoot-
ing, Raj and his team, along with community
volunteers, stayed up all night making and
delivering pizzas to the law enforcement per-
sonnel at Christmas Hill Park.
Raj has supported numerous organizations
such as South County Tail Waggers, Indian
Association of South Santa Clara County,
Christopher High School’s wrestling team,
the Gilroy High School football and wrestling
teams, and various Little League teams. “We
do these things not out of obligation, but out
of love and appreciation for our neighbors and
our neighborhood,” he said.
“I just want to make sure everyone’s taken
care of; just help them out, whatever they need,
food, party rooms, our restaurant, donations,
sponsorships. Right now, the fire department
is using one of our rooms for training. I feel
like I’m a part of this community. People come
here, they feel safe, we have a good product,
and we have a good staff. I’m involved with
the business six days a week,” Raj said.
Jeremy Smith is a salesman and manager
with Bottomley Distributing. He supplies Raj
with twenty-two of his thirty taps. He’s also a
customer.
“I deliver beer to everyone in town,” Jeremy
said. “I’m just a salesman. Some people I deal
with are a bit standoff[ish]—it’s just busi-
ness. But with Raj, we’ve just slowly become
friends. I’d never eaten a pizza here before he
came. Now, my family comes here. Raj and
I have an ongoing text on my phone: I get
in trouble if I’m not here once a week. I’m
not special. If he treats me like that, I know
he’s that way with everyone. He deserves this
award. The man doesn’t live here but he’s like
a Gilroy resident by far.”
Raj Nayyar is the owner and front man, but
it takes a village to win Small Business of the
Year. Raj wants his employees to enjoy their
work and be happy. That way they’ll take good
care of the customers. “We try to take care of
everybody. I couldn’t do this by myself. The
people here work together and they’re a good
team. They treat everybody nicely.”
“It’s like coming to your own home,” Lillian
Silva said.
“I feel like if I’m able to
help someone and that God’s
given me things to help
people, I just want to be there
for them in good times and
bad,” Raj said. “I love Gilroy.
It’s a very family-oriented,
friendly and supportive place
to be. Seeing such a tight-
knit community like Gilroy
inspires me to be equally
giving and generous.”
Raj has a simple business philosophy.
"I like to take care of the people who give us their business: ‘Treat everybody the way you'd like to be treated’.”
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
SPRING 2020
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