Jim-Denny’s in Sacramento to close after surprise eviction notice, owner says
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- Jim-Denny’s in Sacramento will close Wednesday after receiving eviction notice.
- Owner N’Gina Guyton reopened the historic diner in 2023 with a modern menu.
- Guyton said the landlord offered to sell, then served an eviction notice months later.
Jim-Denny’s diner in downtown Sacramento will shut down for the second time in five years after owner N’Gina Guyton was given an eviction notice and told to vacate the building by the end of July by the building’s landlord, Guyton said in a post on the restaurant’s Instagram Tuesday.
Guyton said the iconic diner at 816 12th St. would serve its last meals Wednesday.
Her Jim-Denny’s was a rebooted version of the American diner that was a landmark in downtown for 85 years before closing in February 2020. Guyton’s reboot opened on Sept. 2, 2023, and featured foods like a hot dog with mango salsa and takis compared to the more traditional pancakes, burgers and other diner foods of the original.
Guyton previously ran Southside Park soul food spot South with her ex-husband, Ian Kavookjian. Despite its popularity, the restaurant abruptly closed in June 2022.
In the post, Guyton said her landlord offered to eventually sell her the building in November 2023 but, “went back on his word” in April by sending her the eviction notice. Guyton said she worked to pool investors to buy the building after receiving the notice, but was unable to convince the landlord to sell.
Guyton said she had gone to court to challenge the sale, but was denied due to the prior agreement being verbal and non-binding.
“At the end of the day, I’m proud of what we did. We were up against so many issues even before we opened. It felt like every week was something, but we still fought,” Guyton wrote in the caption of the Instagram post. “I hate hearing about the possible future of Jim-Denny’s, it makes my heart sick, but we had a damn good time.”
In the comments of the post, many longtime patrons and community members expressed their support for Guyton and Jim-Denny’s. Multiple comments included the broken-heart emoji and many commenters saying they would support Guyton’s next restaurant project.
The eatery first opened in 1934 as a modest hamburger stand at 16th and J streets, launched by partners Jim Van Nort and Dennis McFall. Van Nort, a Salt Lake City native and World War II veteran, moved the restaurant to 12th St. in 1945 after returning from service in Europe. There, the diner became a mainstay — offering simple fare, 10 red stools at a counter, and no-nonsense service that made it a beloved institution.
For decades, according to previous Bee reporting, Jim-Denny’s served up its signature Superburgers and hubcap-sized pancakes to everyone from construction workers to lawmakers. Van Nort ran the place until 1988, when he retired. The diner remained in operation under new owners.
By the early 2000s, the Lane family had taken over. They carefully preserved the retro vibe, right down to the original cash register, and even celebrated Jim-Denny’s 75th anniversary in 2009 with a daylong community festival. Later that year, the diner gained national attention when it was featured on the Travel Channel’s “Man vs. Food.”
But in January 2020, amid rising rents and the temporary closure of the Sacramento Convention Center, the McCune family — then operating the diner — announced it would shut down. The final day of service came on Feb. 2, 2020, ending an 85-year run. Despite talk of revival, the pandemic stalled further plans.
Then came Guyton, who gave Jim-Denny’s new life with a modern twist. Her version kept the spirit of the original but swapped in a California-influenced menu and implemented a no-cash policy after security incidents amid several incidents of crime.
Despite praise for the reboot and a new outdoor dining space, Jim-Denny’s will once again close its doors.
This story was originally published July 1, 2025 at 5:33 PM.
