Long time restaurant has new owner but foundation remains

M & M’s Natural JAZ, located at 617 Broadway, has been a familiar gathering place in the community for over 27 years.
On Friday, the Nesbitts signed the paperwork selling the business to Heather Johnson of Imperial.
Marcy and Mike Nesbitt opened the business in June 1994 serving homemade soups and sandwiches, baked goods, plus health foods and supplements, fruit smoothies and fresh hot coffee for coffee drinkers to gather and visit.
Mike, although part owner of the store, is still employed at NRD.
“Marcy has been the backbone of the business and kept it going all these years. I was the muscle I guess you’d say,” Mike laughed.
“I couldn’t have done it without Mike’s support and the support of my family,” said Marcy.
“Heather is the same age as me when I opened this store. She has had the same dream I had all those years ago,” she noted.
Marcy said she is excited to pass the love in this store off to the next generation.
Johnson is originally from New Mexico, and after living in several other locations, she settled in Imperial in 2009 where she lives with her 8-year-old daughter, Heidi.
Johnson said she has wanted a business of her own for as long as she can remember, but she hadn’t really seen a good example of what that business would look like—not until she met Nesbitt and spent the next few years visiting her store and observing how she ran it.
“I saw Marcy as an example of how a genuine loving business environment could cultivate a calming effect on customers and staff,” said Johnson.
After frequenting the store, Johnson knew she wanted to model a business after Nesbitt and her business premise.
“Over the years, I watched Marcy, and I wanted to emulate her in a business,” she said.
She executes her management technique in a unique way, she added.
Thought behind business
Nesbitt said she based her business on the bible verse 1Corinthians 13:13, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
“I feel God’s love everyday, so opening this store was something I couldn’t NOT do,” said Nesbitt.
She went on to explain that her customers are family, too. She said she wanted to feed their bellies and souls at the same time.
The women who work there are also family to her.
“I am so proud of the relationships that have evolved in my kitchen,” she said.
“I’ve always felt this (business) was a God thing—a gift or a stewardship for me to give back to the community.”
Nesbitt said she was glad she could be a good example and provide a calm, relaxing environment to work in and for people to come sit to eat, or drink coffee and tea.
“There’s a good vibe in this building,” she said.
“It’s so cool that I’ve watched three generations of kids coming in—watching them grow up,” Nesbitt said through a tearful smile.
Nesbitt had started thinking about selling the business three years ago.
“I wanted to give it (sell it) as a gift to the next person but didn’t know who that would be,” she said.
“Out of the blue, Heather called about buying it even though I hadn’t advertised it yet,” she added.
Johnson had started thinking about starting a business like Nesbitt’s for a couple of years when a friend of hers suggested she call Nesbitt.
“I loved the idea of the stewardship of a business and carrying on Marcy’s legacy to the community and staff,” said Johnson.
Agreement is made
Johnson said she felt humbled it was Nesbitt’s legacy she would be carrying on.
“I was grateful for the good people working there. Those girls had been there for years, and it was more their store than mine. They are a huge part of its success,” said Johnson.
The staff carries on the calm environment for the public, she continued.
“I feel like being welcomed into a family. I want to maintain Marcy’s belief of family first,” she said.
Johnson said everything will remain the same initially.
All the recipes for everything made at the store including baked goods are Nesbitts, which she also sold to Johnson.
Nesbitt said she will remain as a mentor and consultant for Johnson.
“Ownership of M & M’s Natural JAZ was officially transferred over to Grace’s Kitchen Table,” Nesbitt said.
“Grace was my grandmother. Some of my happiest memories were being in her kitchen sitting at her table,” Johnson said.
The community may have noticed that the store was closed Monday through Wednesday for activities associated with the transition.
It will reopen Thursday with business hours remaining the same as previously, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., including Tuesday night Mexican food from 5 to 8 p.m., Johnson said.
To contact Johnson, call the store at 308-882-4149 or Johnson’s cell 308-340-0393.
Nesbitt wanted the public to know how much she appreciated the support all these years.
“I’m excited to help Heather move forward with the business and support her,” she said.
Nesbitt said she has always been very busy—never sitting down on the weekends, at which Mike gave an affirmative nod.
She said she is looking forward to devoting more time to her music, Tai Chi, her mom, grandkids and family.
“I think we might like to travel some and hit a beach here and there,” she smiled.