Our Story

"Unoponatime," to quote our oldest granddaughter, a man from our local town of Show Low named Johnny fell head over heels for a Southern bell from Alabama named Dee Evans.  Son of Cathy & Johnny Sr. and grandson of Luddy & Ruth Johnson, whose roots in the white mountains date back to 1954, when they were the owners of Square Deal Western Wear.

In 1994, this Professional Fisherman, present day winner of the 2016 Won Bass US Championship, TV Host and Musician asked Dee to wed and they became a family.  Together they ave raised two talented daughters named Amber & Nikki.  Amber, cosmetologist extraordinaire and proud owner of Ambitious Beaty & Salon, married Neal.  Nikki, owner & chef of Persnikkity's Bakery, married Robert.  Each has given Johnny & Dee a beautiful granddaughter: the eldest is named Zayda (Bean) & the youngest is Jaidyn (Goob), with possibly more to come... but that's another story.

Our restaurant story begins with (1) Too Big (2) Too Far and (3) Just Right, lol!  So - born in 2013, we introduce ya'll to our Picnic Basker Restaurant & Kozy Bean Coffee Shop.  When you think of taking a picnic, it's under a clear blue sky with great friends and family enjoying fresh, homemade food all together with stories told and children laughing.  That's the experience we hope to inspire when you visit our little basket.  With delicious, comfort food and tsty libations around the corner, we thank you for your visit and hope you live happily ever after as we have. 

Eat well dear friends,

Johnny & Dee Johnson