The prevailing reason behind the Carson Nugget tradition of serving free meals on Christmas and Thanksgiving: Customers are like family and family is important.
Keeping a tradition that began 50 years ago with Nugget owners Hop and Howard Adams, free meals will be offered on Christmas to those who may not be able to otherwise afford one. The person must simply sign their check and say, "I'm a guest of the Nugget today."
The tradition began on Thanksgiving 1957 when a family of four could not afford their meal. The coffee shop employees chose not to let them go hungry, and the rest is Nugget history.
"We have a lot of longterm employees doing this and their general attitude is, customers are family," said Kelly Brant, director of marketing. "We are all torn between wanting to be with our own family, but we like being with our customers.
"The community has been good to us. We like to give back."
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, the coffee shop will offer roast turkey, sage dressing, mashed potatoes with giblet gravy, vegetable and choice of soup or salad and a choice of pie for dessert.
If a person is able to pay for their meal, for $8.50, they have a choice of the turkey or Hilshire ham, with honey-glazed yams, vegetable, soup or salad, dinner roll and choice of pie for dessert.
"The meal for paying customers is available from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.," Brant added.
Brant said the number of people taking advantage of the meal on Christmas is less than the approximate 3,500 who partake in the Thanksgiving meal.
"I don't know if people know it's offered, or if they're off visiting family."
Brant said he and his wife, Lynette, and 14-year-old son will celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve.
"We'll then be working Christmas Day to be with our customers," he said.
"It's not just our business. This is where we live. It's our community, too. The whole idea behind the free meal is a way to give back.
"It touches me to know there are people who consider us friends and family."
• Contact Rhonda Costa-Landers at rcosta-landers@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1223.