HUMBOLDT — For over two decades, H&H TJ’s Family Diner has been more than a place to grab breakfast or a cup of coffee. It has been a gathering place, a meeting point, a community watch system and, for many customers, an extension of family.
That chapter is coming to an end.
The Humboldt restaurant, which traces its roots back 22 years, is preparing to close its doors Friday. According to owner Jackie Borjas, the restaurant began when her parents decided to turn their cattle operation into something new. It was founded with a simple goal. “To basically be a Mom and Pop diner,” said Borjas. “To serve the community like a family.”
The restaurant’s name evolved over the years as the business itself changed. While H&H came from the Hurst family name, the “TJ’s” portion was added when the diner merged with TJ’s Barbecue in April 2023, the barbecue business formerly operated by Jackie’s partner, Todd Brandon. Brandon passed away in April 2022, prior to the merger, but his influence remains part of the restaurant’s identity and history.
The family connection that defined the business has remained constant. At the center of it all has been Borjas’ mother, Sandy Hurst, 80, who has helped operate the family restaurant since its beginning. Even today, she arrives before dawn to start breakfast preparations.
“She gets up at five o’clock in the morning, comes in here to start the grill and get the breakfast stuff going,” Borjas said.
WHEN H&H first opened, Humboldt had few dining options. Borjas recalled that several restaurants had closed, leaving limited choices for residents. “There just wasn’t that much in Humboldt,” she said.
Over the years, the business grew steadily. For 19 years it operated in its original location at 119 N. 8th St. before moving to its current home at 719 S. 9th St. The move nearly doubled seating capacity, increasing from 29 seats to 50.
The new location also brought modern comforts. “There’s climate control in here, and there was not over there,” Borjas said with a laugh, recalling customers sat only a few feet from the grill at the original site.
Yet some things never changed.
No matter the location, customers still gather every morning for coffee, conversation and companionship.
That coffee klatsch became one of the restaurant’s defining traditions where regulars occupied the same tables, sharing stories, discussing local news and checking on one another. After the announcement of the upcoming closure of the restaurant, Borjas said the regulars have taken it hard.
“They’re not happy,” she said.
Many immediately asked, “Where are we going to go drink coffee now?”
“It’s a gathering spot,” Borjas said. When someone was sick or absent, word spread quickly through the morning crowd. If a regular failed to show up, someone often checked on them. “Everybody looks out for everybody,” Borjas said.
Regular customers often notified staff when they had doctor appointments or planned absences so nobody would worry if they missed a morning visit.
