As a longtime Cotati Chamber member and a Board Director for nearly 10 years, Cheryl Nixon brought her prior bar business experience—gained alongside her late husband—to help shape Friar Tuck’s unique personality and style. The business quickly became a popular daytime and evening spot to meet up with friends, take meetings, or enjoy a beer over a game of pool.

Cheryl and her husband Marcus originally opened Friar Tuck’s in 1992 in what is now the Oliver’s shopping center—where a pet store stands today. After Marcus passed away in 2013, Cheryl was committed to continuing the business, becoming the sole proprietor at one point. Friar Tuck’s became the longest woman-owned business in Sonoma County.

Not long after, she relocated the bar to the historic downtown location known as the “Inn of the Beginning,” a legendary hippie-era cabaret of the '60s. Alongside her sons Randy and Rudy, and business partner Sharon Mitchell, Cheryl helped grow Friar Tuck’s into not just a bar and pub, but a friendly local hub—one that served delicious food and a warm sense of home.

Like many small businesses, Friar Tuck’s was forced to close permanently during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During her time with the Chamber, Cheryl was elected President twice and named “Businessperson of the Year” multiple times.

One of her most beloved contributions was organizing the Cotati Holiday Crawl—an annual, spirited evening where locals visited several bars as a group, singing holiday tunes at each stop. Cheryl always insisted the Crawl end at Friar Tuck’s, where she greeted the crowd with warmth and a festive cocktail.

Cheryl will always be remembered for her kind heart, dedication, and the lasting impact she had on Cotati and its community.

Written by: Susan Kashack