Not everyone is brave enough to brook the tide during a global pandemic, with a potential economic fallout looming, and buy a new business. But thank goodness for those that are. 
Fallon residents, Gregg and Laura Malkovich purchased Jo's Stillwater Tea Room on Maine Street on January 1st. The Tea Room bid farewell to the original proprietor, Jo Petteruti, and said hello to its new owners.
Gregg Malkovich, who hails from Butte Montana, began his teaching with Churchill County School District in 1993. Serious about his career, Gregg attended UNR and earned his administrator’s license and served in several administrative capacities while at the District. He finished up his tenure at CCSD as the principal for Lahontan Elementary School in June of 2019.
Gregg’s wife, Laura, is also a transplant, arriving in the Silver State in 2005 from Wisconsin, she also moved west to pursue her career. Specializing in early childhood development, she taught at CCSD and spent many years in professional development before assuming her current position as principal of River View Elementary in Dayton
The two met in 2008 in a professional capacity. Neither of them could have predicted that four years later they would become Mr. and Mrs. Malkovich, much less owners of a downtown drinking establishment.
Upon retiring, Gregg knew that he was not ready to stop working. Not entirely. Sill passionate about education, Gregg decided to run for the school board. Low and behold, he was elected to the post last November, all the while contemplating buying a drinking establishment.
Owning his own bar was no passing fancy for Gregg. It was something he has wanted to do for decades He wanted a place where locals could come in and enjoy a drink and relax. Perhaps it was not just possible that he and Laura purchase the Tea Room; rather, it was inevitable. “We were serious about purchasing a bar,” Gregg said. “We looked at places in Reno and even Montana.” They also considered building from the ground up. At the end of the day, the couple did not want to leave the area. “We love Fallon – we love our home,” said Laura.
Soon after Jo considered selling the Tea Room, she mentioned to Gregg and Laura in passing conversation, that she had just listed it with a commercial broker in Reno. In what must have been fate, the couple realized this was their chance to make their dream come true. Ironically, Gregg and Laura were the first patrons of the now-iconic drinking establishment.
Within about six weeks of their initial conversation with Jo, the deal was done, and the Tea Room transferred into the capable hands of Gregg and Laura Malkovich. 
On Monday morning, January 4th, Gregg was sworn in as a new member of the Churchill County School Board during the ceremony for newly elected officials. He then made his way to City Hall for the Council meeting. “I was sworn in for the School Board and then went directly to the City Council meeting to get my liquor license,” joked Malkovich. No doubt, that was an uncommon occurrence, but it is probably fair to say that as proprietors of a pub/bar/martini bar/cocktail lounge and overall watering hole, they will be met with many more uncommon events going forward. 
Gregg and Laura have always loved the classy, and friendly atmosphere of the Tea Room and plan to make sure it stays that way. However, they also plan to make it their own. In doing so, they have made a few seating changes to accommodate more patrons. According to Laura, they moved things around several times, and they will probably move things around many more times. They have also expanded their drink menu to include canned and bottled options, including Coors Light and 805 – a few local favorites. In addition to an expanded drink selection, they have expanded their hours. “If I’m here,” Gregg says, “we’re open.”
Both Gregg and Laura are loving their new acquisition. According to Laura, it’s doesn’t feel like work. “I leave work, then come in and have fun.” Thus far, the Tea Room is doing great and the couple is having a blast. 
Fallon is a unique, close-knit community. And in pure small-town style, the Tea Room passed from the hands of one beloved, local proprietor on to two others that are already making their mark while making new friends.
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