AMVETS Post No. 9 opens new restaurant in Wasilla

WASILLA — It’s been open about two months, and if all goes as planned, The Bunker could create a new model to fund AMVETS Posts and their service to veterans.

AMVETS Post 9 Commander David Jones said the post had briefly leased the space to another restaurant, but when that business left, he convinced the other members to operate the restaurant themselves.

“It just seemed a shame to see it sit here so empty and not have it be used for vets,” he said.

The commander said the Wasilla post is the only one in Alaska operating its own restaurant. It’s more common to hire a contractor to operate the kitchen. But he said if the idea is successful, he hopes other posts will consider it.

But Post 9 has a pair of advantages that will be key to making this venture a success — namely David and Nayrene Jones.

David isn’t only the post commander, he also cooks, cleans and takes food orders at the new family style restaurant. Nayrene manages The Bunker in addition to being its other employee.

Between them, the Joneses have more than 25 years experience operating restaurants, such as the Forks Roadhouse and the Cache Creek Roadhouse in Trapper Creek, both of which David has owned. Most recently, Nayrene cooked at the Silver Fox in Meadow Lakes for the past five years.

“We needed to do something to generate income to keep the doors open and keep helping vets,” David said.

He said the biggest struggle the new eatery may have is getting the word out that the public is welcome to come and eat. The Joneses say they hope inviting the public into the post also will be a way to help get the word out about AMVETS service to country and community.

David said some people eligible for membership may not know they can join. Veterans or the children or grandchildren of veterans are eligible for membership in the AMVETS, the Sons of AMVETS or the Women’s Auxiliary. Annual dues are $35 and help support local veterans services and preservation of war memorials such as the USS Arizona.

But everyone is welcome, and since the post operates the restaurant, every meal served now helps support local veterans and the group’s broader service mission, Nayrene said.

“We encourage people to come have supper and support the vets,” she said. “You can feel good knowing you are helping a little bit.”

The two say they will use tried and true tools to draw customers in and keep them coming back; good food, good prices and friendly customer service.

David isn’t bashful about the quality of the Bunker’s food.

“We have the best steaks in Wasilla. Nobody can touch us,” he said.

For now, rib eye or New York steaks are served on Fridays and Saturdays only, but David said he’ll change that if the demand is there.

The Bunker’s large dining area is smoke free, accepts reservations and has several tables set up for large parties. Birthday parties, anniversary parties, meetings or other large groups are welcome and reservations are encouraged for groups, they say.

So far, the restaurant just has two employees and isn’t able to offer delivery service, David said. But they do accept call-in orders for pickup.

“We’ll see where it goes,” David said.

They describe The Bunker as a family style restaurant. Its menu includes favorites such as omelets, country-fried steak, biscuits and gravy, French toast; a variety of salads, including chef, tuna, taco and dinner salads; appetizers, such as cheese sticks, poppers, fried mushrooms, onion rings and French fries; and baskets, including chicken strips, boneless wings, deep-fried shrimp or cod; hot and cold sandwiches, open-face sandwiches, hot dogs and, of course, burgers.

Nayrene said they make their own half-pound patties and build their burgers from there. The house specialty, called “The Commander,” is topped with bacon, sautéed onions, jalapeños, mushrooms an American and Swiss cheeses.

“Everybody asks for a to-go box,” she said, flipping through photos of plated meals on her phone. “We take pride in how our plates look.”

Nayrene said she loves her work, though she’s been working 12-hour days, six days a week since The Bunker opened Nov. 6.

“The biggest satisfaction is seeing the smiles on people’s faces,” she said. “I love the ‘wow’ on people’s faces when they first see their food.”

The Bunker, on the ground level of AMVETS Post No. 9, 1591 Creste Foris St., Wasilla, is open Sunday and Monday, 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Friday and Saturday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Closed Tuesdays. Contact the post at 376-2911 or amvetsbunker@gmail.com.