James “Jim” Goff, the down-home restaurateur whose namesake diner has been a staple in Pleasanton for three decades, was one of two bystanders killed by a vehicle during the famed Baja 1000 off-road racing event in Mexico last week.
Goff’s son Dustin, who took over Jim’s Country Style Restaurant from his father several years ago, confirmed the news “with heavy, broken hearts” to the Pleasanton Weekly on Sunday.
“The Goff family is overwhelmed with grief but are comforted by the love and support of family, friends and the community that Jim loved so dearly,” Dustin Goff told the Weekly. “Because this is an extremely difficult time for the Goff family, we ask for privacy and prayers.”
Founded by Goff in 1994, Jim’s Country Style Restaurant built a reputation as a popular destination for American-style breakfast and lunch. Located on a prominent corner in the Oak Hill Shopping Center along Sunol Boulevard, the diner celebrated its 30th anniversary this year and was a frequent winner in the Weekly’s Readers’ Choice contest over the years, including earning Hall of Fame status for Best Breakfast…