Wild Horse Café

Shelly Gallagher and her husband, Steve Furia, had no idea what life would have in store for them when they first arrived in Fallon on November 2, 2015. They had made the decision to relocate from California, and Fallon was their choice. Steve had accepted a job with Flyer’s, and with the help of Shelly’s parents, they made the move.

Steve initiated the move for Shelly’s sobriety. She had been addicted to drugs, and her circle of friends was not changing. When he applied for and accepted his new job, they all realized this would be the new start the entire family needed. Sobriety for Shelly was not easy, and it was a one-day-at-a-time journey.

Steve was working, and Shelly got her first job as a dishwasher at Running Iron Café, owned at the time by Cori Norwalk. She said she had never felt so proud of herself before. She applied and got the job and then became fast friends with Cori and her husband, Hill. She would learn how to cook commercially and how to run a restaurant. 

Immediately, their life began to reap the rewards of their new community. They were renting their home at the time. Their landlords built a fence around the property for them in 2016 so they could purchase their first two rescue horses.

Cori had begun to think about selling the Running Iron Café, and this would be the next chapter of Shelly’s life, owning her own restaurant. She was blessed to have a friend who wanted to be her partner in this new adventure. Together, they purchased the Running Iron Café from Cori and Hill and hired Don, who would be the main cook for their business. Their business grew, and their customers became extended families. Shelly’s partner’s life changed, and she was ready to sell to make room for her new life. Shelly and her husband were blessed to be able to purchase her partner’s half. Shelly changed the name and the location of their business, and yet again, a new chapter would begin for Shelly and her family. In 2021, the Wild Horse Café was born. 

Shelly, Steve, and their children have made Wild Horse Café a trustworthy family business. Shelly runs the day-to-day part. Steve started as the café's dishwasher and is now learning to cook commercially. Not only do they own the restaurant, but they also cater for many events. This requires that they divide and conquer the many demands of the business. Their children, Skylar and Deegan, help with the business as well. Skylar servers on the weekend and Deegan washes dishes or fills in where needed. Their eldest son, Devin, chose to return to California. Don still cooks but has decided to become more part-time. Once again, their life will evolve into a new chapter.

While building the business, Shelly’s mother became ill, and she decided to take care of her. A few years after her mother’s passing, her father, too, would become sick, and she cared for him as well. Her burdens were many, and she chose to start attending New Beginnings Church to help keep and maintain her sobriety. She is so grateful that Steve decided to relocate the family to Fallon.

She said sobriety is an essential path for her every day. She is very grateful for her family, their business, Wild Horse Café, which she and her family love and nurture together, and their many devoted customers.