Located just south of the busy intersection of Central Avenue and Murray Road in McKinleyville, Papa Wheelies Pub owner Scott McNeil has created not only a bustling small pub and restaurant with one stove, and an award-winning burger, but also a community hub focusing on in-person, human interaction across the full spectrum of beliefs. Papa Wheelies offers a comfortable space to sip a beverage or eat a hand-cut, prepared by the order, sublime French fry, while talking to and meeting new people in the cozy, close space. Papa Wheelies offers as many local products as possible, including the beef, vegetables and beer they serve, reflecting local values, and why Scott chose Humboldt as a place to live, and eventually as a place to start a business.
Scott first visited Humboldt in 1998, the people and community, including the farmers’ market, the fresh air, and clean water all drew him here, and he never left. Although he had worked in local businesses, including the cycling business, Scott had never owned or run a restaurant before opening Papa Wheelies Pub in 2015. Inspired by the farmers’ market, and using the incredible variety of local, organic food available, Scott built a word-of-mouth, down-home feel pub in north McKinleyville, with a goal of making it more than a burger joint. Much like the farmers’ market, Scott wanted to create a place where people support each other, where the community comes together, where he could support the local farmers and ranchers who provide such support for the well-being of Humboldt’s people, places, and economy.
The Humboldt business community, the local cycling community, and the nonprofit community have all shown up with support for Papa Wheelies Pub, and that support is reciprocated. Scott mountain-bike raced for 20 years, now, he and Papa Wheelies support cycling with donations of food and beer for local races, and volunteering with the Redwood Coast Mountain Bike Association, helping teach local kids how to mountain bike.
Scott described how it is the Humboldt community that creates the safety, the feeling of being comfortable, even when starting a new business. Scott described this feeling of a community safety net as Humboldt being a place where you can count on your neighbor, making it unique and also, uniquely suited to starting and growing a business.
Growing his business has kept Scott passionate about the hard work of cooking and running a restaurant. Scott cooked full time for 10 years, and while he still cooks a couple of nights a week, he can now employ people to cook too — helping provide local jobs has been a huge motivator for Scott. As has the growing recognition for Papa Wheelies, which won the 2025 NCJ’s People’s Choice Award for Best Burger. Having won the people’s vote makes the award extra meaningful, as does being such a small restaurant with limited indoor seating. Papa Wheelies has recently expanded outdoor seating options, with a back patio, front beer garden tables, and live music either Friday or Saturday evenings.
Scott just bought a food truck, where he will be continuing to support bike races, and will expand into some Friday Night Markets, local festivals, fairs and events. Papa Wheelies Food Truck will also be available for catering. Showing up, supporting local events and being an active participant in our community, and fueling it all with local organic burgers from Papa Wheelies, is a great way to show your support.
Dining and Cooking