It’s an addiction, but the good kind: that’s how customers Dennis and Deborah Sunstrum describe their relationship with the Grist Craft Kitchen and Brewery.
“We’re addicted,” Deborah said with a laugh at a private fundraiser the restaurant held Tuesday evening for its regulars.
“They close two days a week — and we go through ‘Grist withdrawal.'”
The invite-only event — not the first of its kind — was the Grist’s way of giving back to its regulars while collecting donations and non-perishables for Project Share in Niagara Falls, an organization important to the restaurant, says Mamdouh Abdelmaksoud, who has now owned it for about a month.
“We have a great staff, we have wonderful customers,” said Abdelmaksoud. “We have customers that come here two to three times a week.”
“We just thought it was time to show some appreciation.”
It’s the exceptional staff that keeps Dennis coming back, he said.
“We’ll get the car and we’ll go, ‘Where are we going to go?’ We’ll go to (the) Grist, because, you know, the people,” he said.
Regular Terri Scordino said she also comes for the staff, plus the “great food.”
Now a month in, Abdelmaksoud said an overwhelming number of locals and regulars have come through the doors to warmly welcome him.
“It’s been wonderful,” he said.
“He’s been great right from day one,” said Deborah.
“There’s not anybody I would say hasn’t been totally welcoming and warm to us every time we’ve ever been (to the Grist). Great bunch of people.”
Bartender Andy Savage said Abdelmaksoud is a “great guy” and nothing has changed.
“He’s keeping everything the same: Same staff, same food,” she said.
Customer Cheryl Rienzo-Meger, who accompanied Scordino at the gathering, said Abdelmaksoud is a “great owner.”
Regulars were offered a complimentary beer, cider or sour.
The gathering doubled as a free tasting ground for some new menu ideas: Four different flatbreads, watermelon peach salad, key lime pie, carrot cheesecake and a Dubai chocolate bar.
Guests were given a ballot and voted on the items using a “like it” to “love it” scale.
“It doesn’t mean we’re putting them all on the menu, but we’re just presenting them and seeing what people think,” said Abdelmaksoud.
Free wine samples from Reif and Konzelmann were offered as well.
“What we’re trying to do is to support local,” he said.
And to continue doing so, Abdelmaksoud said he has his sights set on Cake Cafe on Niagara Stone Road: “We’re working on a collaboration with them.”
Dennis and Deborah met Abdelmaksoud about a month before he took over the restaurant. Deborah said he’d already been a familiar face after frequenting the place for about a year.
“He’s fitting in nicely,” she said.
The restaurant collected $80 in cash and card donations and 230 pounds of non-perishables valued at $823.40 for Project Share, a non-profit organization providing in-need Niagara Falls residents with emergency food and support.
“A great way to appreciate our customers and give back to the community. They feel good giving back,” said Abdelmaksoud.
