The Gridiron at 20: Gadsden restaurant to remodel and expand
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A downtown Gadsden dining institution just marked its 20th anniversary and is about to significantly expand its scope of operation.
The Gridiron, at 201 S. Third St., celebrated the milestone with a party on Jan. 27, that drew a crowd of patrons and fans, with former University of Alabama and NFL running back Trent Richardson as the guest attraction.
Owner Jeremy Reeves called reaching 20 years “a big deal,” but in an interview outlined some even bigger plans for the restaurant and sports bar, which is in the old Ira Phillips/Goodyear/Sinclair service station.
“We're going to do another remodel, which hopefully will start by March,” Reeves said. “We're giving that old building some 'love' and making it a little nicer.”
And Reeves said he's brought on a couple of partners — no names divulged — with ties to NIL arrangements with athletes to help with the expansion objectives.
“We're about to take The Gridiron to a national level,” he said. “We're going to be opening more locations all over Alabama, and eventually outside the state.”
A first step there will be the addition of a loyalty app, which Reeves said should be available on both the Apple and Google platforms within a month.
Most restaurant apps allow diners to accumulate points and earn free or discounted food. The Gridiron will take a different approach, however, befitting its name and the sports connections of Reeves' partners.
“Our customers will build points as they are ordering food to go, pick up or dine in for autographed footballs, jerseys, all types of sports memorabilia,” he said.
Diners could earn sufficient points to enjoy a personal lunch with a big-name athlete, he said. (He noted that Kool-Aid McKinstry, All-America defensive back for the Alabama Crimson Tide, had made a video for the restaurant, enjoying one of his favorite burger offerings.)
“It's something very unique that no other restaurants in the country have,” Reeves said.
One thing won't change — the food. It's traditional sports bar fare: an assortment of appetizers, wings, “Game-Changer” burgers, sandwiches, smoked meats, fried catfish, quesadillas, tacos, burritos, stuffed baked potatoes and salads.
So what differentiates its menu from other restaurants and has kept diners coming back for two decades? (One customer who's been there from the start, Ronnie Holloway, was honored at the anniversary gathering.)
“Our food is fresh, it's not a frozen product,” Reeves said. “We take pride in the food we put out.
“Our burgers are hand pattied, and our chicken fingers, fried catfish and fried green tomatoes are all hand-battered. Quality is something we strive for.”
He called The Gridiron's wings “a staple in the Gadsden community for 20 years.” He stressed again that they are “fresh, never frozen,” unlike some competitors, and they're available with an assortment of sauces ranging from mild to “atomic” heat levels, and various stages and flavors in between.
The Gridiron also has a substantial list of drink offerings, hosts regular entertainment each week and, of course, has multiple TVs for patrons to watch sports.
The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. It can be followed on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GridironofGadsdenAL.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Gadsden's The Gridiron turns 20 with big plans for the future
