LAKEPORT >> Having built a reputation for themselves throughout the community, Grilligan’s Island’s management recently pledged it will continue to serve this and surrounding counties.
The iconic restaurant served its last meals on Sunday July 7 at their 1873 N. High Street, Lakeport, location after nearly three years of operation. “We’re not going to stop,” said co-owner Nicole Gentry. “We’ll continue with several events. We’re in the process of looking at some food trucks and trailers, building our savings back up to what we put into this (venue) to keep it going.”
Gentry ventured that traveling around with a food truck would be good and doing different events in the community could be better for them. Gentry thanked everyone who stopped bye to say hello on their final day in their most recent location and urged everybody to watch their Facebook page. “We are working on other permits to serve our food so, we have other things coming for you guys,” she said. “We’re not giving up we just need to flip the script and change things around a little bit.”
Even though they will not have a stationary establishment, it would not impede serving their delicious food Gentry offered. “My goal was when I entered the Hands Up Lake County (1 Team 1 Dream) small business competition in 2021 before we were anything … we we’re just an idea- And it was 2022, we won (third place in the established business category). The concept of a mobile restaurant was our initial idea, to have a food truck to go around the community to bring you guys our unique and delicious food. So, keep an eye out and don’t listen to the negative, because they don’t know.”
Gentry urged loyal customers to continue to watch their Facebook page if they have any questions about the restaurant’s proposed reboot. She also encouraged patrons if they have an upcoming birthday party or special event to be certain to contact Grilligan’s.
In a live podcast on Sunday Gentry said she wanted to show her appreciation for everybody and the support for their business, which she said means the world to them. “It’s been slamming busy all day and that’s a wonderful thing for our last day, going out with a bang!” There are several reasons for the closure she explained. The first is the economy in the country is struggling. Currently if a family is seeing their bills double, for restaurants and other businesses it has tripled, she pointed out. “It’s amazing,” she said. “You have a dream, and you open something up- and you go forward with it.” They came out with Grilligan’s Island, that proved unique and that was something special for them, yet growing pains prompted them to make changes.
“It’s been a good road we don’t feel we faltered, we feel like a success,” she said. “It was hard to stay open late, like we used to do. For two and a half years we opened from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. We changed to a 4 p.m. opening only recently because the (business) environment changed. It’s sad, people can say all they want but we’re just very proud to be a part of Lake County. We’ve been messaged by many people to do their events in Lake County but other counties as well.”
She pointed out the monthly bills had become overwhelming, and it has not been limited to the last few months. “We stated in Lucerne and then moved here, which was really hard for us to do- we’ve been struggling since we opened up here.” Gentry also expressed genuine appreciation for the loyal dedication of their repeat customers. And she noted how inspired Grilligan’s management is with the prospect to transitioning to a mobile kitchen as it opens so many different ways they can expand on their original concept.
