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Grand reopening of LB Grand in Le Roy is March 19 -- ribbon cutting with chamber and St. Joseph's Day Feast

By Billie Owens

Above, file photo of inside LB Grand taken in March 2018.

Press release (inset photo below submitted):

LB Grand invites you to join them as they celebrate their grand reopening this month with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a traditional Saint Joseph's Day feast on Tuesday, March 19.
  • Ribbon Cutting with the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce at 3:30 p.m.
  • Feast: 4 to 8 p.m.

Executive Chef Sean Wolf reassures that the menu will still include favorites such as tripe, fish fry and of course, Dolly’s famous sauce, but guests can also expect to find new Italian American selections as well as an updated bread program that includes house-made sourdough.

On March 19, guests will have the option to order a "St. Joe’s Plate" with traditional St. Joseph’s Day selections including the customary anise-flavored bread and Italian cookies.

Fish Frys will be available Wednesdays and Fridays throughout the Lent season.

For more information visit LBGrand.com or call to reserve a table 585-768-6707.

Some History on the LB Grand

The LB Grand came to be in 1983 as a result of the extraordinary efforts of Ron and Dolly Piazza. In the subsequent decades, the Piazza family fed and served drinks to two generations of LeRoyans, Genesee County residents, friends, neighbors, and lovers of homemade Italian food. In 2017 the Piazzas “passed the torch” to the Farmer family.

Admittedly, when the Piazzas approached the Farmer family, the timing wasn’t ideal. With the restoration of Farmer’s Creekside Tavern & Inn well underway, the thought of opening two restaurants simultaneously seemed challenging.

However, after touring the facility, Bill Farmer, proprietor, remarked, “We saw something” mentioning that the building had a sort of “mystique” that he was drawn to.  He added that his Italian heritage added a nostalgic pull as well.

Executive Chef Wolf said that he was all for the idea and that he saw the LB Grand as “the spot” for the community, noting that the size of the building and history associated with it made the LB Grand a real gem within the community that was worth maintaining.

After the purchase, the Farmer family decided to keep the name that the Piazza family had built and continued operations while working towards exposing the character of the building.

Bill noted that “Things that take longer often yield a better result,” and for the past two years has worked in conjunction with his team to fine tune the interior, exterior and overall operations. “As with any business, it’s still a work in process but we’re proud of where it’s come and are excited to celebrate with the community.”

Mike Piazza

Nice article Billie. I'm extremely grateful for Mr. Farmer and all he has done in the restoration of my family's former business, as well as other properties that he is bringing back to life. To Mr. Szablak - some words have more than one meaning depending on the intended context. Imbibed: absorb or assimilate (ideas or knowledge).

Mar 5, 2019, 9:16am Permalink
Billie Owens

I changed "imbibed" in the press release to "served drinks to" since use of the word imbibe here means "to take in" but the LeRoyans were actually served, as patrons in eateries usually are.

Broadly construed, it could have been left as it was, since the word's intention was clear enough and the literal construct, as articulated by Carl, is silly.

Catawampously parsing English is part of my job and in this case my ignoble failure has been called out. But soldier on I will. Have a nice day.

(Actually, I confess to initially missspelling catawampously. I had catawampusly as Tim notes below. But I corrected it.

It's catawapmus but catawampously. Who knew?!

See these are the kind of important things I contend with for our readers' sake, lest they become testy. Hahaha!)

Mar 5, 2019, 1:56pm Permalink
Tim Miller

"Catawampusly"... I have strong doubts that even if I used that word 10 times today it will become mine.

Perfect choice of words, Billie - even if I had to look it up (or maybe especially as it had to be looked up).

Mar 5, 2019, 3:40pm Permalink
Tim Miller

Thumbs down for having to look up a word? Folks, it was only 5 syllables - for the guys out there you didn't even have to unzip to count them!

:-P

Mar 5, 2019, 8:50pm Permalink
Billie Owens

Tim, never ever try to discern the logic of thumbs, especially thumbs down. It is a pointless exercise in futility, yet it remains an option, coloring our mood in the wake of our point of view. I don't regularly partake in social media for that very reason and feel so much the better as a result. And coming from me, that's saying something.

Mar 6, 2019, 3:45am Permalink

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