UPDATE: Local foodie club sinks teeth into project to help local restaurant

UPDATE:

The Woodlands/Spring area, TX Foodie Club converged on Just Burgers in Spring, this past Sunday, to 'scrub up' the restaurant to meet the owner's vision of a gourmet burger restaurant. Ambrose and Amber Pina opened the new restaurant in an old location, and have been trying to bring the place up to their expectations, but lack of resources and time have thwarted the evolution.

The Foodie Club discussed the idea of pooling their resources and committed to a complete restaurant makeover, which exceeded both the club’s and the owners’ expectations. Originally in the plans...a coat of paint, sprucing up the cabinets, and wall art to reflect their delicious burgers, but through word-of-mouth and the social media, contractors stepped up, and the restaurant is being measured for new cabinets, and a new concrete floor will replace the old tile. J.D. Creative Concrete is undertaking this major piece of the renovation.

Spearheaded by Foodie Club members, Eric Raines and Nick Rama, and approximately another dozen ‘Foodies,’ the painting, scrubbing, and wall art, have been accomplished, with more planned for this work-in-progress.

In a show of solidarity, other Spring restaurants donated food to the army of volunteers. Donut-licious, located at I-45N at FM 2920 (southwest corner) provided gourmet donuts for breakfast, and the Pizza Zone at Kuykendahl and Cypresswood, provided lunch. Now the public can do their part by stopping by Just Burgers, and seeing the newly-renovated restaurant and enjoying a delicious, gourmet burger.



ORIGINAL STORY:

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- A Facebook post on a food review, prompted The Woodlands/Spring area, Tx Foodie Club to combine their time and talents to help a restaurant owner accomplish his wish list, in order to provide customers with a better dining experience.

A comment to "clean up your place," prompted an emotional response from Ambrose Pina, the owner of Just Burgers, that was met with an outpouring of genuine concern from the foodie group that ‘chews the fat’ about their dining experiences on their Facebook page.

Specializing in burgers, thus the name Just Burgers, Pina responded to the post, "I would like to thank you all for your honesty, but I cannot help but to take this all to heart. When Amber and I bought this place going on three years now, we bought a junkyard. We found out that the numbers had been fluffed to attract a buyer. We have a restaurant in a building that is 30 years old, and making repairs for us very hard because of the lack of money.”

Pina went on to say that to try and make ends meet, they have done the repair work themselves, repairing the leaky roof, plumbing, deep cleaning, etc., but setbacks like a robbery, vendor issues, etc., have prevented the business from being able to do all the necessary renovations.

“We have never failed a Health Inspection; the health inspector even eats at Just Burgers,” said Pina.

Then a post on Facebook:

“Just a thought...maybe some foodies should get together Robert Irvine style, and assist this family in cleaning up the restaurant. I do not know these folks and have not eaten in their establishment. My fiance has eaten take-out often,and speaks highly of the food. It would be nice if we, as a society, work to keep small businesses afloat,” posted Tonya Moody.

Post after post on Facebook had Foodies volunteering to pitch in and help with the necessary maintenance, scheduled Sunday, March 16. One Foodie committed to a $500 donation for essential items, and some with specific skill sets volunteered. One even offered to help out in the restaurant, working the time around his regular job. This grassroots effort was initiated and coordinated all through social media. The organization has boasts of having 2,541 'Friends' on Facebook as of this writing.

The Woodlands/ Spring area,Tx Foodie Club was created by Kerry Stessel, himself an owner of a local business, Hot Line Pepper Products, to support local restaurants and food-related businesses. He admitted that the members willingness to come together to help the restaurant owner achieve what he has been struggling to do, touched him too.

“You guys have touched me on this. This is the core of my Foodie Club page on a whole new level…I have always felt that they only way this country is going to get better is by stimulating our own " micro-economy," said Stessel.

The project has gained momentum and extended beyond the Foodie Group. A local candidate for office has even volunteered. Also on board is Amy Perez. who is running for House District 150 on a campaign platform supporting small business owners.

Although it appears there will be a small army of volunteers on hand, skilled tradesmen with access to resources at bargain basement prices, are especially in need. One Foodie member builds restaurants and has offered to try and located equipment and fixtures. The Foodie Club asked Pina to make a ‘wish list’ to help with sourcing. Visit The Woodlands/Spring area, TX Facebook page to preview and/or download the 'wish list' posted by Eric Raines. Service companies interested in contributing talent or product can call or email Ambrose Pina at Just Burgers (see icon links included.) Also visit the Just Burgers Facebook page.

Improving the aesthetics of the restaurant will help immeasurably, but Pina cited rising food prices as being yet, another setback. In mid-January beef prices went up from $2.28 per lb. to an historic high of $3.14 lb. Pina says beef is expected to rise to $4.10 lb. by mid-March, and also in the summer. Milk is expected to rise to .60 a gallon; a 17 percent increase on all dairy products. Unlike many restaurants, Just Burgers is trying to remain at its current price structure.

As a whole, the community can help by patronizing the restaurant and enjoying a delicious meal. Just Burgers specializes in quality burgers with ‘housemade’ pretzel buns, hand-cut French Fries and onion rings. For Lent they’re offering something special, available only on Fridays...lemon-peppered, pan-seared Tilapia topped with a crispy Jicama and green apple coleslaw salad, with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and mayo, and a side of Just Burgers famous Cajun fries (pictured). This will be a combo meal.

Just Burgers is located just south of The Woodlands on the corner of Stubener Airline and Louetta, and although not located inside The Woodlands, The Woodlands/ Spring area,Tx Foodie Club has been known to ‘stretch their legs’ for a delectable meal, but it's a bit of a stretch to take on a restaurant makeover. More importantly, it’s this sense of small-town community unique to The Woodlands, that is making this ‘just-in-time’ project at Just Burgers possible.