Moving the Chains: Fire up the Grille

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There’s so much more to Steve Spurrier than just being the first Florida player to win the Heisman … or the first Florida coach to win an SEC championship … or the first Florida coach to win a national championship.  As if that wasn’t already enough.

Steve Spurrier, the Head Ball Coach, is also the first Florida alumnus to own a highly successful restaurant/museum.  Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille, located at 4860 Steve Spurrier Way in Gainesville, Florida, opened its doors to the public in August of 2021.  In less than five years, it is already considered to be one of the top celebrity restaurants in the country.    

A little less than two years after the grand opening, the establishment’s address officially became 4860 Steve Spurrier Way – although anyone aware of Spurrier’s playing days as a Gator may have preferred calling it Steve Spurrier Pass.   

The idea of renaming the street can be attributed to Freddie Wehbe, Spurrier’s managing partner.  

At the ceremony to officially commemorate the naming of Spurrier Way, Wehbe said ‘It’s very fitting; now Steve Spurrier Way will run through the heart of Celebration Pointe (the local development where the restaurant is located) just as the legend himself runs through the heart of Gator Nation.’     

Personally, I think naming a street after him is the right thing to do.  After all, it was Steve Spurrier who originally referred to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, where the Gators play their home games, as ‘the Swamp’ while describing it to a local reporter.  ‘A place where only Gators get out alive.’

After 55 years in football – 13 as a player and 42 as a coach – Spurrier is now the Ambassador and Consultant for the University of Florida Athletic Department, a position he’s held since 2016.  Based in Gainesville, his job is to promote the university and assist with the athletic program.  He works from an office at the stadium that also bears his name: Steve Spurrier-Florida Field.

Spurrier also now owns one of the most successful celebrity restaurants in America.  Only the idea wasn’t originally his: it was his daughter’s.  Amy, recognizing her mother’s tendency to hold onto things, suggested her father open a restaurant – where he could also display the numerous things Jerri, Steve’s wife, had collected over the years.  

Spurrier liked Amy’s idea, shared it with Wehbe, and said if he would be his managing partner, to get to work right away.  Wehbe’s marching orders were made abundantly clear: no matter what it takes, it has to be a winner.  

Wehbe, at the time having a successful career as the owner of multiple Dominos franchises, said yes.  He immediately began doing his research by visiting 78 celebrity restaurants to find out what they were doing right – as well as what they were doing wrong.  He discovered that ‘99% of them had some opportunities.’   Opportunities, of course, that he would be able to capitalize on later.   

Wehbe found that there are three critical elements of success in the restaurant business: (1) good food, (2) consistency in quality, and (3) good people.  

My wife and I have eaten at Spurrier’s several times, and we can attest that they’re hitting all three.  Wehbe is proud of the fact that one-third of his opening-day staff is still with him, which is rare in the restaurant industry nowadays.  (Depending on the time of year, Wehbe’s staff is between 100 and 140 people.)  

Wehbe says the theme of the restaurant is ‘polished casual,’ and based on the volume of positive customer reviews found online – and a reputation that is already recognized nationwide – it appears Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille has reached the end zone … and kicked the extra point.  

You just never know who you might run into at Spurrier’s.  More than 200 college football coaches have already been guests, a veritable Who’s Who in their chosen profession.  

Student athletes have stopped by – or will eventually – to sign letters of intent to play football, basketball, and various other sports for the University of Florida.  

And, as you might imagine, current and former Gator athletes drop by every now and then; maybe even a Heisman winner or two.  

Certainly you didn’t think you would make it to the end of this piece without at least one reference to football, did you?

Ah yes, football.  I’ll get to that part next time.