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Club Scene:
The Grind
4818 Salina Street
Pulaski, NY 13142
by Megan Horsington
Claudia Sutton makes no secret of the fact that she would rather be soaking up the sun than braving another bitter Northeast winter. A native of Syracuse, she still has not grown used to the restrictive weather in Central New York, and her fondness for the balmy climate and sultry ambiance of the far-off tropics is evident in The Grind Bar & Grill (50 Spencer Street, Syracuse), an establishment she co-owns with business partner Shug Vespa.
Sutton has been a bar and restaurant owner since 1992 and purchased the building that now houses The Grind in 1996. She ran the bar herself until 2006 before leasing the space out to tenants, and has only recently returned to revitalize the bar under her partnership with Vespa. Sutton and Vespa joined forces to redesign the space before re-opening in October of 2008 as a fully functioning bar, grill, and entertainment venue. Floor-to-ceiling tropical murals remain against the back wall, undoubtedly a tribute to the warmer climates Sutton hopes to emulate in her otherwise-remodeled bar. “I always liked the comfortable, more tropical feeling,” explains Sutton of the décor. “I don’t like freezing, which is what I do up here most of the time,” she adds with a smile.
The crowd at The Grind varies greatly because it appeals to people from all different social backgrounds and walks of life. “We have a very diverse clientele,” claims Sutton. The Grind is “basically a place where people can, after dealing with the daily grind of life, come…to relax,” she explains. “That’s what is behind the name [The Grind]. It’s a place to get away from it. Something everyone can relate to.”
The location is divided into three rooms. A step through the front door brings guests face-to-face with the primary barroom, where the back of the bar is covered from counter to ceiling with boxed liquor shelves surrounding a large flat screen television. Broad entryways lead into a game and lounge area that is anchored by a single pool table. Comfy and colorful couches and chairs line the walls surrounding the pool table, with tables and booths for diners located near the back of the room. A portion of the room is covered in exposed brick, with deep red walls creating a warm and comfortable atmosphere that seems perfect for guests interested in relaxing to enjoy a bite to eat while shooting pool, playing darts, skimming through musical options on the digital Touchtunes jukebox, or catching a game on one of the large flat screen televisions.
A third adjoining room contains the dance floor and performance stage. Local bands perform live every Saturday night starting at 9:30 p.m. throughout the year. Admission to live performances is always free, and visitors can expect various blues and classic rock musicians including the Fabulous Ripcords, TJ Sacco, and Pete McMahon. For patrons interested in flaunting their own talent, The Grind holds open mike nights every Wednesday, hosted by Elmo Blake and his group Elmo’s Midnight Express. “Anyone can come in and jam with them,” explains Sutton, “It’s a great time.” Open mike night begins at 8 p.m. and runs until Midnight.
Other guests might choose to drop by for a two dollar Budweiser or Jack and Coke during Bike Night on Thursdays between 4 and 8 p.m. The Grind has plenty of parking for both cars and motorcycles, and is accessibly located between Bear Street and Hiawatha Boulevard, a short distance from the Thruway and Routes 690 and 81.
Fridays feature two dollar well drinks and domestic beers between 9 and 10 p.m. to kick of UBU Club Night. Dance club with The Grind DJs begins at 10 and lasts until the bar closes at 2 a.m. Anyone else in need of an excuse to escape can stop by for “The Daily Grind” happy hour between 4 and 7 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday. Drink specials include buckets of Labatts Blue and Blue Light 24 ounce slammers, or five Budweiser or Bud Light bottles for ten bucks.
The considerable size of the building makes The Grind a perfect destination for private parties, birthday parties, fundraisers and other events. The space can easily accommodate parties of between fifty and two-hundred people, and The Grind kitchen offers in-house catering services. “We do many fundraisers,” claims Sutton, and events that benefit well-known local charitable organizations including “a yearly event…held here for Hospice of central New York.”
During the warmer summer months, Sutton and Vespa open a backyard patio complete with a tropical tiki bar. Thirst-quenching specialty drinks are available to help guests beat the summer heat. Cocktail options include Mojitos, frozen Daquiries, Pina Coladas, and Margaritas. The beach-y tone of the patio is complete with sand and tiki torches. When the weather permits, the tropical patio transforms into a beach party with live musical performances.
Sutton is especially proud of the food selection available at The Grind, because she feels that it sets the bar & grill apart from others in the area. Hungry guests will be pleasantly surprised by a menu full of traditional bar foods with tempting and distinctive touches. Sutton recommends the Boca Blast Pizza, a crispy garlic butter crust topped with hot sausage, pepperoncinis, roasted red peppers, mushrooms, bleu cheese, and mozzarella, enhanced by a blend of Italian seasonings.
The Greek wings are served crispy in a butter garlic sauce, topped with feta cheese, and accompanied by lemon wedges to add to the flavor. Signature quesadillas are stuffed with spinach, grilled chicken, bacon, and cheddar with fresh homemade pico de gallo, sliced jalapenos and a scoop of sour cream on the side. The thick and sweet barbecue sauce differs greatly from the Southern-style sauces that most diners are used to finding around Central New York. Instead of borrowing recipes from our Southern neighbors, the Grind barbecue sauce is infused with maple syrup, garlic, brown sugar, and other flavors that make it a uniquely Northern style sauce. Even the salads on the menu offer something different. The signature Grind salad mixes romaine lettuce with walnuts, bleu cheese, golden raisins, and shaved carrots in a house-made creamy maple balsamic vinaigrette. As a finishing touch, the salad is topped with shredded wheat.
The Grind is currently open Wednesday through Saturday from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., with extended hours during summer months. Food is served late every night, until 1 a.m. on weekends and 11 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. Upcoming events including live performances are advertised in-house, in local publications, and around the Syracuse University campus. Sutton and Vespa are currently working on a website for The Grind that will include information about upcoming shows and events.
For more information about private parties, events, and live music schedules, contact The Grind at (315) 299-8801.