|  |
|
|
(616) 451-3701
- Grand Rapids
- 64 Ionia S.W.
Monday-Wednesday 11am-Midnight Thursday-Friday-Saturday 11am-3am Closed Sundays - Open for some Van Andel Events Happy Hour Specials Monday-Friday 5pm-8pm
| |||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
About the Owners Who's running this place, anyway? Keith Hritzkowin "The Restaurant Connoisseur" Favorite Beer: Sam Adams Light Favorite Band: Our Lady Peace Favorite Dog Topper: chili, mustard and onions Hobbies: golf, boating, skiing Hidden Talent: He can do voice impersonations Keith hails from the East side, and loves Koney Island restaurants about as much as he loves MSU. His passion for good old fashioned restaurants and cold beer brought him into the mix, when he and his brother Kevin decided that they wanted to start a place with "their name on the door". Keith is a bonified beer and restaurant connoisseur. With dozens of mug club memberships at restaurants all across the country, this guy knows what he's talking about when he's talking beer and food. Keith grew up in an all boys catholic school and is an engineer by trade, though you wouldn't guess either if you met him at a party! You may not see him day to day, but he is the man behind the curtain making sure they have enough funds to cover the ketchup and mustard. Also you might catch him on a Saturday night cheering on his beloved Spartans. Kevin Hritzkowin "Mr. Ideas" Favorite Beer: Land Shark Favorite Band: Metallica Favorite Dog Topper: Warm with Chili, mustard, onions and pickles Hobbies: softball, golf, scuba diving, spear fishing Hidden Talent: Playing guitar and singing Kevin is an entrepreneur by trade and LOVES Grand Rapids. For 22 years Kevin talked about wanting to open a restaurant in downtown Grand Rapids, and that was back when you could roll a bowling ball down Ionia and not hit a thing. Kevin and Keith decided to make that dream a reality, and low and behold, HRitz Koney Island was born. Though now it's known by the name Ritz Koney Bar & Grille, it remains a casual, fun place with both Keith and Kevin's "name proudly on the door." Kevin wanted to open a place with great food and drinks at affordable prices, and that's what he did. His second love is definitely music, though he's not one to play on the street corner. You may catch him at Ritz Koney some night, though, if you're lucky. During the week he travels the Midwest for his job in Chemical Sales, but you can always catch him hanging out on the weekends and at catered events. Rich Moon "Mr. Muscle" Favorite Beer: Budweiser Favorite Band: Brooks and Dunn Favorite Dog Topper: chili, onion, tabasco, jalapeņo Hobbies: softball, golf, basketball, bowling Hidden Talent: Being a wedding singer Rich is the guy who gets it done, the magic maker, the closer, if you will. With a background in management Rich swooped in and really made Ritz Koney work as a restaurant. With his experience, know how, and natural charm, Rich regrouped and reorganized the restaurant into the shining beacon of awesomeness that it is today. You can usually find Rich behind the counter making the magic of Ritz Koney happen. He makes sure that they have enough ketchup and mustard, among other things. He hails from Caledonia and is a total softball fanatic. A little known fact about Rich is that he has a beautiful voice, and he moonlights as a wedding singer. The Story of the Chilly Dilly
At the turn of the century Agnes Kwasnik, (Kevin and Keith's great grandmother) left her home country of Poland and came to the United States with a few treasured belongings and many secret recipes. She made a mean pickled herring, a perfect pierogie, but none of her recipes compared to her delicious crock pickles. Word of her amazing pickles spread far and wide over the Polish countryside, and she was revered as a perfect pickler. They were certainly sad to see her leave her small Polish village for America. Cold, crisp and full of zing, Grandma Agnes' famous pickles or "Chilly Dillies" (as they are now lovingly referred to) became the talk of the town once again in her downtown Detroit neighborhood. Agnes gained a reputation for herself around the Detroit area for her famous "crock pickles" made using her special "crock". Crock pickles are considered to be a "fresh pickle", as compared to other pickles that are canned and made in a jar using heat. Since the beginning of pickling, crock pickles were only made during the pickle growing season. But, with the onset of mass transportation and the growth of "produce only" markets, fresh pickles were suddenly available all year round. This meant the Hritzkowin family could make more of their famous crock pickles all year round! Her top secret pickle recipe, pickle-making methods, and even her original "crock" were passed down from generation to generation in the Hritzkowin family. Eventually they were passed down to her great grandsons, Kevin and Keith, the owners of Ritz Koney Bar and Grille. Though the original pickle recipe has undergone some minor changes, Great Grandma Agnes would be proud that her perfect pickle is still famous, and still is full of zing! The pickle is called 'CHILLY DILLY' because Ritz Koney pickles are kept in the refrigerator which enhances the flavor and the crunch. Try one and you'll be saying, "This is one great tasting pickle!" Want to get in touch with us? Click here. |
|
||||||||
| |||||||||
