Copper Grill location to have new life as a community building

Sandi Eagleburger, co-owner of the Copper Grill in Ash Grove, announced on Monday, April 27, that the Copper Grill would no longer operate as a restaurant. However, that doesn’t mean the Copper Grill name is going away. Eagleburger said the Copper Grill will continue to function as a resource for the community.
“We are offering Copper Grill to the community,” she said. “I would like for others to view it as a community kitchen. I want to be able to use it for community events, and I would like for others to use it for their events. We have three wedding venues in the Ash Grove area and hope to partner with them on some of their events. My husband John, and I also plan to open it up occasionally to do specials so that we can see everyone and stay involved with our town. My ultimate goal would be to have a variety of businesses come together to provide different services for the community without the stress and overhead of being responsible for the whole operation.”
People are already booking Copper Grill as a venue.
Eagleburger said All In BBQ will be there on Saturday, May 9, to serve take-out barbecue, and a graduation party, a birthday party and some other events have also been booked.
“The response has been overwhelming,” she said. “Ideas that have been thrown around, Super Bowl parties, election party, and community parties. We are already planning a BBQ competition and car show. The opportunities are endless.”
Eagleburger said the workload that came with operating a restaurant played a role in the decision to make the Copper Grill a community building.
“The restaurant business is a very demanding and challenging business to operate,” she said. “The increase in food costs, utilities, taxes in the recent months led us to the decision to start thinking of our next move. Our daughter is a travel RN and we have always done a lot of traveling and hope to get to be with her more in the future. My husband owns a roofing company and I own Smart Start Daycare in Willard, we also have a competition go-kart track that Copper Grill sponsors, we have many kart racers in this area and we love the camaraderie it brings forth.”

Keeping the memories
Eagleburger said she has several fond memories of her customers from the eight years the Copper Grill was in business.
“The Copper Grill is and has always been the hub of Ash Grove,” she said. “It is in a very central location; we have been honored to be a part of so many families. For me there are two things, loving the old and watching the young grow up coming to the Grill. We have lost many customers that we loved in the eight years we were there. My favorite times were when the restaurant was completely full and everyone who was in the place knew each other. Lots of love and laughs were had there by everyone.”
As Ash Grove moves forward, Eagleburger said she hopes the Copper Grill will benefit everyone in its new role.
“I want everyone to be a part of this project,” she said. “How many other places are there in this area that provide this type of service? I want community involvement; I want this to bring the town and surrounding areas together. I want this adventure to be a success for everyone.”
A list of rates for the use of the Copper Grill can be found on the former restaurant’s Facebook page.
Eagleburger is accepting ideas for the use of the Copper Grill; those wanting to submit an idea can e-mail her at eglbrgrs@aol.com or message her on Facebook.