Wendy Alexander/Madera Tribune
From left to right: Sugar Pine Smokehouse staff, Makena Nichols, Abraham Alvarado, Sierra Lancaster, General Manager Lisa Gill, and Maricella Diaz.
With the near future uncertain and our time at the current location coming to an end, Sugar Pine Smokehouse general manager Lisa Gil hosts a fundraiser to help move.
“We are raising funds to move to a new location,” she said. “The fundraiser will consist of a car show with prizes. Admission is a donation. There will be live music throughout the day and deejays who donated their time.The band also donated their time. “
The fundraiser will take place on October 15th and will begin with a silent auction starting at 9am and ending at 4pm.
“We’re trying to reach out to everyone, from the breakfast crowd to lunch to dinner,” Gill said. I got it.They are really generous.I hope you get a lot.”
Club DJ Randy and the Mix provide musical entertainment. Chris Driver will be playing from 12pm to 2pm and Classic Memories from 2pm to 4pm.
Contrary to rumor, Sugar Pine can take things over to new locations. However, items built into the building, such as oven hoods and walk-in coolers, cannot be moved.
“A lot of people have asked about the guitar in the little house and the bar,” she said. It’s all about our intention to bring it to a new place, we had people stop by and ask if they could buy something. We tell them we have nothing for sale.Many people have asked about the little building.They are coming with us.I love them.”
Gil’s wish is to move into the building across from the Walmart shopping center.
“It’s been bought by a new group and they’ve got some great stuff in that center,” Gill said. They have a vision of something that we have never seen in Madera.
Gil knows his time at his current location is coming to an end and wants to move to a new location before he leaves.
“We haven’t received notice to leave,” she said. “We’re on a 90-day lease. During COVID, everything was uncertain. No one knew where it was headed, there was always talk of In-N-Out, and to protect us, we decided to do a 90-day lease so that If the In-N-Out was coming, we could go, no one was dishonest, it was the best thing for us at the time, we had to protect our business, it worked for us did.
“I have a strong feeling it will happen sooner or later. I have heard rumors. No one has told me when I have to leave. ”
While she will be sad to leave her current location, Gill is excited to see what she can do at the new Sugar Pine location.
“I am very excited about the new facility,” she said. “I’m walking around with a design of how I want it to look. I can’t draw so it’s Chicken Scratch. I had fun designing it. I have a lot of great ideas. I’m already working out what the restaurant is going to look like. In my head. also hangs on the wall, and we’re excited about this move.
“The new location is not a restaurant.
Gill said the best-case scenario would be to finish the year there and move to a new location in early 2023. She hopes it will only be closed for a short period of time.
“The people we work with are the go-getters,” Gill said. “We told them the restaurant needed to be ready by January. They said they would try it.
Gil hopes not only to raise enough money to purchase new equipment, but also to help his own employees.
“We need to move the big smoker to a new location and install a gas pipe,” she said. “There are a lot of things that are not considered.
“If we can raise enough money, we hope that the money will be put into a separate account and sent to our employees. If we can get most of them paid while we’re down to get through that’s what I’m thinking about. If we can figure out how to pay them inside, it’s a dream come true.”
In addition to the motor show and silent auction, Gill said he will probably use some items for raffles and possibly have live raffles.
“We’re still getting items and figuring out what goes where,” she said.
She has contacted her car club friends and has a commitment from Cal Livin’ Car Club and would like to get a commitment from Madera Classic Cars and other car clubs.
However, the biggest fundraiser is the Silent Live Auction.
“We are grateful to the community for coming together to support this event,” she said. “Donations to the silent auction will be accepted until the day. If they need to pick it up, we can do it. I belong to the Fresno restaurant group. I have a basket of gift cards for you.It’s supposed to be a $500 basket.I’m glad they offered to help.”
Gil and Sugar Pinay have done a lot for the community. She said it brings tears to her eyes when she sees the community supporting her restaurant.
“I was shocked at how many people wanted to help us,” she said. “At the end of the day, we’re a business and people don’t usually do that. It feels good to have them behind me.”
