The Tucson culinary neighborhood misplaced an actual treasure with Brian’s passing.
Anybody, and I imply everybody, who has ever walked into Hops Sports activities Grill has met Brian Luceri. You might need seen him making his method by way of the eating room, bar, or patio of Hops (a bar and grill meets Italian grandma’s kitchen on Tucson’s east facet) in an nearly statesmanlike style; shaking fingers, making small speak, addressing the problems of the day. There was no mistake about it, Brian was in his factor on that flooring.
Brian was from Methuen, Massachusetts, only a quick experience north of Boston. He was an enormous Sox and Patriots fan (no person is ideal), which you’d discover out inside seconds of assembly him. He had that charming “lawbstah” and “buttah” Italian/Boston accent. If he stated he misplaced his khakis, he wasn’t on the lookout for his pants — he was on the lookout for a Cadillac fob.
Brian’s longtime pal and bar operator of Hops Sports activities Grill, Chris Amadori, advised me:
“It’s important to point out lobster, that’s all he talked about, and you already know it!”
He was proper about my observations of Mr. Luceri’s penchant for the crustacean. After I met Brian, we hit it off instantly. We took to one another based mostly on all we had in frequent, and I quickly felt just like the little brother he by no means wished. Nevertheless, once I put a lobster roll on a menu, Brian grew to become my new greatest pal.
Which brings me to Brian’s unwavering help of native companies. Effectively earlier than opening Hops Sports activities Grill, Brian would patronize and help small companies each likelihood he received. He additionally made it a degree to show his household the significance of supporting native. Braigen, Brian’s daughter, defined his dedication:
“He all the time wished others to have the ability to obtain their goals. He was large on supporting solely native and small companies. After we went out to eat, he solely wished to go to native eating places, and by no means to an enormous chain. The identical went for after we traveled. He would educate bartenders in random cities find out how to make ‘little beers’ and quiz them on tequilas!”
The one factor Brian cared for greater than holding court docket with visitors, native companies, good meals, or his Beantown sports activities, was household. He discovered to cook dinner within the residence kitchens of his “Nani” and mother. Like so many younger cooks studying from their Italian grandmothers and moms, he was incapable of creating dinner for under three or 4 individuals. Subsequently, convey on the “military” of youngsters, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and buddies when Brian’s meals hit the desk.
It was these burgeoning days on a stool in his relative’s kitchens that Brian first started to dream of in the future proudly owning his personal restaurant. Brian and his spouse Isabelle opened Hops Sports activities Grill in 2017. It was the fruits of all of the issues Brian cherished: household, buddies, meals, sports activities, and neighborhood.
Brian would say that apart from his household and circle of buddies, the restaurant was the accomplishment of his life. The eating room on the north facet of the restaurant was really referred to as “The Household Room.” On any given evening, Brian may very well be heard telling his employees to “preserve desk 20 within the household room open at 6 o’clock, the so and so household all the time is available in.”
Certain sufficient, they’d are available in like clockwork. Issues like this occurred every day, and but, Brian would mild up in enjoyment each single time.
On the bar facet, he loved razzing Yankees followers over a cheesesteak or shot of Una Familia Tequila and chatting it up with every visitor like they have been his greatest pal.
That was the factor with Brian — everybody thought they have been his greatest pal.
The Tucson culinary neighborhood misplaced an actual treasure with Brian’s passing. His presence might be missed by so, so many. Issy, Braigen, Chris, and his total Luceri and Hops households will proceed his legacy and preserve his spirit alive for generations to return.
Relaxation simple, my pal.
Hops Sports activities Grill is situated at 120 S. Houghton Rd. Unit 174. For extra info, go to hopssportsgrill.com or name (520) 300-5898.
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