BERNARDSTON — The Crumpin-Fox Golf Club is lining up a fundraiser complete with discounted golfing, a buffet dinner, live music and more to benefit Alex and Amy Fiorey as they look to rebuild their restaurant, the Falltown Grill, after a June 29 fire.
Organized by Mike Behn, president and chief operating officer of Crumpin-Fox owner Sandri Companies, the fundraiser is set to take place on Thursday, July 28, starting at 5 p.m. Businesses from across the county have pitched in, with primary sponsors including club restaurant Zeke’s Bar and Grill, Hitchcock Brewing Co. and Greenfield Savings Bank. Proceeds, Alex Fiorey said, will go toward costs the couple’s insurance won’t cover, as well as a potential effort to eventually build the restaurant back.
Behn recalled when he first set foot inside the Falltown Grill on South Street, he had virtually no relationship with the Fioreys.
“I had barely known the couple, but I went there with my wife to have a late dinner,” he said.
During this first visit, the owners gave Behn a tour. As they walked, the Fioreys also walked Behn through their year’s worth of preparation leading up to the restaurant’s early June opening. As they talked, Behn said, “you could see their pride.”
“My wife and I just felt that they were charming people who have achieved their dream, and to see it all go up in smoke broke my heart,” said Behn, who added that typically, he is a “pretty unemotional guy.”
The way the tragedy broke through Behn’s hard “businessman” shell is what drove him to pitch a fundraiser to support the Fioreys.
“(Alex Fiorey’s) immediate response was that, ‘We’re givers, not takers, and we’re a little uncomfortable with it.’”
Eventually, though, the owners agreed.
“They don’t have their hands out,” Behn said. “We have our hands out for them.”
As Behn began asking local businesses if they would like to be involved, the wave of positive responses made it clear that he was not the only one stricken by the disaster.
“This is pretty emotional, seeing people step up as they are,” Behn said.
According to Behn, restaurants “from all across the county” will be represented via an array of gift cards contributed to a raffle.
“We had reached out to other competitors who have seen this restaurant fall and every one of them said ‘Yes,’” said Behn, emphasizing the significance of people setting their business interests aside to help their neighbors.
Hitchcock Brewing Co. will serve drinks from noon to 9 p.m. at the Crumpin-Fox Golf Club, donating a portion of the proceeds to the Fioreys. Meanwhile, Brattleboro, Vermont-based dance band Wyld Nightz will provide live music. The Falltown Grill’s former employees have volunteered to work the event for free.
“It’s overwhelming how many people want to step up to the plate,” Behn said. “It’s heartwarming.”
“It’s actually kind of shocking,” Alex Fiorey said.
In terms of the Crumpin-Fox Club’s contributions, Behn said, golf will be offered “at a really steep discount” of $59 per person for 18 holes with a cart, or $30 per person for an afternoon of nine holes. The day’s gift card raffle will also be paired with a 50/50 raffle. Food, served by Zeke’s Bar and Grill from 6 to 8 p.m., involves a “giant buffet” dinner at $40 per person and $20 for those ages 14 and under.
“There will be food for every taste,” Behn said.
As for a fundraising goal, he said, “the sky’s the limit.” Having “no idea what (they’ll) pull from this,” Behn said he and his employees are just excited to help.
“Our staff are really into this,” he said. “I haven’t seen them perk up like this in a long time.”
In the meantime, Alex and Amy Fiorey have honed their focus more sharply than they had been able to at the time of the Falltown Grill’s last fundraiser, which was held by local disc jockey Robert “Bobby C” Campbell last month. According to Alex, he and Amy have settled on the goal of rebuilding the Falltown Grill where it once stood “as soon as possible” to keep their dream alive.
“It won’t be as big as it was,” he said, “but we’re gonna do what we can.”
Advance tickets and related purchase options can be found at bit.ly/3J5hu9o. Local businesses looking to contribute to the pool of raffle prizes can contact Behn at 413-834-7029.
Reach Julian Mendoza at 413-772-0261, ext. 261 or jmendoza@recorder.com.