Today we’d like to introduce you to Aaron Grafft.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
We have been in the restaurant business for a combined 60 years working for various concepts. We actually met and came together through the restaurant business. It has been our life long dream to have our own restaurant. Approximately three ago, we found the perfect location to begin the journey that is now Grampie’s. We decided to leave our very successful corporate restaurant career’s and take the plunge into ownership. -Kristen and Aaron
My first ever restaurant job was actually working at a pizzeria to put myself through college, this is where I first fell in love with the pizza business. With my Italian heritage it came easy to me. I learned just about everything from a gentleman that was actually from Italy and worked in Brooklyn, NY for a while. After college my life took a different path and I ended up working for various corporate chains selling everything but pizza, but I never forgot about what my true passion was. Over the years I would study recipes, techniques, and anything I would see from television foodie shows or even visiting pizza/Italian restaurants. -Aaron
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. We’ve hit our fair share of stumbling blocks, especially during the buildout process. What we thought would take a few months ended up taking far longer than expected, and that delay created challenges we hadn’t planned for. We left our previous jobs to focus entirely on bringing this dream to life, and when the timeline stretched, it tested our perseverance, our planning, and our pocketbook. Thankfully, the operational side has been strong, and we’ve been lucky to have a fantastic team by our side. It still isn’t easy, but with the support of our incredible family, friends, and community, we’re getting closer to where we want to be every day.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
We specialize in pizza, but we’re proud to offer so much more — from our calzones and sandwiches to our fresh salads and hearty pastas. What really sets us apart is our New York–style pizza. It’s crisp, light, and made with real New York water, which gives it that authentic flavor and texture you just can’t fake. People often tell us it’s the closest thing to New York pizza you can find without hopping on a plane. Our homemade, hand-rolled meatballs have also become a local favorite — we like to say they’re almost world famous.
But what makes us most proud isn’t just the food — it’s the community around it. From school spirit nights to fundraisers and local events, we love being part of Cibolo and giving back whenever we can. This town has supported us from day one, and being able to serve great pizza while connecting with the people who make this community so special is what it’s really all about.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Not particularly — we don’t really follow one specific book or podcast. But we do love watching food shows and the One Bite reviews from Dave Portnoy. It’s always fun to see how other places are doing things and what makes them stand out. And of course, there’s that dream that one day he — or someone like him — will walk through our doors and discover what our community already knows: that we’re a hidden gem right here in Cibolo.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://grampiespizza.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grampiespizza?igsh=MTFwaXA2dXphMHdybA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1FKDKbiuHE/?mibextid=wwXIfr
