Restaurant Revisited: Barely Edible at Hurley’s American Grille
When Robert Irvine arrived at Edibles Restaurant & Pub in Horsham, Pa., it didn't take long for him to realize the "misguided family" that owned the business was as much of a contributing factor to its failure as was the eatery's filthy interior, "blah" decor and unappealing food. Husband and wife John Sr. and Butzy Hurley have been at the helm of their business for nearly 30 years, but despite their presence in the kitchen and at the front of the house, their staff, including their children, John Jr., Heather and Jennifer, and their nephew Steve, noted a significant lack of leadership. This, coupled with John Sr.'s strained relationship with his son, had contributed to Edibles' $4,000-per-month losses, which Robert had only two days and $10,000 to attempt to rectify.
For the first time in six seasons of filming Restaurant: Impossible, Robert believed the best and most important means of improving a restaurant would be to change the business' name and rebrand it with a descriptive, engaging and enticing identity, which is how Edibles became Hurley's American Grille on opening day. Read on below to hear from John Sr., Heather and Steve, and find out how Hurley's is doing a few months after its relaunch.
"The first couple weeks were great," Steve explains of the time immediately after filming. "I feel like we’re busier, but our bills are higher because of the expenses of new staff."
Edibles' new name, Hurley's American Grille, has been well-received by nearly everyone, according to Steve. Heather adds: "Many think that the restaurant has changed ownership. They ask and we tell them that it is our family name."
The transformations in decor and food have also proved successful, Steve noting, "People really like the higher pub tables in the middle." Some diners miss items from the old menu, according to Heather, while Steve says that Robert's cheese steak is still being served. John Sr. agrees with Steve that since Robert taught them how to use the smoker, the machine is being used more frequently than it was pre-renovation, now being employed to make chicken and pulled pork.
In the future, John Sr. says, he hopes to "Bring back some of the staples we had on the menu before … [and] continue to work on the menu and make some changes with the bar area."