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From Lebanon with faith and a dream
This week, Pierre’s Restaurant and Deli celebrates 15 years of serving dinner for hungry area residents. What began as a one-room deli has become a successful restaurant, catering, deli and bakery business for South Brunswick resident Pierre Hage-Boutros. Offering a continental menu of Lebanese, Italian, Greek, American and French food, as well as gourmet food and burgers, Pierre’s provides numerous choices for empty stomachs.
Later Hage-Boutros moved his family of now four girls to New Brunswick. But despite the success of the deli, Hage-Boutros said he desired to give his family a community and home that resembled his country lifestyle back in Lebanon, eventually finding a home on Fresh Ponds Road in South Brunswick. It was by chance that he was driving along Georges Road in 1989, five years after he moved, and noticed the For Sale sign at Butler’s General Store, a location he had been interested in purchasing. Hage-Boutros bought the store in 1989 and opened the deli in 1990. Soon, he started to purchase the surrounding property and began to expand his deli, building after building. Totally renovating the space, Hage-Boutros took that one-room deli and added a restaurant, and later a bakery, by buying property next door. In 1999, Hage-Boutros moved his deli to its current location, creating a deli/bakery and full restaurant and catering business of nearly 40,000 square feet. According to Hage-Boutros, it was hard work combined with faith that allowed him to turn the business into something beautiful. “When you have faith, you will move a mountain,” Hage-Boutros said. Hage-Boutros said his devotion to his Catholic faith and his philosophy of peace has been an integral part of running his business. He said he tries to be there every day for customers and employees with a smile on his face. Looking back with satisfaction on the end result of a little money, a big dream, and 15 years of hard work has been the best part of owning a business, Hage-Boutros said. Hage-Boutros, who works from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day, shuffling between the restaurant and deli, said one of the toughest parts of operating the restaurant is finding and keeping the right employees. Pierre’s makes good food, keeps a clean kitchen, can make whatever the customer asks for, and can cater events up to 1,500 people, but finding the right employees who will pass on his message of customer service to patrons remains difficult, he said. “I’m a hardworking guy,” Hage- Boutros said. Hage-Boutros said he respects those who work hard and always tries to see situations through other’s eyes, but said it would be good if he could find more employees to take charge. “I could take a day off and spend it with my wife,” Hage-Boutros said. Not one to complain, Hage-Boutros said the more he is thankful to God, the more gifts he seems to get in return. Many times, Hage-Boutros said he feared he would fail to provide for his family or business. But always, according to Hage-Boutros, some party or event came to him. He said he has tried to spend the money he has earned on good things. That is where community involvement comes in at Pierre’s Restaurant. “The road is two ways with community service,” Hage-Boutros said. Hage-Boutros said in Lebanon, everyone in the community knows everyone else and serves them, and he keeps this mentality with him. The anniversary celebration, which featured a complimentary dinner buffet, is a chance for the restaurant to give back and show its appreciation for its customers, he said. According to Hage-Boutros, customers will continue to come to his restaurant because of the good food, friendly service and customer devotion. “It’s because I love them,” he said.
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