Originally written in Buffalo Business First

Anderson’s Custard & Beef is expanding for the first time in 25 years through the purchase of Adrian’s Custard & Beef on Grand Island.

The acquisition of both the business and the building at 2352 Grand Island Blvd. gives Anderson’s a northern location — and its seventh site overall — to serve not only Grand Island but also the Niagara Falls area, said Holly Anderson, co-owner of the 79-year-old business.

“We have six, so this one will be our seventh, plus the ice cream business and our food truck,” she said. “Geographically, it’s a new market. Grand Island is a small town and a different suburban location then the rest of ours.”

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The deal includes the 3,600-square-foot restaurant, which will have seating for about 50 inside as well as outdoor picnic tables. Adrian’s, founded in 1989, operated seasonally from March until October selling Perry’s ice cream products. Anderson's will reopen later this spring as a year-round operation. Both companies are woman-owned.

The purchase comes as longtime owner ToniMarie Amantia-Lariviere retires after 19 years in business at Adrian’s, which sells roast beef on weck and custard, just like Anderson’s. Adrian's was founded in 1989.

In a Facebook post announcing the transition, Amantia-Lariviere said buying the business in 2006 was a turning point in her life, coming as she navigated going through a divorce, becoming a single mom and learning what it took to run a business.

“I know that Adrian’s will be in good hands with the Anderson family,” she wrote. “I am deeply honored if visiting Adrian’s has become a tradition for your families. I look forward to seeing you and sharing a beef on weck and ice cream cone at the front picnic tables this summer.”

Anderson said she was immediately interested when Amantia-Lariviere approached her last August.

“From the minute she called me back in August, I wanted this to happen,” she said. “I really like the way she ran the business. She ran a very clean business, both in the books and physically.”

Anderson's roots date to 1946 when Anderson’s parents, Carl and Greta, opened a custard stand in the Bronx. They opened the first Buffalo store the following year when they returned to the region. The company has restaurants with drive-thru sites in Depew/Lancaster and Amherst, with additional stores in Buffalo, Williamsville, Kenmore/Tonawanda and Cheektowaga, as well as a food truck.

Anderson understands she’ll need to win over a very loyal customer base built up over nearly two decades.

“We want a community atmosphere. Our mission is giving and creating smiles and they’ve been living and breathing that. They don’t have that tagline or mission written down, but they live our dream – we’re very much alike,” she said. “We know that some people won’t like how we change things, but that’s details. I want to impress each person coming in and win them over.”

All of the 45 employees at Adrian’s have been encouraged to apply for positions with Anderson’s. Those who are hired will join the 230 full- and part-time employees who work at Anderson’s throughout the year.