Michael Piaskowski is standing over the smoker at Piggin’ & Grinnin’ on Cleveland Avenue in St. Joseph with a big smile on his face. He’s back at work about four months after undergoing open heart surgery that forced a shutdown at Piggin’ & Griinnin’ in February. Piaskowski says he feels immensely better and looks forward to a long run at the popular drive-thru take-out restaurant across from Martin’s Supermarket.
Piaskowski says P & G began 18 years ago in the Benton Harbor Arts District. His wife, Virginia, has been a part of the business from the beginning, purchasing it about four years ago. Forced to shut down by the pandemic, the couple decided to scale back to the drive-thru-only St. Joseph location, only to be again forced to close by his heart ailment last Winter. The Piaskowski’s thought they might be sidelined for a year or more. However, Michael’s recovery has been both faster and an inspiration to them. So they look at the opportunity to reopen now as a true blessing. Based on social media reaction to their unexplected Memorial Day weekend reopening, their longtime customers agree.
Piggin’ & Grinnin’ has their full menu of ribs, rib tips, brisket chicken and pulled pork, along with various sides. They operate as a drive-thru only, from a small building that was once a coffee place, with in and out lanes on Cleveland, South of Dollar General.
