Fawzi Eatz serves up famous phillies and more

By Joyce Smith

A.J. Jabr proudly shows off his Fawzi Philly with tender steak and golden grilled onions topped with a thick wiggly line of a three cheese blend.

The Phillies are not only one of the top-sellers at his Grandview gas station kitchen, Fawzi Eatz, he boasts that they are the best in the city.

Jabr grew up in the Northland but lived in California for nearly two decades, working at relatives’ restaurants. He returned in 2019 and took a job in telecommunications. But a couple of years later he started looking for a way back into the food industry.

“I have a passion for cooking and seeing people enjoying my cooking,” he said.

He was casually on the lookout for a restaurant location and even considered a food truck. But one day, about 18 months ago, he stepped inside the Grandview Rocket Stop to pay for his fill-up. He saw its closed kitchen and contacted the owners.

“They have other businesses – gas stations, a Subway, supermarkets, so they related to what I was going through,” Jabr said. “They gave me an opportunity to shine.”

Mike Gonzalez, general manager of the Rocket Stop at 12128 Blue Ridge Ext., said: ”He makes great food. The portion sizes are extraordinarily large. And he’s a lot of fun and really enjoys the customers that come in here and enjoys people smiling as they try his food.”

Jabr named the kitchen Fawzi after his late father and his six-year-old son.

Since opening in January, his other top-seller has been fish with a choice of basa, catfish or snapper. Fawzi Eatz also has burgers, as well as chicken wings (cooked to order), chicken bowls (topped with spicy cabbage slaw and drizzled with ginger sauce), and chicken sandwiches.

For breakfast, he has such items as the Fawziretto Burrito with scrambled eggs, hash browns, cheese, turkey bacon or sausage, onions, peppers and Fawzi sauce (a chipotle mayo) wrapped in a warm tortilla.

Dispensers of ice-cold Blue Raspberry Kool-Aid and Mango Kool-Aid are at the counter. But Jabr eagerly mixes them for a sugary pistachio-colored concoction he calls the Incredible Hulk.

“You have to try this,” he tells customers.

The Rocket Stop, just west of Truman’s Marketplace, does a brisk business and Jabr wants to open another Fawzi Eatz in the Rocket Stop near Claycomo, just minutes from his home.

Fawzi Eatz regular customers are addressed as Fawzi Famous. Jabr says they are his celebrities.“I thought it was going to be simple gas station sales and I didn’t see the bigger picture,” he said. “They love our food but they also appreciate my customer service. I try to open the door and escort them out with ‘Let me know what you think of the food.’ People love that. They feel like they know me.”