Mayor Cathy Carlat named The Haymaker Restaurant Co. as the Mayor’s Restaurant of the Month for February 2018.

A well-loved restaurant in North Peoria, Haymaker – located at the corner of Lake Pleasant Parkway and Happy Valley Road – has become one of the most popular restaurants in the area. Locally owned and operated, Haymaker’s robust breakfast, lunch and dinner menus bring home-style foods to life in a comfortable, Americana setting.

Owner Joey Lucidi, opened his Peoria restaurant about five years ago, but he has been whipping up his signature BBQ sauce and burgers for decades. Because Mr. Lucidi’s parents were deeply involved in the food and beverage industry, he grew up knowing good, home-cooked food.  He takes pride in offering menus based on family recipes, with just about everything made from scratch using local ingredients.

The Haymaker name is inspired by an old boxing term meaning a powerful hit and that describes the impact Mr. Lucidi has on his community. As important as food is to Mr. Lucidi, his commitment to family, schools, church and military are evident every day at Haymaker. Mr. Lucidi hosts fundraisers for local church groups, children’s sports teams and families in need. This month, he participated in a friendly competition with 24 other restaurants around the state to create a winning dessert with one of the Girl Scout cookie flavors. His “Mommy’s Secret Samoa Shake” was a big hit and raised funds for the Girl Scouts Arizona Cactus-Pine Chapter. Raised by a Marine, Mr. Lucidi honors the military by supporting multiple veteran’s groups throughout the Valley and offering a 20 percent discount year-round.

As a small business owner, he offers a word of advice to residents who appreciate the unique qualities of local establishments. He says the key to bringing more local restaurants to the community is to support the local establishments already here. He recommends patrons seek out restaurant owners and talk to them about what they want to see, taste and experience there. Mr. Lucidi said most restaurant owners welcome this type of feedback wholeheartedly as they strive to become a valuable part of their community.

To learn more about The Haymaker Restaurant Co., visit haymakeraz.com.