
Meet the Owners
GUMBA'S
FAMILY PIZZA
Matt & Elizabeth Cruse

Matt and Elizabeth met in 1985 when Elizabeth was working at her dad’s restaurant in Blairsden, CA (Gumba's). She was 16 and he was 22. A year later, they went on a few dates before one fateful date made Elizabeth’s dad forbid their relationship. She was late for work. They had gone to Reno so Matt could buy “the chick magnet,” i.e. a 1986 Dodge Daytona Turbo. Needless to say, it took longer than they planned and dad was not happy. After they closed Gumbas that day her dad went straight over to the River Pines Restaurant, where Matt worked, and told Matt to stay away from his daughter.
Elizabeth lost her father a few short months after that, and moved in with her Uncle in Santa Cruz. It would be 29 years before they reconnected and started dating once again. They married in April 2016 and moved their family home, to Graeagle, CA. When the doors opened for them to purchase the old restaurant, they jumped at the chance to restore it to the restaurant Elizabeth’s father had owned. Together they hope to bring back the fun, family-friendly atmosphere that fueled Gumba's Grill and Pizzeria when they first met and Elizabeth worked under her father.
Great food, great service, and fun for the whole family is their motto.