Sam DeBrine remembers the first time he saw Mary Everhart.

She walked into Brick House Pizza off Van Giesen Street for a job interview, and her dark hair, sparkling eyes and bubbly personality caught his attention.

DeBrine already was on staff at the popular West Richland restaurant known for its creative pies and family feel. Everhart quickly became an all-star waitress, and she and DeBrine got to know each other during post-closing chats on the patio.

Brick House was the backdrop of their love story. In fact, it’s played a major role in just about every part of their lives since the day they met.

And that’s even more true now.

DeBrine and Everhart, who are engaged to be married, recently bought Brick House from its longtime owners. They may add a menu item or two, and they plan to add an extra day of operations – Sundays – sometime soon. But beyond that, things will stay the same.

To DeBrine and Everhart, Brick House is special exactly as it is.

“It’s still kind of settling in (that we’re the owners),” DeBrine said. “But I have a sense of pride because I know what this place means to people, and I know what it means to me.”

DeBrine, 35, and Everhart, 32, became the official owners in January.

They bought the place from Tim and Saundra Curet for an undisclosed amount, using private loans to make the sale possible. Tim Curet, who wanted to retire after more than two decades in the pizza business, approached DeBrine about buying the place last fall, and DeBrine and Everhart jumped at the chance to take over.

Brick House has become a pizza destination since it opened in 1998, drawing customers from West Richland and beyond. The restaurant has some inventive pies on the menu, including the Pickle Face, topped with dill pickles, salami, pepperoni and Italian sausage.

It also serves up more traditional pizzas, such as the Brick House, a supreme-style pie with a mix of meat and veggies, along with a variety of hearty sandwiches and burgers.

‘Measure with the heart’

DeBrine said Brick House never skimps on ingredients, always going for quality over price.

And, “I know a lot of places will measure out the toppings. We don’t do that here,” he told the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business. “We measure with the heart.”

So much of what happens at Brick House is about heart.

The staff of about 15 people, including DeBrine and Everhart, is close – with a core group of employees who’ve worked together for years and become the best of friends.

They spend their free time together, they celebrate holidays together.

“We’re a family. This is a second home,” Everhart said.

She and DeBrine have two daughters, Monroe, 7, and McKinley, 4, plus DeBrine’s 13-year-old son, Nixon, from a previous relationship. The kids have grown up at Brick House.

DeBrine and Everhart feel like they have, too.

DeBrine was 21 when he started working there, and Everhart was 19.

“This is what we know,” Everhart said.

“We bought our first house with money that we got here. We got our first car, our kids are going to school – and it’s all because of this place. Our entire foundation is built upon this building and this business, and now it’s ours,” DeBrine added.

The Brick House family

Patrons are happy that the restaurant is staying in the Brick House family.

“(Sam and Mary) are very personable, and they want to know you and to please the customer,” said Alta Cleavenger of Richland, who’s been coming to Brick House for years.

She stopped by for lunch on a recent day and sang DeBrine and Everhart’s praises.

They were effusive right back, saying Cleavenger is a favorite.

In fact, it’s customers like her who make Brick House what it is, DeBrine said.

“The biggest reason I love this place so much is the customers. I’ve met so many awesome people, so many people who’ve helped me so much throughout my life – more than just in this business, with personal things. They’re just great people,” he said.

DeBrine and Everhart are adjusting to being the owners, with all the responsibilities that follow. Everhart is learning to keep books for the business; DeBrine is on site every day.

They’re excited about the future of Brick House, about their future in a place they love.

"This is what we know, this is what we do. I have a lot of pride in owning this place. Tim built something special here,” DeBrine said. “I want to keep it going.”