For the Abdelrihim family, a restaurant is more than a place to just get a meal, it’s a place for families and communities to come together. 

Goodfellas, which serves a mix of American and Italian dishes, recently moved from Anson to Old Point Avenue in Madison, opening in the former Taylor’s Drug Store and giving the family more space for the restaurant.

Owner Alex Abdelrihim decided to make the move after learning the building was for sale. 

“He wanted to open Goodfellas to provide breakfast, lunch and dinner because his Anson location was too small,” said Brandie Abdelrihim, Alex’s 37-year-old daughter-in-law. 

Brandie Abdelrihim manages the dining room for Goodfellas. Her husband, Sharif, helps in the kitchen when needed while also operating Good ‘N’ Plenty 2 Diner on Lakewood Road in Madison with his wife. 

Goodfellas’ Anson location had limited space and a parking lot that was not ideal for business. The move to Madison has given Goodfellas more visibility and foot traffic from area residents and people passing through. 

“Since moving from Anson to Madison, we have definitely seen an increase in business,” Brandie Abdelrihim said. “Madison gives us more visibility and traffic, and we’re serving a much larger mix of both familiar faces and new customers.”

Before Goodfellas opened, the Abdelrihims made extensive renovations to transform the space into a restaurant. 

“It needed commercial kitchen equipment, a hood system, new flooring, a bathroom, and an added emergency exit,” Brandie Abdelrihim said.

The business opened briefly Aug. 10, but technology issues forced the restaurant to close for the day. It reopened the following day, welcoming customers, both old and new.  

“The community has been very welcoming and has offered some great feedback on where to make improvements,” Brandie Abdelrihim said. “We are listening and doing what we can to provide what our patrons want.”

One of the most common requests has been a liquor license, which the family plans to work on. 

The restaurant business has been a part of the Abdelrihim family for decades. 

Alex Abdelrihim, originally from Cairo, moved from Egypt to the United States in 1984 for more economic opportunities. He learned the restaurant business from a mentor who ran the Golden Eagle restaurant in New Jersey before opening his own diner in Connecticut in 1993. 

He later moved to Maine and in 2004 opened Good ‘N’ Plenty 2 in Anson. He bought the former Ole Sole Mio building the following year and opened it in 2008 as the Golden Eagle. The restaurant was later renamed Good ‘N’ Plenty 2. 

Brandie Abdelrihim, who was born and raised in Madison, and her husband took over Good ‘N’ Plenty 2 in 2023. They are now helping Alex Abdelrihim establish Goodfellas in its new location. 

“We want people to feel like they’re more than just customers when they walk through our doors,” Brandie Abdelrihim said. “Whether it’s supporting local families, giving back through community events, or simply creating a place where people feel welcome and taken care of, we’ve really tried to make Good ‘N’ Plenty 2 a place that feels like home, and we plan to help carry that same energy over to our father’s restaurant.”

The restaurant will also sell the family’s viral trompe l’oeil desserts designed to realistically resemble other foods or objects. The Abdelrihims hope to offer trivia nights, throwback nights, music events, and other activities.

“We want to be a place families can come for a good meal and celebrate milestones,” Brandie Abdelrihim said. “We really want to lean into the Goodfellas name and have some fun with it.