Sharif Grays wants to be the face of banana pudding, and to that end, he’s opened up a pudding store to making that happen. You can now find the aptly named Grays Banana Pudding at 4601 W. Sahara Ave in Las Vegas.
Grays knew from an early age that his grandma’s banana pudding was something special. But, he didn’t know just how special it was until he shared it with friends in San Diego. Everyone treated to his Grandmother’s secret recipe raved that it was the best banana pudding they had ever tasted.
Banana Pudding is a Southern Thing
To most, banana pudding has a very small niche, since it’s perceived to be a Southern thing. Grays’ grandma hails from Mississippi and perfected her banana pudding recipe there.
While Southern-style banana pudding is a small niche, Grays soon found out that it has a passionate following. Everyone who tasted grandma’s pudding kept asking Grays for more and not only that, they were willing to pay for it. It wasn’t long before Grays friends were ordering 40 to 50 puddings every week! And, that was just from social media and word of mouth.
Las Vegas Was in Need of a Banana Pudding Store
Grays realized that grandma’s banana pudding had the potential to form the basis for a business, especially since his brother opened a banana pudding shop in San Diego a few years previously. Grays decided that a banana pudding business was for him too, and began doing his due diligence. Not surprisingly, he quickly discovered that Las Vegas did not have one, single banana pudding store.
“We knew that Vegas is a big foodie city,” noted Grays. Thus, Vegas very likely would have a ton of pudding fans, both among the locals and visitors. And thus, Grays Banana Pudding on Sahara Ave was born. The Las Vegas shop is owned and operated by Grays and his brother, who owns the San Diego shop.
To Vegas, with Love
The Grays brothers make their special pudding with lots of love, which is just one of the secrets his grandmother passed on to the family. “We use ingredients that make our banana pudding taste a little special,” said Grays.
It wasn’t long before Grays Banana Pudding had a passionate following of Las Vegas banana pudding fans. The shop quickly began putting together family ad party trays, as well as catering parties in which banana pudding was the main course.
The Las Vegas store has become so successful that Grays plans to go it alone and buy out his brother’s share.
Grays and one of his sisters have also been busy developing other flavors besides banana, based on grandma’s original recipe. Grays signature banana pudding remains the most popular, adding up to 45% of sales, but other flavors are gaining a following too. Customers can also savor pistachio, cookies and cream, cheesecake, and strawberry shortcake pudding.
For those on a gluten-free diet, keep in mind, vanilla wafers are used in traditional Southern banana pudding. However, some of the new flavors at Grays Banana Pudding are not, so if you must be gluten-free, be sure to ask.
Grays has monthly specials on flavors, too; recently, the flavor of the month was rocky road. Previous special flavors have included pina colada and strawberry frenzy. On the weekends, vegans are treated to vegan varieties of Southern-style pudding.
A Dedicated Following of Las Vegas Pudding Lovers
One dedicated customer is Portia Smith; Ms. Smith finds the addictive appeal of Grays’ banana pudding difficult to accurately describe.
“It’s just so yummy, OK?” Smith said. “I’m originally from Alabama, so good home-cooked Southern desserts is something I know. Grays is the equivalent of that. The pudding reminds me of Southern-home style, made with Southern love.”
Smith normally sticks with the traditional Southern-style banana pudding. But, she said, “If I feel like living on the edge, I might go with cookies and cream”.
Most of Grays’ regulars are locals, and his pudding is a favorite with families. Regular-sized puddings are priced at $7, and the large container is $10.
However, pudding is just the beginning; Grays is branching out with cookies and cream pudding pies and salted caramel cheesecake pudding pies. Not only that, frozen pudding pops are in the works too.
And for his ardent pudding fans, Grays is open to taking special requests. For example, he’s made banana pudding without vanilla wafers, for a gluten-free variety. He’s also made batches of pistachio pudding with bananas and strawberry pudding with bananas. Grays is willing to whip up whatever combination of flavors a customer desires, or even new ones his customers dream up.
