Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | December 10, 2018 | Worcester Business Journal 9 Niche history in Worcester W Nat King Cole "You must remember this, a kiss is still a kiss. " Standard Time weekdays 3:00 to 6:00 pm. The Great American Songbook and jazz standards. And great radio is still great radio. Herman Hupfield Nat King Cole "You must remember this, a kiss is still a kiss. " Standard Time weekdays 3:00 to 6:00 pm. The Great American Songbook and jazz standards. And great radio is still great radio. Herman Hupfield Member DIF (800) 322-8233 | countrybank.com Member FDIC *$10,000 in new money is required to open this account (i.e., funds not already with Country Bank). Minimum balance to earn the Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is $10,000. These rates are effective September 15, 2018. Early withdrawal penalties may be imposed if you withdraw any portion of the principal balance before maturity. At the end of the term, the 18 month certificate of deposit (CD) will renew as a 15 month CD and the 6 month CD will renew as a 6 month CD, receiving the interest rates and APYs in effect at that time. Fees may reduce earnings on the account. This offer can be withdrawn at any time. 18 month cd * 2.75 2.72 6 month cd * 1.85 1.83 MORE FOR TOMORROW. so you can get GREAT RATES TODAY, Transit Authority garage. "Grove Street and Highland Street have pockets that are successful because they are well traveled and visible, whereas, we struggle with perception of parking downtown," Covino says. He credits the Citizen's decade-long run with the introduction of valet park- ing, despite difficulties in its execution. "Most successful restaurants have parking lots," Covino said, citing Worcester eateries like e Sole Pro- prietor, e Boynton, and Niche's own Grove Street property, e Fix. When asked about the success of downtown restaurants like Armsby Abbey and deadhorse hill who make use of on-street parking, Covino said, "I don't own any restaurants of that (smaller) size, and I can't claim to know what everyone's successes and failures are. I do know that without the parking garage and validation, I think it would be hard to operate Mezcal successfully downtown." Chef and co-owner of deadhorse hill Jared Forman said Covino is making the right decision by following his instincts with the Citizen. "As long as you can wake up and be happy with what you're doing, that is success to me," he said. Forman thinks of deadhorse hill as a slow moving machine, compared to the Niche restaurants. "I couldn't turn deadhorse into e Fix tomorrow, even if I wanted to," For- man said. "Niche turns out a consistent product that makes him money. Mike has been able to do that again and again. at is very impressive to me, but we run two completely different businesses." Creating a profitable restaurant Covino said e Fix and Mezcal have been the most profitable entities in terms of revenue for Niche. Additions in 2017 to Niche's restaurant lineup have included two fast casual concepts at Fidelity Bank Worcester Ice Center, but Block 5 Canal District 2005 2009 Bocado Canal District 2006 N/A Mezcal Tequila Cantina Shrewsbury Street 2007 Downtown 2014 N/A The Citizen Wine Bar Downtown 2008 2019 People's Kitchen Downtown 2010 2019 Still & Stir Downtown 2012 2019 The Fix Burger Bar Shrewsbury Street 2014 Grove Street 2016 N/A Steam Energy Cafe Canal District 2017 N/A Nonna's Pizza + Pasta Canal District 2017 N/A Railers Sports Tavern Downtown 2017 N/A Restaurant Neighborhood Opened Closed Source: Niche Hospitality Group Covino is firm in his assertion that fast casual is not the future of Niche. "We're testing the waters, but it's not us. We aren't going fast casual across the board. It doesn't give us an edge the we thought perhaps existed," Covino said. In the wake of the impending closure of the Citizen, Covino was comforted by the co-owner of WooBerry, Brendan Melican, who reached out to congrat- ulate him on e Citizen's 10-year run. Most of the other feedback he received had felt grievous, but Melican simply asked if Covino was excited about his next steps. "Brendan embodies Worcester's atti- tude of resiliency," Covino said. Vaillancourt likewise viewed e Citizen's closing as a testament to Niche's creativity and business acumen. "Unfortunately, because Niche is arguably the biggest local brand in town, when an opportunity to change arises, it can be perceived as negative – failure even," he said. Vaillancourt is quick to remind naysayers Covino and his wife were the visionaries who transformed the defunct Sh-Booms nightclub into the high-vol- ume eatery Mezcal is today. "I just hope their next venture is French," Vaillancourt said. In addition to the Citizen, One Exchange Place was home to The People's Kitchen.

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