Restaurateur Michael Mota had to pivot.
He created Skyline at Waterplace in Providence. The restaurant and event venue located in the center of the city was one of those all-time prime spots. The proprietor literally would have customers entering his doors from all directions, from trains, boats and automobiles. That is, until all the customers were ordered quarantined in their homes for three months. Then there was the widespread vandalism downtown on one night in June. Skyline was one of the businesses that was damaged. Mota was left with no choice but to close Skyline.
“The experiences we have had locally and globally are unlike anything we could have expected,” he said.
Mota and his wife, Jodi Ricci, were able to keep their staff employed, drawing on their own reserves and assistance from federal and state programs. They were able to utilize Skyline’s resources to serve 1,000 meals weekly for health care workers. But the good works were not sustainable as a business model, and the repairs were more extensive than first thought, and restrictions on large venues too onerous. The reopening of Skyline had to be put on hold.
That’s when the property owner of a shuttered restaurant building on Douglas Pike in Smithfield reached out. “When we were presented with the opportunity to acquire this vacant space in Smithfield, it was a chance to get us back to doing what we love, and change our focus to a new venture, the first of more to come,” Mota said.
Ricci worked closely with her husband to develop a new concept. The couple’s expertise in creating memorable events guided their thinking. Their idea was that post-pandemic, there would be demand for an experience, an escape from what has been endured since March. Mota said he was channeling a Disney-style experiential evening. They decided on an authentic Mexican cantina experience that evokes a Día de los Muertos – Day of the Dead – celebration. The venue would be named Lola’s Lounge and Cantina, after the couple’s young daughter.
“Are we crazy to open a new restaurant during a global pandemic? Perhaps,” Mota said. “I’m expecting a surge … of people who can’t wait to get back out!”
Skyline’s teams shifted their roles to Lola’s and an additional 10 employees were hired. Lola’s Lounge opened on Aug. 14 and has sold out nightly.
In other hospitality news, Pawtucket and Central Falls are combining forces to help restaurants in those communities. The mayors of the two cities recently announced a combined two-week “Restaurant Weeks” from Aug. 31 to Sept. 13.
Like the Providence Restaurant Weeks, the idea is to encourage people to get out and become restaurant patrons. The experience will be completely customized and guests can choose to dine in or get takeout or delivery from their local restaurants. There is a chance to win up to $250 in restaurant gift cards for patrons who post a photo of their meal with #PCFRestaurantChallenge on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
“Instead of asking the restaurants for specials, we are doing something special for them,” said Jan Brodie, executive director of the Pawtucket Foundation.
But the best-intentioned plans and programs will be for naught without us at the table. It may take a leap of faith, but know that the restaurant owners, managers, chefs and staff members are doing all that they can as well. It has conceivably never been more sanitized and “safe” to dine out.
Bruce Newbury’s radio show and podcast, “Dining Out with Bruce Newbury,” now in its 25th year, is broadcast on WADK 1540 AM and several radio stations throughout New England. Email him at Bruce@BruceNewbury.com.