NEW BEDFORD – Servedwell Hospitality proprietor Steve Silverstein says his proposed restaurant on State Pier – Homeport – would appeal to 200,000 individuals a 12 months.
The $5 million restaurant mission is considered one of seven proposals for the eight-acre State Pier’s redevelopment being thought of by MassDevelopment.
MassDevelopment is the state’s improvement finance company and land financial institution, and manages the eight-acre, state-owned property.
Silverstein and the opposite six petitioners introduced their proposals throughout a public listening to in Might, hosted by MassDevelopment on the New Bedford Whaling Museum.
Invested virtually $15 million in New Bedford
Servedwell Hospitality has invested virtually $15 million in New Bedford within the final six years, Silverstein stated. It employs about 500 individuals.
He owns and operates The Black Whale, Cisco, Sail Loft, amongst different holdings, and shortly an upscale Mexican restaurant being accomplished on the Nationwide Membership, straight throughout from State Pier.
Homeport could be paying homage to the previous iconic Boston seafood restaurant, No Title Restaurant.
“A really well-known, actually nice restaurant,” Silverstein stated.
Would make use of 125 individuals at peak season
Homeport’s 6,500-square-feet would seat 300, function roof-deck eating and embrace two bars. It will make use of 125 individuals at peak season
“My concept right here was to give attention to the fishing business and presumably even tying in with Cassie (Canastra, CEO of Buyers and Sellers Exchange, who desires to maneuver her seafood public sale home to State Pier). They offload the fish and it goes proper over to our restaurant. And into the frying pan,” Silverstein stated.
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Homeport could be boat-to-table oriented, specializing in the native species which can be landed in New Bedford, he stated.
“It will be a a lot easier, extra family-oriented, extra inexpensive restaurant than one thing just like the Black Whale,” Silverstein added.
View to see the good sunsets
The proposed location is vital to the enterprise – the southwest nook. “We would like the visibility from Route 18. We wish to be trying south and west for the good sunsets.”
He added they would not be searching for state assist in financing the $5 million proposal.
“Eating places are crucial to downtowns,” Silverstein stated. “They carry lots of people, and hold including to the downtown.”
Fourth era New Bedford native
Silverstein is aware of loads about eating places – and New Bedford.
A fourth era native, his great-grandfather began a enterprise on a pushcart round 1900, promoting dry items, he stated.
That enterprise advanced over practically 100 years into the household retailer, Silverstein’s.
“I by no means knew if it was a household retailer as a result of we had been household or as a result of we served household.”
Leaping into the frying pan
In 1993, Silverstein stated he “jumped from the pot into the frying pan.”
“I used to be operating Silverstein’s and Silverstein’s after operating practically 100 years had develop into a dinosaur. We had advanced past our usefulness and I had this nice concept I would go into the restaurant enterprise,” he stated.
“Everyone informed me I used to be nuts – however every time they inform me that it is at all times a good suggestion. It signifies that they simply do not fairly perceive the knowledge to it.”
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Not Your Common Joe’s grew into 30 eating places
He opened up Not Your Common Joe’s, which grew to 30 eating places in six states.
He retired from the chain in 2018 however stored the primary restaurant, redubbed Joe’s Authentic.
He went on to purchase the previous Davey’s Locker, which turned Cisco’s, and the Black Whale, after which the Sail Loft.
New Bedford State Pier could be ‘transformative’
Silverstein added, “I feel the Black Whale is one of the best instance of what Servedwell Hospitality does. It is actually been phenomenally profitable, essentially the most profitable factor that I’ve carried out.”
His backstory is “testimony to the facility of what is going on on in New Bedford, and I feel that State Pier goes to be transformative.”
A MassDevelopment evaluation committee is contemplating the seven proposals and can make suggestions. A choice deadline has not been set.