Primo seeks second chance under new management

The new owners of south coast restaurant Primo Bar and Bistro will be depending heavily on local spend as they seek to restore faith in the establishment’s somewhat tarnished reputation, when they reopen next week.

They have also condemned the controversial actions of their predecessors, who closed the business abruptly last March, and promised that workers would be treated with tremendous respect as the restaurant seeks to chart a sustainable path forward.

Investors Mark Maloney and Zary Evelyn, who have invested $200,000 in the restaurant’s revival, gave that assurance as they welcomed 18 employees – 14 of whom were among 149 caught in the shock closure of the Chaps chain of restaurants.

While stressing that the axed employees did not deserve the treatment meted out to them, Evelyn maintained that despite this year’s scandal, the “Primo” brand still has “a lot of integrity”.

“We have no connection to the previous owners whatsoever. It’s a brand new incorporation and I just want to make it clear that we don’t agree with how they shut the restaurant and how the staff were dealt with. But what we take pride in is that we were able to come in and take things up from where they fell down,” he said at a media conference on Friday.

“I have never personally met [the previous owner] Andy Stewart. All of the dealings I’ve had with Chaps and the inventory brought over from them was with his appointed CEO [Joanne Pooler] who has been very helpful,” he added.

The investors are banking on local support amid an uncertain business climate, when their kitchen opens on July 1 to offer dining services.

Mark Maloney (left) and Zary Evelyn.

Maloney, who is actively working on a number of other projects in the hospitality industry, explained: “Every business owner has their reasons for getting into business and their ways of running a business, and those ways dictate the success or failure of the business, and we would like to show the public and the staff that we are trustworthy people.

“We embarked on this venture during uncertain times. That, in itself, should speak to our commitment to making it a success, and if you can achieve in trying times, then when things get better, there will be even more of a success for everybody and more opportunities,” he added.

Though the events of three months ago are still fresh on their minds, kitchen staff, bartenders, and waiters returning to the once popular St Lawrence Gap establishment are overjoyed at the prospect of a return to work.

In early March, without prior notice from the owners, employees of Primo Bar and Bistro, Hugo’s Restaurant in Speightstown and Cin Cin at Prospect, St James – all fine dining restaurants under the Chaps brand – were closed down.

It was later revealed that the owner had fled the country, leaving his appointed CEO to contend with tremendous public backlash from employees – some of whom had recently been hired – and the general public.

Employees have still not received the thousands of dollars owed in severance and other outstanding payments. However, for those returning to Primo, there is hope for the future.

“When Zary called and told me he was planning to reopen Primo, I was very excited for myself, but I was also very adamant that while I would love to be onboard, I need my team,” revealed Head Chef Jason Gittens as he thanked the two investors.

“All of us were sent home in a very abrupt manner and that was very sad, because all of us were really dedicated to Primo. . . . I am sure that everybody is very happy to be back in Primo because it is very family oriented. I have been here for a very long time and I love it.”

Ron Peterkin, who had been working with Primo since 2010, credited his nine years with the company for his maturity and growth as a person.

“I was very heartbroken when everything crumbled . . . . Now the only way is up from here and I want to say thanks to Zary and Mark. I am very dedicated, ready to put up 110 per cent and I am very glad that we are back up and running,” he declared.
kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb