Oak Hills Park restaurant to open under new management
Makeover at golf course will run $30,000 over budget
“We’re recognizing getting the restaurant up and running is at the top of the list of strategic priorities for the park.”
Joe Andrasko, Oak Hills Park Authority member
NORWALK — Though the Oak Hills Park Authority will run about $30,000 over its allocated capital budget, it’ll have an updated restaurant under new management to show for it.
The decision to allow the Oak Hills Park golf course restaurant to exceed appropriations for the makeover and tap into its cash reserve was approved Thursday at a special meeting of the park authority.
The funds will mainly be put toward building updates and fixing building code violations, newly appointed Oak Hills Park Golf Course General Manager and restaurant operator Don Mastronardi said. Prior to his work in the restaurant business, Mastronardi worked in the corporate and finance world.
With about $25,000 remaining from the $75,000 allotted to the park authority in fiscal year 2020-21, the authority wound up exceeding the budget by $30,000 to complete the renovations, despite the golf course bringing in about $130,000 in annual passes this year.
Additionally, Oak Hills Park Authority member Joe Andrasko said at Thursday’s meeting that the park has a cash position of about $300,000.
“We’re recognizing getting the restaurant up and running is at the top of the list of strategic priorities
for the park,” Andrasko said. “We can basically afford the $30,000 to go over on this sort of strategic priority, which is a revenue earner, so there’s payback on this.”
Andrasko also said Thursday’s decision is separate from the fiscal year 2022 operating and capital budgets, which are being finalized.
“It’s a compromise list, there are some elements we have to put over into fiscal year 2022 and some, as we looked at them, are more operational,” Andrasko said. “There are some elements that may not happen.”
Tapping into the authority’s cash reserves requires specific approvals and the expenses are budgeted, Mastronardi said.
The new fiscal year begins in July, but the authority is looking to open the restaurant the first week of June.
“We have to do this if we want to do this restaurant correctly and make this place a draw,” Mastronardi said.
The code violations include the restaurant ventilation system, which requires replacement every 12 years and is currently on its 15th year, and minor repairs such as exposed wires, Mastronardi said.
Mastronardi began coordinating with the city to take over restaurant operations late last year, following the end of the former operator’s contract, but has been in contact with the park authority for about three years, he said.
“I had a relationship with a couple people on the board and they approached me about coming in to help take over this year, and I thought the timing was right,” Mastronardi said.
About three other restauranteurs were considered for the vacancy, but Mastronardi was ultimately chosen. Mastronardi also operates Dry Dock Bar & Grille on Main Street and the Silvermine Golf Club’s restaurant, also located in Norwalk.
Oak Hill’s new restaurant, set to open next month, will be called Dry Dock Smoking Aces with a five-year contract. The menu will be like the offerings at Dry Dock.
Rather than lease the space and pay a monthly rent, Mastronardi and the park authority opted for a revenuesharing program, where the park authority receives 10 percent of gross sales each quarter.
Sales include Dry Dock Smoking Aces, the Halfway House concession stand, the course beer cart and the catering services the restaurant offers during the golf course’s off-season, Mastronardi said. The Halfway House and beer cart will be operating in the next few weeks once the liquor license is finalized.
“It’s one of those things where, if I’m making money, they make money, and if its slow they’ll all have skin in the game,” Mastronardi said. “With a lease you have four to five months where there’s not a lot of business. In the long run, you will make more money this way. It will cost me a little more but gives me safety and security not being tied into monthly rent.”