Brick House pub says it has closed
Restaurant ran afoul of creditors, according to officials; owner says he didn’t receive needed support
WOONSOCKET – With big ideas and a warm welcome from the city, the proprietors of Brick House Rhode Island opened the doors barely seven months ago, but the city’s newest restaurant is no more.
Bobby “Vig” Vigeant, a partner, made the announcement on Facebook yesterday.
“We are closing today!” he said.
The news comes just days after the City Council tabled Brick House’s request for a renewal of its liquor license, citing complaints from five creditors to whom the restaurant owed roughly $40,000 combined – most of it to liquor distributors. The company also owed the city more than $4,000 in taxes on equipment, according to City Councilman Richard Fagnant.
In a long and rambling message accompanying the announcement, Vigeant mainly blamed the failure of the 2120 Diamond Hill Road restaurant on an unnamed financial partner who, he said, had reneged on his promises to provide the business with operating capital. But he also took a parting shot at city officials – and the city itself.
“Although our building is beautiful and spacious, it’s in Woonsocket!” Vigeant wrote. “Historically and presently Woonsocket has not been a place for destinations nor does it invite new people into the area very well! Other than Mayor (Lisa) Baldelli-Hunt, and a few select council people there getting support locally was a struggle. We had (a) local radio host bashing (us) on his radio show as well as one of the local politicians doing all he could to make it as difficult as he could for us.”
During the short time Brick House had been open, the restaurant appeared to struggle financially.
More than two months after a grand opening on March 31, city officials confirmed that the $1,000 check Brick House’s proprietors had tendered to pay for the restaurant’s liquor license had bounced. Vigeant paid the bill the same day he learned The Call was planning to write a story about it, on June 8.
While Vigeant refrained from identifying anyone else associated with the restaurant, at the time of the check snafu he referred questions to Scott Morris, who identified himself as a managing partner. The liquor license was issued in the name of a third individual, Deborah Hutton.
Morris said the check bounced because of a malfunction with the restaurant’s computer equipment. As a result, he said the company was not receiving money from customers who paid with credit cards.
Despite the payment and the company’s explanation, the council instructed the proprietors to appear before the Board of License Commissioners for a show cause hearing. One member of the panel, Councilman Fagnant, said the situation was tantamount to selling alcohol without a license.
On Monday, when Brick House appeared before the council with a request for renewal of its liquor permit, Fagnant made a partial disclosure of the company’s outstanding debts to liquor dis- tributors. He was advised by another official, Councilwoman Melissa Murray, to exercise some restraint, suggesting the disclosures might be harmful to the company’s reputation.
Yesterday, Fagnant expressed regret over the apparent failure of Brick House, but he defended his actions at the council meeting, saying taxpayers have a right to know the status of a company that owes various creditors thousands of dollars, including the city.
“I had no ax to grind with them,” said Fagnant. “I’m sorry they didn’t make it. I’m not happy about it, but the bottom line is any business or venue in the city that owes the city money, I’m going to call them out.”
Council President Dan Gendron said the Brick House license was among 60 liquor licenses for local establishments that were up for renewal on Monday. All were tabled on the mayor’s suggestion, he said, because she indicated there might be others who also owed the city taxes. The council expects to revisit the issue later this month.
The council president, too, said the failure of the business was an unfortunate turn of events.
“No one wants to see a business fail,” Gendron said. “It’s a disappointment. I thought it would be good for the area.”
The 6,600-square-foot restaurant, with a seating capacity of more than 350, had been vacant for some time before Vigeant began remodeling in preparation for the grand opening – an event that was enthusiastically promoted by Baldelli-Hunt.
Vigeant had said his vision was to turn the site into a busy destination for gourmet-quality food, live entertainment, outdoor concerts and special events, such as corporate gatherings and birthday parties.
In his farewell message on Facebook, he said he may launch another startup on Federal Hill or elsewhere in Providence. He said he has a diversified portfolio of investment interests and urged friends of the Brick House not to feel sorry for him.
“I had fun there, it was a challenge to acquire and rebuild it alone which I enjoyed!,” he said. “I own and run a few other investments that occupy my time as well so this was not a ‘sink or swim’ investment for me!”