LYNN — The restaurant scene in downtown Lynn has just expanded.
After nearly a year of anticipation, Revolution Pie & Pint finally opened its doors to the public Wednesday evening. The restaurant is now added to the list of upscale establishments near the center of the city, along with Blue Ox, Rosetti’s, D’Amici’s, and RF O’Sullivans.
The hybrid business at 23 Central Ave., will provide morning beverages and breakfast from Brew on the Grid, which opened earlier in the month, and lunch, dinner, and a full cocktail bar from Revolution. The two-in-one venue is part of Grid Hospitality Group, which has businesses in Worcester and East Boston.
“Pulling everything together to get this place open has definitely been difficult,” said Jim Hodgdon, Director of Operations for Grid. “We had a great team here making sure everything got done.”
After seeing his passionate commitment to the community, the hospitality group brought Lynn resident Jaime Figueroa on board as general manager for both businesses. Even though getting the building fully staffed was one of the few reasons the opening took so long, Figueroa said 90 percent of the hired employees are from Lynn.
“They represent the very fabric of what this city is about,” Figueroa said during a speech, after receiving a certificate from Mayor Thomas M. McGee.
Figueroa hopes the new restaurant will be a staple in the downtown and they plan on being the headquarters for all Patriots games during football season. He said the innovative concept, new to the downtown area, allows nearby workers to get quality food in a short amount of time. Revolution’s pizza oven can cook a pie in under three minutes, given its temperature of 850 degrees.
“We’ve all been looking at this space, waiting for it to open, and I’m excited that day is finally here,” said McGee.
The grand opening was host to a slew of Lynn residents meandering through the restaurant while trying samples from the menu and cocktails from the open bar. The Few Abide, a local band, created an inviting atmosphere for the opening with their soft, live music.
“This place is fabulous,” said Diana DiTomaso, wife of one of the band members and Lynn resident for the past decade. “I like the whole decor, and so far it’s a very enthusiastic vibe.”
While Revolution is just celebrating their opening, its partnered business, Brew on the Grid, is celebrating a successful first few weeks. Hodgdon said the weekday rushes are exactly what they hoped for and the weekend business is better than they anticipated. He’s excited over how much the community has embraced them.
Open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Revolution Pie & Pint offers a variety of calzones, specialty pizzas, sandwiches, dessert pizzas, and even the option of making your own Italian pie. The full bar opens at 3 p.m. and offers a hefty selection of craft cocktails, local beers, and wines.
The concept of the two-in-one restaurant started buzzing throughout the downtown area last November. Between renovating the building, which used to be a bank, hiring employees, getting the correct licenses from the city, and fine-tuning the menu, it’s been a long journey to finally being able to open their doors for business.
“We’ve worked very hard to create this beautiful restaurant,” said Hodgdon. “We are excited to be a part of the renaissance of downtown Lynn.”
