Jerry Remy Hits a Home Run with Fall River Plan
By Ira Kantor | bostonherald.com | January 11, 2012
Fall River officials are thrilled their home-field advantage helped lure a new Jerry Remy’s Sports Bar & Grill, since the Red Sox broadcasting ace was born there and grew up in nearby Somerset.
“It’s uplifting to see somebody who grew up in the area come back to the area and make an investment in our community,” said Fall River Mayor Will Flanagan. “Fall River is also the hometown of Emeril Lagasse and ... there is always some hope Emeril Lagasse would come back to Fall River and open a facility here. For (Remy) to recognize his roots and make an investment in the community where he’s from speaks volumes of his character.”
The Fall River restaurant was scheduled to open in May of this year at Commonwealth Landing, the 5.5 acre, five-story headquarters of the former Quaker Fabric company. The opening date is now pushed back to at least late summer, said Jerry Remy’s managing partner John Mascia.
“There’s no delay for any specific reason other than there’s a lot of moving parts that need to be coordinated,” Mascia said.
Fall River will mark the fourth Jerry Remy’s location in Massachusetts, and the first one outside of metro Boston.
Mascia added the franchise has no intention of severing ties with Mechanic Mills One developers Anthony Cordeiro, Larry Couto and Alan Macomber, who bought Commonwealth Landing for $1.5 million in June 2010.
“Jerry feels very strongly about coming back to his roots and putting one of our restaurants there,” Mascia said. “We feel a strong obligation and we’re committed to this site.”
Flanagan said the city has invested $250,000 in improving the roadways and sidewalks surrounding the waterfront property, while exploring other job growth opportunities such as casino gaming. The new Jerry Remy’s would create an estimated 75 jobs for Fall River, which currently has an 11.8 percent unemployment rate.
Cordeiro said Commonwealth Landing will be divided into apartments and commercial retail space, with the total revitalization costing anywhere from $16 million to $20 million.
“We think it’s going to be an economic engine, and Remy’s could definitely help drive people down to the waterfront,” he said. “It’s a perfect location.”
