A Small Kitchen, A New Concept, and a Significant Grand Re-Opening for Two Sisters

The Client:

Pub 34

The Challenges:

• A brand new concept in an existing space
• New menu development
• A small kitchen

The Results:

• Right-sized equipment to support the operation
• A kitchen layout to accommodate the nuances of the menu
• A successful opening

The Story:

Bill Severino, a long-time Globe employee, knows and loves three things just about equally: his family, the food service business, and his Connecticut community.

He’s lived in Southern Connecticut for his entire life, but he’s also gone to culinary school, run seven restaurants, and worked as a food service director for a hospital, among other things. He brings all of that with him to his clients at Globe Equipment Company. Bill’s personality is caring, but also frank and honest. That draws people to him. But it’s his experience, commitment, and know-how that generally earns their business and their trust.

When Bill saw signs as he drove by what would eventually be Pub 34, he dropped his business card in the door. He knew the building’s history, and was excited to see what it would become.

The First Meeting

He was happy when co-owners and sisters Ginny and Dottie called him back.

Ginny and Dottie lost their mother in 2018, and then Ginny’s husband in 2019. Shortly after, the pandemic closed the doors of their West Haven nightclub in March of 2020.

But the sisters welcomed the closure as a positive development. They decided it was time to do something they always wanted to do–open a new bar concept in the same space. It would be a new challenge, and a new chapter in both of their lives.

“When I first met them, Ginny and Dottie were a little overwhelmed,” said Bill, remembering their first meeting. “But I like being able to help people when that happens. So I just started asking questions.”

Menu Development and Kitchen Planning

Ginny and Dottie were in the process of menu development when Bill met them, so he learned about what they were trying to accomplish. He gave them advice about simplifying the menu in some areas to maintain profit margin, and he helped them get it done.

Once the menu was set, Bill got to work. They had a small kitchen area to work with, but there were still opportunities to optimize it in terms of equipment usage and layout.

He worked on right-sizing their equipment (within their budget) to support the menu. That way, they didn’t end up paying for equipment they didn’t need, or that didn’t fit in their space. And when the equipment plan was in place, Bill worked with Ginny and Dottie on the layout and relative placement of key items like the fryer, the refrigeration and freezer systems, and more.

“They were happy to have someone to think through the kitchen layout with. It was a really small space that we needed to make work, and there was a lot going on as they were getting the business off the ground. I helped them pay attention to it so it didn’t become a headache down the road,” he said.

Bill also helped the sisters interface with the Health Inspector through the process, ensuring a smooth opening.

The Grand Opening

“As we opened, we joked with Bill that he probably didn’t know he was getting two sisters out of this deal. But we weren't really joking. We mean it,” said Ginny and Dottie.

Pub 34 opened in August 2022, with beautiful details that accomplish the women’s goals: an Old Hollywood feel, a drink and food menu that compliments the musical entertainment, cabaret and dining areas, and a new outdoor patio.

But our favorite part –definitely cooler than any fryer or kitchen layout–is their mother’s piano. It was built in 1901, and sits in the center of the cabaret area. It’s a tribute to Ginny and Dottie’s Mom, and a lasting reminder of what the business is all about.

Thank you to Ginny, Dottie, and Pub 34 for your business and your partnership!