The influx of huge numbers of revelers in the Perkins Road overpass area for the annual Wearin’ of the Green parade prompted businesses to take different approaches on Saturday.
Some, like Bet R Supermarket, shut down for about two hours during the parade, reopening later in the day. Others, like Bella Bella boutique, opted to close for the entire day.
Many bars and restaurants saw the crowds as an opportunity and capitalized by setting up tented booths and offering drink specials and limited menu items.
For Crispy Catch, the new fried catfish house in the former Kean’s Dry Cleaner building at 3109 Perkins Road, the timing of the St. Patrick’s Day festivities couldn’t have been better. The restaurant has been under construction since last year and owners Cliff and Tyler Pizzolato wanted to make sure the establishment was open for business on what is that neighborhood’s biggest day of the year. They reached their goal, quietly opening March 5.
“It’s been going well,” says Cliff Pizzolato. “Crowds have been building gradually and we’re hoping it kind of spreads by word of mouth.”
Crispy Catch set up a tented service area off its covered patio and sold limited portions of the fried catfish fingers that Pizzolato hopes will eventually become the signature item of a fast-casual chain, much like chicken fingers did for Raising Cane’s.
“We want to be known for catfish so we decided to concentrate on doing the best catfish we could,” he says.
Cliff and Tyler Pizzolato’s parents, Clifton and Tracie Pizzolato, acquired the 2,417-square-foot building last April for $564,295. The building includes a 989-square-foot adjacent space, as well as 700-square feet of canopy space that altogether can seat up to 80 patrons.
—Stephanie Riegel
