Boston eateries receive financial boost from Greg Hill Foundation

A recent delivery of thousands of dollars in grants will help 19 local restaurants boost staffing and equipment and continue their recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, owners tell the Herald.

“This is a great opportunity for us,” Reunion BBQ co-owner Joel Morales told the Herald. “My wife and I opened this up around September of 2022, but we did not invest in any marketing or public relations because we didn’t have the money for it.”

Reunion BBQ, located in the South End, is one of several restaurants in Boston that received money from the Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund.

The foundation, established in 2010, has awarded more than $25 million in funds to families and those in need. The foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund, established in 2020, has done the same to help local businesses across the nation recover from the financial hardships brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

This year, a total of 19 Boston restaurants received a cumulative $200,000 in funds. Morales expressed his gratitude for the financial aid to help put his business more on the map.

“We have a great concept, people have a great time here and always leave positive reviews,” he said. “It has been tough to find ways to attract new customers, but this money will help us afford a public relations and marketing strategy.”

Morales said the restaurant faced some hiring difficulties during the height of the pandemic, but has been on an upward trajectory since. He touted Reunion BBQ’s great atmosphere and delicious food.

“We have so many great aspects to offer, including live music and events, so we are really grateful for the foundation for helping us out,” Morales said.

Karen Pellino, co-owner of Casarecce Restaurant in the North End, said the money they were granted from the foundation will be mostly going to payroll for their kitchen service and for some other equipment upgrades to churn out the fresh-cooked pasta they are known for.

“Everything we make here is all fresh and in-house,” Pellino said. “It feels really great to have these funds. We have all been struggling on the North End this year.”

The challenges Casarecce and other North End eateries have faced in the past year have been centered around a ban on outdoor dining that was imposed in February. Segun Idowu, Boston’s chief of economic opportunity and inclusion, said the bridge replacement on North Washington Street and the Sumnner Tunnel restoration would present too much of a problem for establishments to conduct outdoor dining.

In 2022, Mayor Michelle Wu implemented a $7,500 fee for restaurants to conduct outdoor dining, which some local business owners viewed as anti-Italian discrimination. Pellino said that while the lack of outdoor dining has been a big hurdle to overcome, the money is a welcomed source of aid to keep Casarecce offering its usual high-standard service.

“We are a family-owned business and we have been on the North End for 14 years,” Pellino said. Thank you to the Greg Hill Foundation, we really appreciate their help.”