On tap: reopening of Newton pub and eatery

Jessica Roche and her husband, Karl, are transforming the former West Street Grille & Tap into the West Street Tavern & Restaurant in Nonantum, with an opening planned for July. (Wendy Maeda/Globe Staff)

As Scott Lennon, alderman for Newton's Ward 1, likes to say, Nonantum is a village "where you can open your dining room window and then you're in someone else's living room. Everybody knows everybody."

So when the West Street Grill & Tap closed its doors last fall, nearly everyone in the close-knit community took notice.

"That spot has always been more than just a bar or tavern. It was a spot in the community where people would gather," said Lennon. "When it closed people were like, 'Where do we go? What do we do?' "

Native Newtonian Jessica Roche has the answer. She and her husband, Karl, plan to reopen the pub in July as the West Street Tavern & Restaurant.

In a town like this, it is hard not to feel the effects of change. So when the former owner, Jimmy Donovan, had to shut down the tavern after nearly 13 years as a Nonantum mainstay, many residents felt that a "piece of the neighborhood" had left with it, said Lennon.

The Roches want to put that piece back where it belongs.

"My family has lived in Newton all my life, and [Karl and I] thought it would be a great opportunity for us to bring it back to the neighborhood," said Jessica, whose father is a Newton police officer, brother is a Newton firefighter, and uncle owns a sub shop, Guiseppe's, on Watertown Street.

"That neighborhood is important to us, even though we live in Watertown now," said Karl Roche.

Karl will handle the day-to-day operations, while Jessica will manage the finances. Karl has been in the restaurant business for 15 years, first in his native Ireland, then for the past 10 years as a bartender in Brighton. The couple had been interested in starting their own pub for some time, and when Donovan closed West Street "it was an easy decision" to step in, said Jessica.

Donovan had said that spiraling rent costs and changes in the neighborhood made it difficult for the business to stay float, and cited the citywide smoking ban and the relocation of several nearby businesses as concerns. The Roches are confident the new restaurant will thrive in spite of those challenges.

"We are going to have a hands-on approach to this to try to keep costs down," said Jessica. "Even with the construction, we've been really hands-on, picking things out ourselves, working with the contractor. We feel really confident that it's not going to be an issue."

Both she and her husband plan to be visible at the restaurant. "As owners, you need to have a presence and show customers that you care about the place," said Jessica.

The renovations began in late February. The building's interior has been gutted and will be revamped, with new floors, paint, windows, signs, tables, chairs, and equipment. The kitchen and restrooms will be moved to the back of the building for a more traditional feel. The couple hopes to achieve a rustic decor, with darker colors and antique fixtures.

They also have to reacquire the restaurant's liquor license, which should come up for approval once the new building passes inspections.

The menu will remain largely the same, the Roches said, but with several twists. Old favorites like West Street's legendary turkey tips will return, with a few new items and specials. The couple hopes to attract the same loyal clientele as well as families and the lunch crowd, many of whom already have expressed their support for the pub's return.

"People have been dropping in, asking questions, talking about how they missed it," said Karl.

"I got a couple e-mails and they're excited that it will open, that it will be a family restaurant, and that it will be revamped," said Jessica. "They're excited for something new."

"A lot of people are excited to have it back," said Lennon. "A place like this is important to have because you get to see folks you know. It's a community resource."

Manny Veiga can be contacted at mveiga@globe.com.

• Searched
• E-Mailed