Bellini Providence: NYB's Restaurant Project
In May of 2021, Newport Yacht Builders started an all together different project: a restaurant. Bellini Providence is the newest to join the Bellini restaurant roster, with three others in Coconut Grove, Florida, and two in New York.
Jim Thompson was approached to do the project by Joe Paolino, a prominent real estate developer in Rhode Island, and his team. According to Jim, they told him that they wanted the interior to be shiny. “I know shiny.” Jim—having decades of experience with carpentry and veneer— told them.
The process was much like the one used in NYB’s boat building and design projects. First, Ashley Reville went to the location (50 Westminister St, Providence) and scanned the space. This allowed for the team to have accurate dimensions needed for the build process. These drawings of the build components were translated into readable files for the CNC laser scanner. Once the components were built, (multiple) gloss finishes were applied and they were then transported to the job site, where they were installed.
The project was not only unique, but intense for the team as they had a three-month timeline in order to finish. Luckily, Jim said all but two pieces fit pretty much perfectly, thanks to the accuracy of the scans. “There is not a single piece that made it into the dumpster,” says Jim.
Kevin Christensen, owner of The Metal Guy LLC and office neighbour at Safe Harbor Newport Shipyard did all the brass work for the space.
The project was finished on time in early October. The aesthetic of the restaurant (as you can see above) is warm and glossy woodwork— reminiscent of the interior of a boat.
Newport Yacht Builders just finished work on the Skybar, Bellini’s private, members-only rooftop bar as well.
“It still blows my mind,” says Jim, that they were able to work on such a project —in the limited time frame that they had — and pull it off.
The owners of Bellini Providence were so happy with the outcome that they have asked NYB to do some more work for them in the entryway to the restaurant in the future.
The experience of working on this project made the NYB team realize that they would love to work on more projects like this in the future.
And in the meantime, if you are ever in Providence, be sure to go check out Bellini and see Newport Yacht Builders handiwork!