a time for reflection

Memorial Day is a time of remembrance. It's also the unofficial start of Summer. Co-incidentally today we've finally been able to take a breath and step back from the frenetic pace to gain some perspective.

We opened the doors to theRIVERHEADPROJECT at 5pm on May 20, 2011 - exactly 5 months to the day after our first press conference and signing. In some ways it's hard to believe we did it, but the smiling faces of customers helps it sink in!

The last ten days have been slightly surreal. To go from rapid construction to functioning restaurant was incredible. Early on the morning of May 20, crews of landscapers were laying sod, our cement walkways were still curing after a rain delay on pouring, tables were being constructed, banquettes upholstered and staff members were dressing the dining room.

The hive of activity that day was intense. Everyone banded together, a group of new faces and old collectively readying theRIVERHEADPROJECT for opening. It was an amazing thing to be a part of, all of us humming along to reach our goal, still learning each others names and further still learning about the restaurant and the particulates of each job designations.

Our first ever customers, Peggy & Jim Murphy had been patiently waiting in the parking lot. A parking lot that had been fenced and closed for the last two years.

We opened our doors, in came the Murphys and just like that, we were a restaurant.

In the last week theRIVERHEADPROJECT has received enormously positive responses from our new friends and neighbors. Now that we have the time to reflect and observe, we'd like to say thank you to those that have helped make theRIVERHEADPROJECT possible.

We've also been really impressed with our staff who have worked well in this new environment and have taken to this restaurant like it has been here for much longer than ten days.

This has been a trip to say the least, some days 5 months feels like 5 years ago or 5 minutes..... one thing is certain, we look forward to the rest of the journey.