EVERETT – Bobby and Diane Nakihei chose a Hewitt Avenue space for their Hawaiian restaurant six years ago – a time when the downtown thoroughfare was considered a bad place to be.
Now, a new audience has discovered Bobby’s Hawaiian Style Restaurant at 1909 Hewitt Ave., whose front windows look across the street to the glass facade of the Everett Events Center.
“Because of the events center, the clientele has changed,” said Diane Nakihei. “Before, it was local islanders … now, it’s local residents.”
On nights when the events center hosts hockey games or concerts, the restaurant frequently has been packed during the past two years. So Bobby’s Hawaiian recently added a new bar downstairs, the Coconut Lounge.
“The demand was huge,” Diane Nakihei said. “A lot of people, before the game, want to have a beer or two.”
Hewitt Avenue still isn’t lively every night, but with more people coming downtown, new restaurants are opening and others are expanding.
Last week, Zippy’s Java Lounge, an Internet cafe, marked its grand opening on Hewitt. A few doors to the east, Papi’s at 1816 Hewitt Ave. has been serving Boston-style pizza, cheesesteaks and grinders since May.
Ken Schoener, owner of Papi’s, said he got the idea for the eatery while working part-time at the events center.
“This is the kind of place we grew up with in Boston,” he said.
Nick Webster, who has run Vino Bistro at 1804 Hewitt Ave. for more than a year, said his place gets booked up “weeks in advance” for nights of concerts and other happenings at the events center. But it takes a little more work to get through the quieter times.
“It’s not automatic” that restaurants will succeed downtown, he said.
Diane Nakihei has no complaints, however. During its first few weeks, the Coconut Lounge has attracted capacity crowds. The basement bar sports bamboo and surfboards on the walls, fake palm trees and a stage for live bands and karaoke.
But she’s also happy to see other restaurants opening and trying to add to downtown’s diversity for local taste buds.
“When you have more choices, you have more people. We need more,” she said. “If we can get three or four new restaurants in this area, I think everyone will do well.”
Reporter Eric Fetters: 425-339-3453 or fetters@heraldnet.com.
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