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Comino Dexion was a post war entrepreneur who virtually invented slotted angle storage units. He was also remarkably adept at knowing when to invest or when to buy up the competition. Folklore has it that he viewed recession and market set-backs as nothing more than a way to test his business skills. He saw opportunities to buy when everyone else was selling or even getting out of a market. It certainly seems to have worked for him and Dexion remains an internationally well known provider of storage products to this day. I wonder if the same rules apply to the restaurant industry?
The talk of our business meetings and after work drinks these days seems centered around how hard business is and how uncertain the foodservices industry's future may be. Only the very brave (or students of Comino) continue to invest in expensive new restaurant projects. With build-out costs spiraling upwards and landlords looking less and less favorably toward restaurants who need time to re-work a concept, you have to be pretty sharp and to have deep pockets to get it done in the current economic climate.
Then of course there's Patriot Place and Davio's. If you drove past the new Foxboro stadium a couple of years ago you would have seen it looking a bit on the lonely side squatting in the middle of a vast acreage of parking lot. Either Mr Kraft felt that the average football fan would be arriving by large motor home or there was room for something else to "pop up" alongside the stadium. Since the announced plans for a massive "life style" complex, we have seen all sorts of stores, facilities and restaurants begin their build in the shadow of the stadium.
 Davio's and owner Steve DiFillippo are both well known and a respected part of Boston's high-end dining scene. I have often written about the outstanding level of service and consistency of food that separates Davio's from the pack. It's one of those concepts that catches the mood of a downtown area and despite high-prices is packed with diners enjoying a unique atmosphere and energy.
Folks were a little surprised to hear that Davio's would be occupying one of the restaurant slots at the new Patriot Place. How would it possibly transfer? Would the country bumkins (including me – I live within a couple of miles of Foxboro) pay Davio's prices and for that matter would they appreciate the eclectic Northern Italian fare that is so exquisitely executed?
Last night was the opening party for the new Davio's. Graced by the likes of Mr Kraft himself and the Davio's team, the place was packed with literally hundreds of interested potential customers, the usual crowd of industry notables and not so notables and of course the ubiquitous Mr Kraft.
First off, you walk through the main entrance and get on of those deja-vu things going on. The décor and layout is as close to the Paine furniture location as is possible. Disney couldn't have done a better job. The bar is the same. The open kitchen and the dining area look remarkably similar. What really does it, though, is the columns – a trademark feature of Davio's downtown. Here the grand columns hold up nothing more than a flat roof, but project the same grace and authority as the originals.
Steve is a total pro when it comes to the likes of a restaurant opening party. Abundant food and wine, hundreds of people and almost as many staff on hand to care for them. It was a brilliant launch and hopefully will inspire many of the party's guests to return and try the food over the coming months (and of course pay).
Patriot Place itself looks a bit like a war-zone with frantic building activity going on all over. You can see the potential, but it's not there yet.
 Will Davio's work as a concept out in Foxboro? Well, despite the city dwellers view of this rural location, it's crying out for decent restaurants in the Foxboro and Mansfield areas. The region is home to hundreds of thousands of commuters, many of whom have enjoyed Davio's in Boston and are looking forward to trying it out in its new location.
Can we afford it? Good question and one that will soon be answered. As I have said, Steve Difillippo knows how to operate a restaurant at a level that makes guests feel “special” and both his menu and the prices Davio's commands reflect that. I suspect that fueled by well heeled Patriot player's agents and executives from the businesses in the area a base level of business is assured. What will make or break the location in terms of local popularity is if we can get over the impression that we are going to head on over and get stuck in a Bruce Springsteen concert traffic jam or a Revolution practice day. One of the things about Patriot Place is that it's easy and convenient to get to, but only when there's nothing else going on.
So back to Comino. What he would think of this is that Davio's is an example of taking advantage of a recessionary force. With it's striking location, lack of competition and brilliantly recreated branding it might just be the smartest business decision of 2008.
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Davio's Opens at Patriot Place
