An iconic Newport restaurant is changing hands.
The owners of the Brick Alley Pub & Restaurant have entered into an agreement to sell to the Heritage Restaurant Group, formerly 1899 Ventures, a Newport-based hospitality group.
Ralph Plumb Jr. and Patricia Plumb bought the restaurant at 140 Thames St. in December 1980. For nearly 44 years, they ran the Brick Alley Pub. They also raised a family, and son Matt Plumb has been working at the family restaurant for 21 years.
The Heritage Restaurant Group also owns La Forge Casino Restaurant, Wally’s Wieners, La Costa Lobster Rolls and Tacos, Cluck Truck, Cluck House, A Mano Pizza & Gelato, Wiener Wagon and Newport Lobster Company, Aquidneck Island’s largest wholesale seafood dealer.
What to expect
The new owners called Brick Alley "a family establishment, both in its approach to its customers and in its multigenerational management team" led by Matt Plumb. That won't change.
In a press release, they said they not only intend to keep all front- and back-of-house staff onboard, but they will also retain senior management, including general manager Kim Dwyer. She began her career at Brick Alley 26 years ago.
Ralph Plumb III said the sale of the restaurant was "not a decision my family took lightly."
"The Plumbs aren't going away, and people will see that over time," he said in a phone interview. They want to be close to family, including their children and grandchildren.
Plumb said they are confident the new owners will let them do what do they best. What Heritage described in their news release is exactly what they've communicated to the family, he said.
"Together, we look forward to finding and leveraging the amazing opportunities ahead of us," said Michael Anderson, spokesman for The Heritage Restaurant Group.
Their strategy is "don't fix what isn't broken." The plan is to provide the resources to enable Brick Alley Pub to achieve new levels of customer service and staff support. Their investment is aimed at adding value where it's needed. This includes exploring expansion opportunities, such as adding a refreshed back patio and increasing marketing efforts.
Family history
Ralph Plumb Jr. grew up in New Jersey and came to attend the University of Rhode Island, his son said. There, he met Patricia, who would become his bride. She grew up in Portsmouth.
After a year at URI, he transferred to Cornell University, graduating with a hospitality management degree. He worked as regional manager for the restaurant chain Victoria Station, which had 100 restaurants at the peak of its popularity in the 1970s.