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Pearl East held a grand opening at its new site at 323 Hope St. on Thursday evening that brought out Mayor David Martin and state Rep. William Tong, (D-147). More important, it brought back familiar customers who were looking for it to reopen after fire damaged the previous location at 2720 Summer St. on May 27, 2014.
Kevin Wood said he had searched for a replacement but no restaurant could offer what Pearl East did.
"The consensus was that we need Pearl East back, and we couldn't wait for her to get back to business," said Wood as he praised co-owner Ivy Bacher and her staff for their great service and great food.
It was a bleak future for Bacher and her co-owner, chef Ye Sun Ying, after the 2014 fire. Bacher said it was the support of customers and staff that encouraged them to keep going.
"We received so many calls from customers and employees who wanted to come back and everybody gave me support and eventually I decided I wanted to do it," she said as patrons enjoyed their meals.
They have been open for two weeks, and she said business "has been good and overwhelming."
She had started as a cashier at Pearl East when it opened 16 years ago. She and Ying took over the business five years ago.
Ying said he was happy to reopen the business.
"This is our dream," he said in comments translated by Bacher.
Food consultant Ed Bianchi who served as a consultant in designing the restaurant is confident it will succeed as he praised the co-owners for their leadership.
"You have all the elements to succeed and as a customer you will have a great time here," he said.
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