With a few touch ups and renovations, Carmel businessman Patrick Rich believes a 300-capacity restaurant and event venue on the Hudson River in Peekskill, will be the project he always wanted.
“I plan to make this place what it always should have been,” said Rich, who was clean shaven and dressed in a pin striped suit and freshly pressed dress shirt, while giving a tour of The Cove on a hazy spring day.
Rich knows that a restaurant is about more than food. He will not even consider opening a restaurant if the space does not meet his requirements for size, location and views. The Cove, a two-story building tucked in a small cove of the Hudson River with a beautiful view of the Hudson Highlands, meets all three requirements. Rich is confidant that he’ll find success as the new owner there.
The owner of the building asked Rich to take over the restaurant two months ago to put the business on firmer financial footing, Rich said. He has been quickly making physical and conceptual changes since then while remaining open. He patched up the potholes in the parking lot, added some new paint in a few places, bought new silverware, furniture and tablecloths, and made some other aesthetic improvements.
The 58-year-old businessman, originally from New York City, has opened and run several restaurants throughout the country over the last three decades. He is excited to make The Cove his retirement project, he said.
“I never care about saving a nickel, I care about making a dollar,” he said.
While The Cove is currently open, the grand opening event under Rich’s ownership will be a large, three-day party on Memorial Day weekend that will include live music, a BBQ and clambake, popcorn, cotton candy machines and more. The Charles Point marina and car rental business he shares his lot with will move all the boats and cars out of the back parking lot, visible from the back deck, which will then be used for tents and set up for the party.
The menu is new, but still includes surf and turf, pasta, sandwiches, and other classic American dishes. Items range from $10 to $30. The most expensive items are about $32 and include rack of lamb and filet mignon. (Read the menu ).
“But we can make you anything,” said Rich, who is a classically trained chef. He has retrained the same staff, including the chef, that was there under the restaurant’s previous owner.
“If you don’t support the town then who is going to support you?” said Rich, new to doing business in Peekskill, but happy to be here. He is using , and other local vendors for his business needs.
Rich said he made new friends and met many new people as he took over the management of several group parties in his opening month that had been booked before he arrived.
Rich plans to hire about 20 more staff members for the summer and to run the place as a restaurant with banquet facilitates.
“Restaurant is what I like to do,” Rich said, noting that The Cove is used often for large group parties.
While the physical space looks similar to how it did under its former ownership, Rich hopes his aesthetic changes mentioned above will give the place a more formal and fresh feel, he said. He has also separated the dining area from the bar with room dividers, so diners won’t be disturbed by bar patrons.
Rich will also update the front room to serve as a comfortable living room and waiting area, and he will use the reception room for cocktail hours.
He has also created a bridal suite attached to the large back event room that will be available for any private parties.
Save for a few finishing touches, Rich’s Cove is almost where he wants it to be for his grand opening Memorial Day.
“I am all about fun,” Rich said. “I love this place and really care about it.”
You can visit The Cove at 5 John Walsh Blvd, Peekskill. Read their hours and find their menu on their Patch listing .
What do you want to see at The Cove? Tell us in the comments.
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Editor's Note: This article has been adjusted to clarify a statement made about group parties thrown at The Cove.
