Making room for more restaurants

Malley said that the city will also be encouraging residents to patronize existing restaurants as they plan for the city’s future. One way city officials plan to promote local restaurants is through the West End Association’s “Taste of Bristol”, which will return this March and April.

Caggiano said that residents have frequently expressed interest in a sitdown Italian restaurant.

“We have also had a growing Hispanic population,” he added. “I would like to see a mix of all different types of restaurants. Downtown will be successful if it has a lot of variety. It would also be great to have a pastry shop where people can go for dessert.”

Malley said that by creating new apartments in Bristol, the city hopes to bring more customers for local restaurants. In addition, the city hopes to repurpose currently empty spaces such as the former Better Half Brewing building, the former Downtown Cafe spot, the old Bristol Press building and the former Dunkin location on N. Main Street.

“Since the Centre Mall was razed, people have been looking to have a way to live, work and play downtown,” said Caggiano. “We have the work part, between Bristol Health and city employees.”

For the “live” part, Caggiano said that “City Place” will bring 18 market rate apartments to Main Street.

“That leaves the play component,” said Caggiano. “People are looking to be entertained and for more fine dining options. They are looking to be able to come every weekend and sit down at restaurants and brewpubs versus having to travel outside of the city.”

To support the new restaurants and apartments, the city plans to create additional parking for downtown.

One garage will be constructed behind the police station and will support 154 parking spaces for city employees. Another garage will be constructed on Hope Street and will support approximately 180 parking spaces.

Caggiano said that there will also be “significant” on-street parking downtown. Dawn Nielsen, marketing and public relations specialist for the city, said that the city has put together a “resource guide” for restaurants interested in coming to Bristol. The resource guide contains information about Bristol’s demographics and grant opportunities that are available.

According to the resource guide, Bristol is 74% White, 17% Hispanic, 5% Black, 1% Asian and 3% other.

The city’s population breaks down as follows by age:

. Under 10 - 10%

. 10-19 - 13%

. 20-29 -13%

. 30-39 -14%

. 40-49 -13%

. 50-59 -15%

. 60-69 -12%

. 70-79 -7%

. 80 and older - 5% Grant information can be found at bristolallheart. com/doing-business-inbristol/incentives. These include downtown grants, small business grants and economic development grants.