April was a good month for Frank Guido. Not only did he celebrate his 73rd birthday, but he and his son Mark appeared in Bon Appetit’s “Red Sauce America,” a series celebrating old-school Italian-American restaurants. To top it all off, he just unveiled plans for a new restaurant in Kingston.
Front Street Tavern will open in the former space of Redwood Bar and Restaurant. Diners can expect eclectic fare with modern presentations and moderate prices. The 6,000 sq. ft. facility also has a rooftop deck, from which a raw bar and finger foods will be served, as well as a party room that can hold up to 80 guests.
Mark and Frank Guido / Photo by Mitchell Communications
The Guidos were approached by the property owner, Neil Bender, who was looking for a stable tenant to fill the space following a couple of successive closures. After a few months of negotiations, the Guidos signed a 10-year lease in March.
The new endeavor rounds out their roots in Kingston’s three neighborhoods. Mark currently runs Little Italy in Midtown, and Frank’s cousin, Sal, runs Mariner’s Harbor in the Downtown area.
“We love being in Kingston,” says Mark. “We look forward to being part of Uptown and working with the different groups and business owners.”
Mark Guido at the new location / Photo by Mitchell Communications
Also partnering with the father-son team to open Front Street Tavern is Frank’s son-in-law, Carmine Ercolano, who owned Il Riccio on the corner of 79th Street and Lexington Avenue for 17 years.
The ability to coordinate between all three businesses is a major asset to the company. For instance, when UPAC shows fill all the seats at the Uptown location, they might reroute diners to another restaurant at a discounted rate.
During peak summer months, Guido Restaurant Group employs about 100 people at its two Kingston spots, plus Port of Call in Catskill. The family anticipates Front Street Tavern creating another 15-25 jobs. Mark has already begun hiring for key positions.
“People [on staff] have been with us for 20, 30, 35 years,” says Frank Guido. “We have a nice mix. We have young college students, we have summer people, but we also have people who have been with us for years. It’s really like family.”
The latest family affair is expected to open in June.
Port of Call / Photo by Greg Berardi
