Richter’s Reborn

Fresh-baked meat pies, free glasses of beer — and a new experiment in on-street parking — helped lure customers into downtown’s newest night spot for a grand opening.

The opening took place Wednesday evening at Ordinary, which is taking over the former Richter’s pub at 990 Chapel St. The new pub was created by the masterminds behind Caseus Fromagerie & Bistro—click here to read more about it.

Ordinary co-owner Timothy Cabral (at left in photo above with co-owner Jason Sobocinski before a jubilant ribbon-cutting) greeted customers at the door of the historic space with a glass of beer or wine.

Carlos Perez and Daniel D’Angelo (pictured) of La Palette bakery in Watertown relaxed in the dark, wood-paneled hall after baking for the evening. Their contributions to the Ordinary menu include chocolate raspberry tart, chocolate-covered pistachios, …

… and ​“BIG” oatmeal raisin and chocolate chip cookies, served with ​“two fingers of CT milk.”

Sobocinski stood at the dutch door of the tiny kitchen handing out free meat pies, hot from the oven. The pies, baked by Sixpence Pie Co. in Southington, are locally sourced: the ​“Aussie” beef pie comes from Four Mile River Farm in Old Lyme; the spinach and artichoke pie uses a Cato Corner blue cheese from Colchester.

The event drew a packed crowd to the pub’s narrow front room.

Besides Caseus’s reputation in sourcing and selecting fine wine, cheese and charcuterie, Sobocinski revealed another factor luring customers in the door: free parking.

In a new experiment in downtown parking, Sobocinski (at right in photo) cut a deal with city traffic chief Jim Travers (at left) for the grand opening. Travers let Ordinary bag 41 parking meters with a special note from the bar offering free parking. Travers charged him $10 per meter for the entire day, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Sobocinski said the meter bags spread goodwill and good marketing: All day, people were poking their heads into Ordinary giving him a thumbs-up for the free parking. One woman entered the bar and insisted on buying a glass of wine to thank him for the parking; she found out the wine was free.

Travers, who lingered after the ribbon-cutting to enjoy a glass of Victor Prima Pilsner, said Wednesday was the first time the city has made a special parking deal with a merchant. He said the $10-a-day price was based on the revenue the meters typically bring in on a given day.

He declared the experiment ​“wildly successful.” While Ordinary customers will resume paying ordinary meter fees Thursday, Travers said he is open to making special arrangements for the pub and other merchants in the future.