NY restaurateur to revive shuttered downtown Bridgeport space

Left to right, Denzil Richards and Paul Brown, operators of the new Grill II in downtown Bridgeport. Left to right, Denzil Richards and Paul Brown, operators of the new Grill II in downtown Bridgeport. Photo: Jordan Grice / Hearst Connecticut Media Photo: Jordan Grice / Hearst Connecticut Media Image 1 of / 140 Caption Close NY restaurateur to revive shuttered downtown Bridgeport space 1 / 140 Back to Gallery

Ghosts of businesses past still linger at 1020 Broad St. in downtown Bridgeport, formerly known as JB Vibes and Barnum Publick House.

Restaurateur Paul Brown said he plans to silence skepticism about the site when he opens Grill II in the same space on Sunday.

“We are never scared of an environment,” he said

Bringing15 years of experience working on international cruise lines both in the kitchen and behind the bar, Brown said he expects his new place to give people another reason to frequent downtown Bridgeport. Grill II is the New Yorker’s second restaurant and is a sister location to his Bronx eatery the Ultimate Grill.

For the past eight years Brown, along with executive chef Denzel Richards, have run the restaurant in New York providing modern and healthy twists on classic Caribbean fare.

“Here (in Bridgeport) we are going to take it to a different level because we have a bigger audience and it’s a different diverse neighborhood,” He said. “We would love to bring that here and share it so that people know that there are different parts and different tastes and flavors of our food.”

Grill II will feature a menu of Caribbean-Fusion fare that Brown said made them a popular destination on Gun Hill Road, including grilled salmon with an array of sauces, Rasta Pasta and fruit smoothies.

The restaurant won’t skimp on the classic jerk chicken and oxtails either, Brown said.

Richards will take point in Grill II’s kitchen, bringing roughly two decades of experience to the project. A former contestant on the Food Network’s Chopped, Richards said he wants to make a lasting first impression on Bridgeport residents.

“Human nature is to seek out something different and something new and what we are doing and about to embark on is not your typical Caribbean cuisine that one would expect if they’ve been to the islands or a Caribbean restaurant,” he said. “I believe that this location is going to set itself apart.”

The new location facing Broad Street and the Margaret E. Morton Building offers a few new amenities for the duo to explore, including a full bar and event room.

Along with the food, he said he plans to host events roughly five times a week, including paint-and-sip, karaoke and live music.

“It’s not going to be the same thing every week, but people will know that when they come down, something is going on,” Brown said. “We are going to work on keeping it exciting, so you know when you come to Bridgeport, go to The Grill.”

Local leaders say they are looking forward to the newest business in a downtown area which has seen a mix of openings and closings in the past year.

“We’re excited to see a new vibrant business in the space that has a strong business plan behind it as well as seasoned operators opening the location,” said Lauren Coakley Vincent, President of the Bridgeport Downtown Special Services District. “We are excited to see what they can do with the space and grow in downtown Bridgeport.”

This time last year, the Broad Street location was home to JB Vibes which had replaced Barnum Publick House after it suddenly closed after roughly six years. The Jamaican rum bar and restaurant had a much shorter run following its August 2018 opening and subsequent closing in that winter.

“It feels good to finally have a real restaurateur coming to the dining scene in downtown Bridgeport,” said Kelvin Ayala, co-founder of I Luv Bridgeport and owner of Moe’s Burger Joint. “Bridgeport is not an easy place to do business, so it must be people who really understand that hospitality industry and understands the market — and these guys seem to be on top of things.”

jordan.grice@hearstmediact.com