By MAUREEN DOHERTY
NORTH READING — Like a Phoenix that has risen from the ashes, a husband and wife event planning team has high hopes of reviving the function facility at the town-owned Hillview Country Club.
Adilson and Fabiana Santos of Reading have been operating Ultra Chic Events for the past decade, establishing partnerships with caterers, vendors and their own staff to work their events at off-premises locations for weddings, birthday parties, showers and other memorable events — including in the past events they held at the Hillview itself when the hall was operational. Now, they are looking to establish a home base for their business so that it can grow to the next level. They won over the Hillview Commission with their business plan and won the five-year contract followed by a five-year option last month.
Monday night, they passed their next hurdle by obtaining their first ever general on-premises all alcohol license for Ultra Chic Events at the Hillview Country Club from the Select Board. But as board Chairwoman Kate Manupelli pointed out, it would be premature to pop a champagne bottle open on the premises just yet as their application will now be forwarded to the state ABCC for its approval.
Adilson Santos will serve as the manager of record for the time being; both he and his wife became Tips certified for the purpose of obtaining the license for the premises, but for the next few months they will continue to operate as they have in the past by partnering with a caterer as the Hillview has been vacant essentially for nearly four years which does not make it a turn-key operation. This will give the town time to catch up on some necessary upgrades.
Select Board member Rich Wallner commented, “When it comes to alcohol our town is very strict not to serve to minors. They (the Police Department) really want to try to work with you so I would encourage you to work with them.”
“Even though we never served alcohol, all of our workers are in charge to watch the tables to make sure no minors are drinking alcohol” at their events Fabiana Santos said.
But as she also pointed out, they’re beginning to book weddings for late summer and early fall, so they have a goal have their own staff in place by then. Town Administrator Mike Gilleberto informed the board that Ultra Chic is not applying for a common victualler’s license at this time so will continue to function as a caterer — with food brought in rather than cooked on-premises — until they do get it.
A big component of the arrangement will be their ability to once again host golf functions at the facility, which makes the Hillview Commission and the Select Board happy as the inability to cater to such needs with an 18-hole golf course on the premises has been a thorn in the town’s side.
Under the agreement, Ultra Chic is already paying for the utilities. In the first full three years of the license they will pay the town $3,500 per month rent. In the last two years of the five-year lease, the rent increases to $4,000 per month. They also have a five-year option to renew during which rent will be $4,000 per month for the first two years and $4,500 per month for the final three years. In addition to the rent, after the first year (beginning April 1, 2023) Ultra Chic will provide the town with an additional payment of 3 percent of their gross income, payable on the 10th of each month.
Hindsight has also proven valuable as both parties acknowledge the possibility of a future government-mandated shutdown for public health or safety reasons which could prevent Ultra Chic from operating its business or using the premises. In the event that occurs, a provision has been included that would make them liable only for the utilities during such a shut down.
Initially, the downstairs pub will not be open to the public. They intend to get themselves established running the function hall prior to tackling the pub, which it was pointed out by the board, had not been able to be run profitably by the past two experienced restauranteurs.
Hillview Commissioner George Stack spoke highly in favor of the board granting the license to them. He commented that during his 35-year affiliation with the Hillview operations he was thrilled to finally have someone on board like Ultra Chic that knows how to “market” their event planning business.
“It is a great new beginning for us,” Stack said. “There will be outdoor weddings.” Stack explained that arrangements will be made between them and the golf course to make it possible for them to use the golf course for wedding photography too. “They are not restauranteurs but they are willing to become restauranteurs… it is a very organized group of people, which is a treat for me,” Stack said.
“We are focusing on upstairs and hoping everyone knows the Hillview Country Club is up and running,” Fabiana said, “and after next year we hope to open the tavern.”
Adilson agreed that they need to focus on getting the upstairs function hall running again, adding, “Our goal is to bring the Hillview Country Club back and make it so people want to come back. We are hugely focused on event planning,” adding that they look forward to having the Hillview become the destination for town events, high school events, golf outings and the like again. “A lot of people have great memories at that location… they had such a great time and great memories here.”
Select Board member Liane Gonzalez offered her congratulations to them on their new venture. “I’m so excited for you. It will be great to see the Junior Prom prom there again and congratulations to you, the commission and the town. This is really a gem that we want to see shine again.”
