Salem, NH Fulcrum Associates, Inc. of Amherst, N.H. has been selected by Great NH Restaurants Inc, owners of Cactus Jack’s and T-Bones restaurants, to build the companies second “Copper Door” location. The first Copper Door located in Bedford, completed in late 2011, was a vision of the CEO and owner of Great New Hampshire Restaurants, Tom Boucher, for many years. The goal of Great NH Restaurants concept was to feature an “elevated, yet casual dining experience.”
“In a nutshell,” Boucher explains, “The Copper Door is tasteful, but not stuffy! Even the name ‘The Copper Door’ is meant to evoke a level of class, but doesn’t sound pretentious.”
Building on the success of the Bedford location, the Copper Door concept has been waiting in the wings for Boucher to determine where and when the time was right to launch the second location. After exploring numerous potential locations, the new 8,000 s/f restaurant will be constructed on the site of the former Weathervane Restaurant at 41 South Broadway. The new eatery is designed to fill a void between casual and fine dining in the Salem market.
The original Copper Door’s business plan included a design statement for its exterior and interior character driven largely by its ownership team, and will be replicated in the new location. Boucher’s wife Dana has a background in art and interior design, and the two of them had been collecting design ideas for the restaurant for several years. The exterior borrows stylistically from Shingle Style, and American Craftsman architecture with a touch of whimsical detail, and of course the signature arched top “Copper Door.”
The vaulted ceilings and exposed timber frame dining and bar areas will accommodate 225 guests including two private dining rooms for either 28 or 40 people. An outdoor pergola covered dining area will accommodate up to another 50 diners. A large double sided stone fireplace will separate the main dinning and bar areas. The U-shaped bar surrounded by cocktail and high-top seating is designed to compliment the elevated casual dining experience.
“Our entire team is excited to launch this exciting new location,” Boucher said. “Based on the success of the Bedford store I truly feel that we will provide the type of restaurant the Salem community is looking for.”
Stone River Architects of Bedford, N.H. provided design services for the project to translate the visions of the ownership team. SFC Engineering of Windham, N.H. provided civil engineering services for the development. Daryl Luter and Mario Paradiso are heading up the management team for Fulcrum. Visit their website at www.fulcrumnh.com to follow the progress of this project.
Copper Door Restaurant Project Team
Fulcrum Associates - Construction Manager
Stone River Architects - Architect
SFC Engineering - Civil Engineer
Lynch’s Excavating & Landscape Co. - Demolition
Ji-Cal Masonry and Concrete - Concrete
SL Chasse Steel - Structural Steel
Jet Concrete LLC. - Flatwork