Eastern Bank provides financing for Grace by Nia, a new 5,000 s/f restaurant

Boston, MA Three of Boston’s award-winning business leaders in the hospitality and entertainment sector, Nia Grace — owner of Darryl’s Corner Bar & Kitchen and The Underground Café & Lounge — along with Ed Kane and Randy Greenstein — owners of Big Night Entertainment Group — have joined forces to open ‘Grace by Nia’, a modern-day supper club for which Eastern Bank is providing financing. Opened on May 11^th in Boston’s Seaport District, Grace by Nia puts a new twist on the supper club concept, featuring over 5,000 s/f of restaurant and live entertainment space, a Southern soul-infused menu, and a stage for live jazz music. Eastern Bank provided the term loan for the lease-hold improvements to support the build-out of the space.

Darryl’s Corner Bar & Kitchen and Big Night Entertainment Group have been customers of Eastern Bank, and this newest financing helps to expand the reach of their business owners in one of Boston’s most dynamic and thriving neighborhoods.

Eastern Bank provides a range of commercial financing offerings to help companies across many industries to improve cash flow, increase efficiencies and build for the future. Commercial lending solutions include working capital/lines of credit, equipment/term loans, real estate loans, acquisition financing, asset-based lending and employee stock ownership plan-related financing.

The Commercial Banking team advising Grace by Nia includes executive vice president, senior commercial banking officer Greg Buscone, senior vice president, commercial group director Brendan O’Neill, and senior vice president, commercial relationship manager Ian Willard.

Grace, restaurateur and co-owner of Grace by Nia, said, “Eastern Bank understands the value of supporting women business leaders whose different perspectives create greater innovation and diversity in our economy, and we appreciate the time their team has taken to deeply understand what we are launching and to support me as one of the first women of color to open a hospitality business in the Seaport.”

Kane said, “Through the years, we have worked with Eastern Bank for financing our restaurant and entertainment concepts across the region. They’re always available to talk through ideas and loan scenarios, and we are excited to work with them again as we launch Grace by Nia.”

“With this latest concept, Nia and Big Night Entertainment Group are reinventing a part of the local hospitality and entertainment sector and importantly expanding diversity of business ownership in Boston’s Seaport neighborhood,” said Bob Rivers, CEO and chair of the board of Eastern Bank. “We are proud to support these leading entrepreneurs as they break down barriers and bring greater diversity, inclusivity and vibrancy to this area of Boston.”