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IRIE Jamaican Style Restaurant

Transforming a Small Business

By Sindhu Banerjee

The Old Space

One of the first things Sonia, the owner, told me was that she needed to move her restaurant as soon as she could. The landlord was raising the rent of the building, parking was highly limited which restricted dine-in orders, and the front-of-house was equally congested. Worst of all, there was almost no storage space, so the restaurant had to purchase food supplies every two days, which was both expensive and cumbersome.

These are the famous 'IRIE babies' who grew up eating food from IRIE. They are now full-grown adults, many of whom have kids of their own.

Essential to IRIE's identity is music and culture. Over many years, famous Caribbean artists have visited IRIE, and each visit is represent by a framed photo on the big wall.

IRIE has always been central to the Dorchester community, frequently donating to local sports teams and youth art/academic programs.

The Old Kitchen

Walking into the old kitchen felt like playing a game of Tetris. There was very little room to move around, the shelves were packed to the brim, and the lack of space made it difficult to clean. Most importantly, Sonia needed more space for stovetop burners in order to operate at capacity and cook food efficiently. A properly equipped and spaced kitchen would allow Erica, the co-owner and big sister, to unleash her culinary talents and streamline the cooking process.

Without an industrial fridge, IRIE's storage options were highly limited.

Checking Out the New Place

After helping Sonia and Erica secure a new space, we all checked it out and got right to work. We decided on what color palette the new restaurant would have, went outside to visualize what the front would look like, and completed exercises to think through new business priorities. Sonia had an excellent vision for the new space, and it was up to the team to bring that vision to life.

Renovating the New Space

The renovation process took about 5 months. After testing colors, Sonia and Erica settled on a bright yellow and vibrant teal to keep a colorful yet chill tropical vibe. We meticulously scanned the old 'baby board' in order to digitize it, started designing a massive Bob Marley mural, and got new decor, from chandeliers to sitting booths. As the new restaurant started coming together, the team got more excited. Best of all, the new kitchen came with professional industrial appliances and was almost 50% bigger! Of course, Sonia and Erica decided to keep the old IRIE sign, a nod to the restaurant's storied history.

Grand Reopening!

IRIE's grand reopening took place on November 19th of 2022! After months of renovating and preparation, we were ready to introduce the public to the brand-new IRIE Jamaican Style Restaurant. We redesigned menus, added a new community bulletin board, revamped the Instagram account, and invited all our family and friends. Sonia's dream of the last five years was coming true in front of her eyes.