PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 26, 2024
CONTACT INFO. :
Office of the Mayor
Matthew Paddock
Communications Manager
(401) 435-7500 Ext 11013
mpaddock@eastprovidenceri.gov
City of East Providence brings Dune Brothers to Crescent Park
EAST PROVIDENCE, RI- The City Council approved a resolution from East Providence Mayor Bob DaSilva to enter into a contract with Dune Brothers to bring seafood staples to Crescent Park.
Created by Chef Nicholas Gillespie, a Cape Cod native with a passion for food and the culture of coastal New England, Gillespie and his wife Monica are bringing their chef-driven, dock-to-dish approach to East Providence.
Nicholas Gillespie, inspired by clam shacks he would visit as a child, opened their first location in Providence, Rhode Island in 2017 and have since amassed a following across all of New England.
“We have always loved East Providence and we are so grateful to be a part of one of the many great projects bringing new life into a city already so rich in culture,” Monica Gillespie said. “Throughout this process, we've learned more about Riverside's shellfishing community, and we are eager to reinvigorate that local economy, ideally sourcing directly from neighborhood harvesters who might not have had that demand or access to buyers in the past few decades as the fishing industry has grown. At the end of the day, we just want to serve up delicious food using the incredible natural resources Rhode Island provides us.
“Our motto has always been "Pier to Plate," we pride ourselves on sourcing locally from small boat fishermen and providing customers with the opportunity to try dishes cooked with underutilized species that are as delicious as the classics (i.e. cod, haddock) but are more abundant and sustainable. We can't wait to get started,” Gillespie added.
The Gillespie’s bring years of restaurant experience, from renowned restaurants in Boston, Nantucket, and Portland, Oregon and have quickly been recognized as a rising star in the Rhode Island food scene over the past seven years.
“I am very excited for the residents and visitors to the City of East Providence who will now have access to some of New England's best seafood, from the comfort and beauty of Crescent Park thanks to the Dune Brothers,” Mayor Bob DaSilva said. “Their ability to be flexible and have mobile operations, make them the perfect fit to provide a high quality experience for our patrons.”
The East Providence clam shack will be serving fried fish, clam chowder and a New England staple clam cakes, along with a variety of other seafood options at the Crescent Park concession stand.
Dune Brothers have garnered acknowledgments and awards from national publications including Star Chefs, Yankee Magazine, The Providence Journal and RI Monthly.
