National Hockey League Lockout Not Good for the North End

For fans of national sports teams, any lockout can be frustrating.

But if you run a business in the North End and it’s the Boston Bruins who will not be showing up to play regular season games, it’s a little more serious.

In the wake of the NHL officially announcing the cancellation of regular season games on Thursday afternoon due to the ongoing collective bargaining negotiations with the Players Association, a few business owners in the North End are feeling a bit nervous.

The regular season was scheduled to begin on Oct. 11 but, due to the labor unrest, 82 games (up to October 24) are possibly cancelled for good.

“That will definitely affect us,” said Paul D’Amore, owner of Massimino’s at 207 Endicott Street. “With our close proximity to the venue and the fact that we’ve been feeding the Bruins players for years and years, as well as their fans, we won’t have nearly the same crowds here in the restaurant.”

D’Amore said on a night the Bruins are playing, 34 out of 40 customers in Massimino’s are wearing the team’s jersey.

He definitely remembers the rocky start to the NBA season last year, but said hockey fans are different.

“They’re jovial, happy and real diehard fans,” D’Amore said. “Basketball fans are more sedate. They both have the same money to spend but Bruins fans are so, so passionate.”

Anthony Radzikowski, the new owner of Ernesto’s Pizza on Salem Street, has a similar opinion of hockey fans.

“A lot of them come to the North End before and after the game,” he said. “Hockey fans just like to hang out more than any others.”

Radzikowski said the lockout will definitely hurt business. In fact, Ernesto’s is such a popular place for hockey fans that there is a large sign inside the pizzeria advertising a special for game nights.

And it’s not just restaurants that will feel the pinch of the lockout.

Mivan Spencer, the manager of Caffe Dello Sport, said he’s a little worried.

The caffe stays open until 11 most nights and even later on weekends.

Some people who come to the North End to watch the Bruins play often stop by either before or after the game for a cup of espresso and even a bit of pastry.

And the local businesses need a little ‘lift’ in the middle of the winter, Spencer said.

“After the holidays, it can be slow between January and March and we want the additional customers.”

The lockout will have a 'trickle down' effect for the entire neighborhood, said D’Amore.

“Unfortunately, people who will suffer the most are those who work for the businesses,” he said.