By Myles Ma
At first glance, the Lawrence Grill might appear to be tamer than other sports bars, purely because of its location: The Quaker Bridge Mall.
One might think that a rowdy sports bar is a weird fit in a mall environment, with its squeaky clean appearance, storefronts extolling the virtues of spending and harmless pop music playing quietly through its vast halls. But owner Jim Radvany and the staff of the Lawrence Grill are doing their best to serve as the town’s local watering hole, mall traffic or not.
“We’re more than just a mall bar,” Radvany said.
Despite its location, the bar isn’t open strictly during mall hours. The Lawrence Grill has its own entrance, so the bar stays open until 1 a.m., or “until the game is over,” Radvany said.
Radvany, a Lawrence resident since 1993, has worked to cultivate a local following beyond the mall crowd. Occasionally on weekends, the bar hosts local musical acts.
The Lawrence Grill actively supports local sports, and the restaurant has a wall of fame adorned with newspaper clippings featuring local teams and athletes. The bartenders are local too, and have a loyal following among the Grill’s patrons, Radvany said.
Although the mall can seem insular and cut off from the rest of Lawrence, operating there does have its advantages.
“It’s great because you get a lot of traffic,” Radvany said.
Unlike most restaurants, which usually have a big rush at lunch and dinner, the Lawrence Grill gets a steady stream of traffic, comprising hungry shoppers as well as mall employees.
Before Radvany purchased the space in 2007, a chain restaurant called the American Cafe was located where the Lawrence Grill is today. Radvany said the Lawrence Grill’s food, prepared fresh daily, set it apart from such chain eateries.
The Lawrence Grill’s menu includes steak, seafood, burgers, pasta, tomato pies, sandwiches, soups and salads. Customer favorites include the chicken wings, with a special Lawrence Grill sauce, Radvany said, as well as the baby back ribs.
“Our ribs are probably as good as you’re going to find,” Radvany said.
The Lawrence Grill also has daily specials and happy hour prices. Recently, the bar began offering a 32 ounce mug of domestic draft beer for $5. In addition, Radvany plans to unveil an ice cream bar with a full array of sundaes this month.
Radvany had long wanted to break into the restaurant business. He bought the Lawrence Grill with a partner, but today he is the sole owner, and is often present in the restaurant.
In addition to the Lawrence Grill, Radvany runs a number of outsourcing businesses in the area. For Radvany, being in the restaurant doesn’t feel like work.
“It’s nice to get out of the office into a restaurant type environment,” Radvany said.
Radvany grew up in Hamilton and graduated from Steinert High School in 1978.
The Lawrence Grill is located at the Quaker Bridge Mall. It is open every day from 11 a.m. until the game is over, as Radvany said.
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