Many factors lead to closings of Canal District's The Hangover Pub and Broth, owner says
WORCESTER — Foodies are lamenting the closings of The Hangover Pub and Broth in the city's Canal District, but the executive chef and owner of the two businesses says the decision to shut down wasn't based on just one thing.
Michael Arrastia said there were many factors that he has been weighing for some time, among them, his desire for a better work-life balance before his two children are all grown up.
It was the birth of his son that brought Arrastia to the restaurant industry when he was 23 years old. Young and without having thought about a career path, his first job at The Publick House in Sturbridge offered a glimpse into something he liked – and excelled at.
"I wanted to provide for my kids," he said, adding that he set goals to be the best chef he could, to appear on television and to make a name for himself in the industry.
Archives: Chef Arrastia makes some changes at Hangover Pub
At 38 years old, he had accomplished those things, appearing on "Guy's Grocery Games" and "Man v. Food." He has won awards at Worcester's Best Chef and a host of other competitions. In 2019 he was inducted into the Les Amis d’Escoffier Society of New England, Joseph Donon Chapter.
Now, he realizes he also wants to be present at football games and school parents' nights, and to make memories with his children that he couldn't when he worked long hours as a business owner.
Other factors in closing
There were other things that helped him decide to close, too.
The pandemic challenged many restaurant owners in ways they had never dreamed. Food and labor prices rose, and sometimes Arrastia found himself making daily trips to the grocery store and crafting a new menu based on what he could find there.
While pre-pandemic restaurants realized most of their profits from alcohol sales, the primary business for many during COVID-19 restrictions shifted to takeout, with added costs of buying to-go containers and a cut for delivery services like DoorDash, Grubhub or Uber Eats.
Arrastia navigated those issues and said he did see a decline, like many other Canal District businesses, when Polar Park opened. He and other restaurant and bar owners in the area have noticed the dinner hours are quiet for them when the WooSox are in town.
Some responding to the news of the closure on social media said they aren't as inclined to visit the area when game days impact traffic and parking.
Combined with the worry of keeping a business profitable, Arrastia said he will likely find a job working for someone else and spend more time enjoying his personal life.
Arrastia said he's proud to have opened the first ramen place in the city and of his time at restaurants including the former Rovezzi's in Sturbridge, where he learned a lot.
He has spent time in upscale eateries and helped retool smaller restaurants into dining hotspots, which is one thing he has really enjoyed.
Broth and The Hangover Pub had been one of his longest stays — since 2016. A big part of the staying power, he believes, was the scratch cooking he's fond of doing.
"About 95% of what we made was made from scratch," he said. "We served our sandwiches on homemade bread."
Over the years, he has become a sought-after chef. News that Broth and The Hangover were closing brought interest from potential employers, some of which he said he's mulling over right now.
Of course he's sad about closing, but he said it was the right decision at the right time.
"At the end of the day, of course I'm sad," he said, but he's also looking to the future.
He said that wherever he lands, he'll continue cooking with passion, maybe making some of his favorite: homestyle Puerto Rican food or consulting to help other restauranteurs grow their businesses.
"In the end," he said, "I'm a person, I cook food and I cook it with love."
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Foodies lament closing of Canal District's The Hangover Pub and Broth
