Lombardi's Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar

Stronger than ever

Change is inevitable, especially in the restaurant business. Understanding and accepting the challenges is key, and who better than someone who has been in the business over 40 years? Diane Symms and daughter Kerri Lonergan-Dreke have repositioned Lombardi's with locations in Everett and Bothell/Mill Creek, making long-time fans happy.

Diane at Mill Creek location

Diane started a deli called Wild Strawberry in south Seattle. Her second place was the Roanoke Exit on Eastlake Avenue, and then a pasta manufacturing business called Ribbons. In 1987, she opened a full-service restaurant concept she called Lombardi's Neighborhood Italian in Ballard. Kerri worked with her mom at the deli when she was eight and summers during school years. She got her Business Administration degree from Central Washington University. When personal computers were taking off, Diane wanted to computerize her system. Kerri helped part time, then full time. "I saw the business from a different perspective and developed a different attitude about my mom. I have a love of small business, having the opportunity to be more successful." She's been with Lombardi's ever since.

In 1987, Italian food was the "new" cuisine and there were no Italian restaurants in Ballard. The area was growing and Diane saw great potential in the busy corner space on Market Ave. A success, they expanded to Issaquah in 1990. They had their challenges, what with the I90 bridge sinking and the Issaquah Creek flooding the restaurant before they even opened, but they stayed and did well.

In 1998, they opened a third location on the waterfront in Everett. Although Snohomish County was the fastest growing county in the state, the Events Center took longer to complete, 9/11 occurred, and Boeing layoffs followed. More challenges that have been overcome. "We are right on the marina with beautiful views of the boats," says Kerri. "We have 50 outdoor seats, with an additional 40 on the boardwalk during summer months. We have a full bar, and a private dining room that seats up to 45. We remodeled in 2004 to add that room. We originally underestimated how important private dining would be." The Everett location is helped by nearby events: the Sunday farmers market from June through September, Music at the Marina put on by the City of Everett, and Fresh Paint, an artist festival at the marina in August. Fall of 2014 will see the completion of a mixed-use building nearby with a permanent farmers market on the ground floor with condos and apartments above.

In 2010, they closed the Ballard location. The neighborhood was rapidly changing. "Our demographic was moving out, and there was so much competition." Diane adds, "I would look outside and see people walk by and never even look at us. We'd been there so long, people didn't see us anymore. If we were to stay, we would have had to create a new concept and change our look."

After closing Ballard, it became apparent that they wouldn't be able to continue in Issaquah. "The property owner had committed to selling to a developer. We could have closed for a year, then created a new restaurant from the ground up. We had done that in Everett and understood the cost and uncertainty of making it back. So we finished out our lease and closed in July 2013," says Kerri.

In the fall of 2011, they started looking for property. "We decided if we were to open another location, we'd want to own the real estate. Diane owned the property where her delis used to be, and that worked well. Owning gives us total control over the property and what we do," explains Kerri. They looked in Bothell, Mill Creek and Woodinville, all good markets for their concept-single family neighborhoods and baby boomers. In the fall of 2012, they found their current location on the Bothell-Everett Highway, closing the deal in June, and opening the restaurant on September 12, 2012.

"Our name is Lombardi's Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar and we feature Washington and Italian wines, along with cask wine. The cask wine is great quality and comes in stainless steel casks so it stays fresh. Plus we don't have to recycle bottles or a lot of cardboard. We have many more wines by the glass, too," says Kerri. "Having seen the boom in local wines, we started looking at what's happening with local craft distilleries and saw the opening of our Mill Creek location as an opportunity to feature local liquors as well." Having learned from their Everett experience, they took the long narrow bar at Mill Creek and added a stone wall with a two-sided fireplace at one end, giving them a banquet room that can seat up to 50 or be used as overflow dining space. An open kitchen with a Hearthstone wood fired oven livens up the dining room. "Kids and adults love it," says Kerri. They have outdoor deck seating for 20.

Cooking classes and demos take place in front of the open kitchen, live music in the bar happens every Thursday evening, and all night happy hour occurs on Mondays. In addition, the Italian Supper Club, a three course prix fixe is available every day for $17.95 (call for hours).

Diane remains the CEO, but Kerri is transitioning into that position, handling HR, finances, and marketing. She is also taking on more of the day-to-day management. Diane is phasing out of the day-to-day and focusing more on menu and beverage development. "It's wonderful to have Diane here. She is my sounding board, consultant and adviser. She's so creative and innovative, and has an excellent perspective," says Kerri.

Kerri Lonergan-Dreke

Happy with their two locations, there are no current plans for another full-service Lombardi's. But with change a constant, you never know. "It would have to be just the right thing."

Lombardi's Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar

19409 Bothell-Everett Hwy
Bothell, WA 98012
425-892-2931

1620 W Marine View Dr
Everett, WA 98201
425-252-1886

www.lombardisitalian.com

Photos courtesy of Lombardi's

Connie Adams/March 2014