Impact of NHL Lockout Mixed

In early October when we visited Anthony Radzikowski, then the new owner of Ernesto’s Pizza at 69 Salem Street, he noted that hockey fans like to hang around.

“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.”

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

Recently, Anthony told us that the hockey lockout did not hurt his business as much as he had anticipated.

“It’s not a huge impact on Ernesto’s Pizza,” he said.

The Bruins started playing at the Garden on Saturday, January 19.

Anthony said there are other business that the lockout did affect.

“More owners of sports bars on Causeway Street are definitely going to be affected by anything that happens at the Garden directly.”

Anthony gets lots of sports fans coming into the pizza shop.

“We have fans coming into Ernesto’s for the Bruins and the Celtics before and after the game depending on when the games end,” he said.

Ernesto’s hours are Sunday through Thursday, 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

At the time, Paul D’Amore, owner of Massimino’s at 207 Endicott Street, said the lockout was serious for his business with its close proximity to the Garden.

D’Amore said on a night the Bruins are playing, 34 out of 40 customers in Massimino’s are wearing the team’s jersey. Paul 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,” he said. “Basketball fans are more sedate. They both have the same money to spend but Bruins fans are so, so passionate.”

On Monday, January 21, Paul was elated.

“The restaurant is full of Bruins fans as we speak,” he said.

“Absolutely, business has been affected here until last Saturday,” Paul said. “We had a 20 percent drop from last year when the Bruins played.”

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