No one knows what exists behind every door. We may think we do, it may seem obvious, we may believe the signs; but who’s to know what’s really hiding behind the walls and the opaque, storefront glass? This is a lesson well-learned by those who stumble into Olneyville, looking for the Fête, and end up in a medieval English bar, complete with a suit of armor and weathered copies of Chaucer.
The Knight Library is just one part of Fête’s elaborate re-branding and expansion. The club had a major staffing overhaul earlier this year, and is now changing up many of the physical elements of the space. Owner Nicolas Bauta is in the process of turning it into a mecca for music and food – under the new umbrella, The Bend. Bauta began this renovation because he wanted to “bring people together with common interests, and music is the best way to do that. It’s really inspiring to walk into the Fête and find 1,000 people singing a song you’ve never heard.” Bauta continues, “We need to keep the music alive. This town ebbs and flows, it is hills and valleys; a place that can stand the test of time is important.”
On a tour of the facility, random workers are encountered at almost every turn, from entertainer, fire dancer and general manager Dani Riley, preparing drinks and decor in the old-English themed section, to welders fixing up a metal shop, to artists arranging artificial cats in the gallery space, preparing for an upcoming show featuring local off-the-grid artist Tom West. There is a clear gleam in the eyes of both Bauta and general manager Drew Potenza, as they describe their plans and hopes for these multiple new spaces, which will include local organic food, locally grown music and alcohol. Fête is now just a part of The Bend, the new name encompassing an entire, activityfilled city block in Olneyville. There is also The Knight Library, Justine’s Speakeasy, The Happy Kitchen, an art gallery which is still changing names occasionally, and a few other places that are still under construction. Most of these are smaller, intimate bar spaces or eateries and the entire complex is filled with secret passages from one business to the next, interspersed with relaxing, casual outdoor spaces that can accommodate a hang and feature unexpected random art.
The complex is contributing to an Olneyville cultural revival that especially inspires the Bend team. From Wes’ Rib House on one side to the NY System in another direction, to mini-golf and new residences, with a number of establishments in between, they feel The Bend is uniquely positioned to be a hub for after hours culture where people can hop, quickly and safely, from one venue to another, with separate vibes, music or activities. Responding to concerns about the neighborhood, Drew points out, “Onlyville square has one of the lowest crime rates in Providence. There’s an implicit bias so a lot of people don’t realize that it’s not dangerous.” Bauta’s hope is that “it gets discovered by locals – the right people that want to do the right things.” In other words, bring on the artists! •
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