Karen Haskell Owner

Michela and I were sitting in lawn chairs looking out over Lake Winnipesaukee. I was enjoying what she now refers to as my early retirement; my version is that after having children in my 40s, I was taking a couple of years to be with them. She suggested that as an entrepreneur, my second career should have a greater element of risk (than founding and selling a start-up educational software company). In her opinion, restaurants were just the ticket. High risk, low margins, but lots of fun. I have to admit it was a compelling argument.

So we started Rialto at the Charles Hotel together with Jody Adams, and with Gary we added Noir and then blu at the Sports Club/LA. In those years my primary function was to be sure that the bottom line was as healthy as the top line, and that the deals we made with our partners were good for everyone. Along the way, I was occasionally asked for some commonsense business advice which was occasionally taken.

These were wonderful projects, but at some point we decided that we were ready to go out on our own with a completely independent restaurant. In search of risk (and a good business deal), we located ourselves in the outskirts of a wonderful but still developing neighborhood in the city of Boston: Harrison Avenue in the South End. And with our visionary landlord, Mario Nicosia, we built ROCCA. My role is similar, with just a few more sleepless nights: do the deal, help set up the systems, provide business guidance, and look for growth opportunities. The real joy here is starting with a concept and seeing it grow into a vital business that brings such pleasure to people.

This is a theatrical business, and it is nothing if not interesting, every day. Michela was right.