Fairhaven’s Iconic Mike’s Restaurant Finally Reopens After Major Renovation

FAIRHAVEN (WBSM) — After more than three months, Fairhaven’s beloved Mike’s Restaurant reopens on Wednesday with a fresh look inside and the same menu favorites that have fed generations on the SouthCoast.

Just after 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Mike’s Restaurant finally posted to its Facebook page those words its loyal customers could not wait to read: “We are thrilled to announce that Mike's Restaurant will be reopening tomorrow, Wednesday, January 14th at 11:30 a.m.”

Back on October 6, Mike’s closed for what was supposed to be a six-to-eight-week makeover of the building that is over 80 years old.

READ MORE: Fairhaven's Mike's Restaurant Closing for Renovations

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A Renovation Longer Than Planned

“This was supposed to be a facelift,” owner Lyn Metivier said. “We emptied it out in a day, and the work started on October 8. What should have taken six to eight weeks max got dragged to the point where I lost all of my Christmas gift card sales, and I had to put my employees out of work during Christmas, which was not the plan. Believe it or not, I didn’t lose anybody.”

What Changed Inside Mike’s Restaurant

Entering through the bar side late Tuesday afternoon for a sneak peek, the brand new bar immediately stood out.

“The bar was falling apart, so we rebuilt the bar. That was the biggest thing,” Metivier said, noting that the layout of the restaurant is exactly the same as customers remember. “It’s the same footprint. Nothing about the footprint has changed.”

Metivier also pointed to the new flooring in the dining room, replacing the formerly carpeted look.

“We’ve had carpet down forever and ever,” she said. “I had a great carpet cleaning guy but he just retired.”

Other improvements made during the renovation include new ceiling tiles, upgraded lighting, swapped-out artwork, and redone bathrooms. The wood walls were also freshly stained, and sanded at the top to create a two-tone look.

Preserving the Feel of a Fairhaven Institution

“That was one of the biggest things people were worried about,” Metivier said. “I promised I was not going to change the wood walls. When you walk in, it’s going to feel like Mike’s. That was important to people, and I agree.”

A Legacy Spanning Decades

If anyone appreciates the history of a legendary restaurant like Mike’s, it’s Metivier. She began working there as a bartender in 1994, left for a bit and returned in 2009 as a co-owner. In 2018, she became the sole owner, and carries on the tradition that goes back decades.

The building itself dates back to the 1930s, when the main area in the middle was a house. The second dining room and the bar were added on later. It was a chicken house restaurant, and had other iterations, before Mike Costa opened it as Mike’s Restaurant in 1968. Mike Cormier later took over as owner and incorporated it in 1976. Mike DeForge and Gene Ouellette purchased it in 1990, and Metivier and one of the other female employees each bought into the ownership in 2009 when Ouellette wanted to retire.

“I had a 10-year plan where I would buy them out, and in 2018, I did – just in time for COVID,” she said.

Small upgrades were made year after year, and when Metivier took over as the sole owner, she replaced much of the kitchen equipment. Each year, Mike’s would close for four days for a major cleaning.

“That’s when we would say, ‘What can we add? What can we do?” she said. However, what Mike’s Restaurant has undergone since October is the single biggest renovation of the entire restaurant.

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Same Menu, Same Traditions

The most important thing, though, is that the menu hasn’t changed, and neither have the large portions for an affordable price. Loyal customers can still expect the same great Italian dishes, seafood specialties, and of course, the famous Mike’s prime rib – and no, they still didn’t add a fryolator.

“We’re not changing anything, and we’re not trying to become something else,” Metivier said.