Chris Dolos grew up in a restaurant kitchen at 144 Boon Street. On The Barge's website, he says his mother owned Seaside Cafe, that he made toast and washed dishes there between games at the park, and that when the business was sold he was "Mike's first employee and came with the sale." That Mike was Michael Maxon. The Providence Journal reports he opened Crazy Burger Cafe and Juice Bar in 1995.
Nearly 40 years after that first job, Dolos is back at the same address, building a restaurant called The Barge. So the corner Narragansett lost last November is being reopened by someone who started there, and the Town Council has already taken up the question of how late it should stay open. The Pier's first December weekend lands while the corner is getting ready.
A Year Since the Corner Went Dark
WPRI reported that Crazy Burger closed on Nov. 28, 2025. Maxon had put the restaurant up for sale as he retired, but it closed before the sale went through. Just a few months earlier, the restaurant had a refresh tied to a Gordon Ramsay television show. Turnto10 reported the booths came out, the patio was upgraded and the menu changed, and some of those menu changes were later reversed.
Across the street, the neighbors stepped in. Boon Street Market at 145 Boon St. said it would honor Crazy Burger gift cards after the closing, Turnto10 reported on Dec. 1, 2025. On its own site, the market lists itself as open every day from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., with food served until midnight.
"A New Start, Keeping Up the Old Roots"
According to The Barge's website, cleaning and renovation at 144 Boon St. started in November, and the restaurant is aiming for a fall 2026 opening. Dolos runs it with his partner, and the two have operated Pizza Heaven in East Greenwich since 2013. The site's tagline reads:
"A new start, keeping up the old roots."
Dolos also writes that he ate at Crazy Burger, loved it, and was "very sad when they closed," like many people in town. Most restaurants that take over an empty storefront arrive with no history there. This one is being opened by the last link back to the corner's Seaside Cafe days.
The Hours Question Went to Town Hall
The Town's agenda for the Oct. 5, 2026 council meeting listed a victualler license for BIZL.CORP, doing business as The Barge, with Chris Dolos as owner and operator. It described a restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus late-night breakfast until 2 a.m. The agenda also noted that the previous business at the address was Crazy Burger.
At that meeting, the 2 a.m. breakfast plan was continued to a later meeting after residents raised concerns about noise and parking, according to MeetingWatch's summary of the meeting. The council asked for plans covering parking, seating capacity, occupancy limits, and noise and loitering.
Citizen Portal's write-up of the same meeting described the late-night plan as weekend breakfast service until 2 a.m. with no alcohol. Council agendas and meeting video are posted on the Town's Granicus page.
Saturday, Dec. 5: The Faire Moves Inland
The Pier's holiday weekend begins away from the water. The Narragansett Chamber of Commerce Holiday Street Faire runs Saturday, Dec. 5, until 4 p.m. on the Parks and Recreation grounds at 170 Clarke Rd. The Chamber's past Faire materials name the site The Clarke Center.
The Chamber has arranged parking for the day. You can leave your car at Scarborough Beach and take a free shuttle, which runs for the whole Faire.
In its 2026 sponsorship letter, the Chamber describes a free family event with:
- Live music and food vendors
- Holiday vendors selling gifts
- Santa visits
- Basket raffles
The Chamber says the Faire regularly draws more than 1,000 people. Last year's program had an Artisan Barn of local makers, plus alpacas, kids' crafts and seasonal drinks.
Sunday, Dec. 6: Beach to Gazebo, Morning to Dark
On Sunday, everything happens on the Pier. On the Town's 2026 Parks and Recreation special events calendar, three events follow one another with no gap from 8 a.m. until after dark:
- Jingle Bell Run, 8 to 10 a.m., Narragansett Town Beach
- Surfing Santas, 10 a.m. to noon, Narragansett Town Beach
- Festival of Lights, noon to 5:30 p.m., Gazebo Park
The Chamber has run its Jingle Bell Run in the past as a timed 5K on Town Beach, scheduled around low tide, with refreshments afterward at the North Beach Clubhouse. Once the runners leave the sand at 10, the Surfing Santas take over the same beach.
At noon things move to Gazebo Park, right next to The Towers at 35 Ocean Road. Last year, on Dec. 7, 2025, The Towers listed the evening this way: a tree lighting at 5 p.m. in Gazebo Park, Santa at The Towers, hot chocolate, caroling, and fireworks to finish. The Ricentral holiday guide credits the festival to the Town's Parks and Recreation department. The 2026 time slot ending at 5:30 p.m. fits that same pattern, with the lighting coming at the close of the afternoon.
Every event on the Town calendar is held outdoors and depends on the weather, and all are free unless noted otherwise. Parks and Recreation posts changes on its Facebook page, on the Town's upcoming events page, and at 401-782-0658.
Where the Evening Ends
By about 6 p.m. on Dec. 6, the lights are on, the fireworks have finished if this year matches last, and the crowd is heading home from Ocean Road. Those are the evening hours the council took up on Oct. 5, when it continued the plan for weekend breakfast until 2 a.m. at 144 Boon St. and asked the applicant for parking, occupancy and noise plans.
At Baker 21 Realty, we follow the Pier the way our neighbors do, from holiday schedules on Ocean Road to what's opening on Boon Street. If you have a question about this corner or anything else coming to Narragansett this season, give us a call. We're always glad to talk about the town we love.
