Ellie’s to Move into the Former Kleos Space this Summer
The change was prompted by a change in ownership of the eatery's current address.
Courtesy of InDowncity / Cornish Associates.
After a slew of recent departures in the local food scene, the news of doors being shut in any capacity is cause for alarm.
But in this particular case, it’s reason to celebrate: Ellie’s, the beloved Parisian-style cafe and sister eatery to the fine dining stalwart Gracie’s, has not only bucked the closing trend but is on to bigger and better things, securing new digs at the Cornish Associates’ (a.k.a. the team behind InDownCity) Alice Building on Westminster Street. Or, as Rhode Islanders would say, “where Kleos used to be” — the Greek restaurant quietly vacated the premises back in February.
Ellie’s current location is set to cease operations on May 31 but expects to reopen at the new downtown address early this summer with Ellen Gracyalny still at the helm and Matthew Varga continuing to lead the kitchen in all its delicious endeavors. Though the eatery will certainly take advantage of the larger footprint afforded by the new location, the move was initially prompted by a change in ownership of their Weybosset Street address.
“We were facing having to close Ellie’s,” says Gracyalny. “We noticed the 250 Westminster Street location listed for lease and began discussions with Cornish. We are so thankful to the Cornish team for supporting us through this transition and are excited about returning to our original roots alongside the InDowncity community.”
Courtesy of InDowncity / Cornish Associates.
This is not the first time Gracyalny has joined forces with Cornish Associates — the relationship goes back as far as 2005 when she opened Gracie’s on the ground floor of their Harkness property on Washington Street. Ellie’s was then the first business to move into Cornish’s storefronts at the Biltmore Garage nearby. (It later moved to the Weybosset locale in 2019 for its bigger kitchen and baking space).
“It’s wonderful to work once again with Ellen and her talented team,” says Arnold “Buff” Chace, founder and managing partner at Cornish Associates. “Ellie’s will be a great addition to the vibrant community surrounding Grant’s Block, and it’s gratifying to see this neighborhood continue to thrive with fantastic restaurants, great retail, and an open space so important to an urban neighborhood.
Once the new location is up and running, guests can expect to once again indulge in both indoor and outdoor seating options as well as fan-favorite breakfast and lunch fare — with a few exciting new menu additions mixed in. Ellie’s will also host regular classes and events and is available for private events. Furthermore, the eatery plans to expand its operations into an evening wine bar in the fall.
“The team is filled with anticipation as we prepare to warmly welcome guests to our new home on Westminster Street,” Gracyalny says.
To learn more about Ellie’s and keep up with the latest moving updates, visit elliesprov.com.
