Catering To Clients’ Needs

Steve Connelly, president of Ingalls Advertising, has opened Bazics, a 50-seat restaurant in the Boston Design Center.
When the agency moved into the somewhat isolated dockside space in 1996, it had planned to add a cafeteria. When that idea fell through, Connelly decided to take the plunge himself. The Ingalls principal said he pumped six figures of his own money into the eatery.
Bazics is managed by Connelly’s younger brother, Barry, formerly a chef at the Four Seasons Hotel in Boston. The younger Connelly serves up breakfast and lunch from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“Bazics” is a play on Barry’s childhood nickname, “Baz,” and basics, the type of fare offered. The 2,000-square-foot startup is located on the building’s second floor, just four below Ingalls’ offices.
So far, no clients have eaten at Bazics. However, Connelly is not ruling out wining and dining current and potential clients in the near future. “They’re welcome . . . Everyone’s welcome,” he said. -David Gianatasio