Doughboy contest heats up in Oakland Beach

John Howell
Posted 7/14/15

Some might call it the battle of the doughboys.

It looks like that. On the one hand there is Iggy’s, which has evolved from a clam shack to the dominant Oakland Beach business with a statewide …

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Doughboy contest heats up in Oakland Beach

Posted

Some might call it the battle of the doughboys.

It looks like that. On the one hand there is Iggy’s, which has evolved from a clam shack to the dominant Oakland Beach business with a statewide brand. On the other is a name with an extensive Oakland Beach history – Mrs. Gus’s – that is looking to make a comeback.

Mrs. Gus’s, with its fare of doughboys, “famous hamburgers,” clamcakes and chowder, was located where the new Iggy’s Boardwalk is today. A takeout stand, Gus’s on the Bay, was at the site of the first Iggy’s until 1986, when the business was sold.

But this is much more than a contest between takeout counters. It involves families that have known, even worked for, one another for years. It also is about city building regulations and codes, and the one thing Oakland Beach lacks when the cool bay breeze is like a magnet on summer days – parking.

The history of the Rengigas’ family food connection to Oakland Beach stretches back to 1924, when Jimmy Rengigas’ aunt and uncle opened a hamburger stand where the house is today. It is there that Gus’s hamburgers gained notoriety, and Gus’s Famous Hamburgers was a favorite.

In 1934 the aunt and uncle bought what is now Iggy’s Boardwalk, making it Mrs. Gus’s Restaurant. And in 1940 they expanded, opening Gus’s on the Bay, a takeout stand where they sold doughboys, pizza and Yacht Club Soda. The takeout menu was expanded to include clamcakes and chowder in 1982.

It was a strong business.

For years, Jimmy’s aunt and uncle, Frieda and George Gionis, ran the restaurant and takeout until George died in 1956 and Jimmy’s father, John Rengigas, stepped in. The business continued, although a fire in the restaurant in 1982 was a setback. According to city land records, the restaurant and takeout were sold to Gina Giroux in June 1986.

Three years later, Giroux leased the takeout to David Gravino’s parents, Gaetano and Sally. It was the start of Iggy’s, a brand that has built such recognition that it is as Rhode Island as Del’s. David and his sister, Mary Ann Soares, bought the business in 1999. They leased the restaurant, which went through a series of operators and name changes, the most recent being Marley’s.

Last year, the Gravinos embarked on an ambitious project to make the restaurant an extension of Iggy’s with the Boardwalk. The exterior of the building was renovated to conform to the New England seaside feel of Iggy’s. The transformation inside is extensive, offering views of the beach and Greenwich Bay from virtually every seat. A Boardwalk takeout ice cream window opened this spring, and final touches are being made to the restaurant, including outdoor seating and a gazebo with bar that will open shortly.

Now, Jimmy Rengigas is looking to bring back Gus’s Famous Hamburgers along with doughboys made with the Mrs. Gus’s recipe, as well as clamcakes and chowder from the property – now a vacant house – flanked by an Iggy’s parking lot on one side and Iggy’s Boardwalk on the other.

Jimmy proposes demolishing the house and building a single-story takeout stand with kitchen. There would be parking for 18 cars.

Initially, Jimmy proposed a larger establishment, but he would not have met parking requirements. The Zoning Board of Review denied the application in March, and Jimmy returned to the board in June with a scaled-back plan that requires approval of side yard setbacks to accommodate the parking. His attorney, Robert Flaherty, successfully argued this represented a new petition and therefore could be considered without waiting a year as set by ordinance.

Garvino’s attorney, John DeSimone, reasoned the plan was not significantly altered to be considered a new application. But while the board did not buy the argument, it did agree with DeSimone that as a new application expert testimony on traffic given for the previous application did not apply to the new application. Flaherty was granted a continuance to the July 21 meeting. The hearing starts at 6 p.m., but Rengigas’ application is last on the docket behind 10 others. It could be a long night.

In a recent interview, Gravino pointed out the land he has bought to provide additional parking and how he plans to convert an overgrown acre across the street from the house into parking for an additional 140 vehicles.

“We all know we have a parking issue,” David said.

As John Rengigas continued to live in the house until about four years ago, he would often visit Iggy’s. David said they would have coffee and he would check up on him, and in one situation he called 911 when John needed medical attention. John is now living with Jimmy, and the house and yard are showing signs of neglect.

Gravino says he’s looking to increase parking for his businesses, although technically he’s “grandfathered” and doesn’t have to meet many of the requirements set by ordinance.

Jimmy says he’s anxious to get back to his Oakland Beach roots and the business he knew, and his newest plan is in compliance with parking requirements.

Comments

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  • pmetivier

    How about building a dock to tie up to. That would relieve some of the parking and bring in some of the tourist.

    Wednesday, July 15, 2015 Report this

  • gregriheaa

    It seems to me that Jimmy is a bit jealous of Iggy's. Competition is the name of the game. Let him build his small restaurant and give it a shot. iggy's has been around for years and has a great reputation and name recognition, Im sure Mr. Gravino is not losing sleep over this.

    Thursday, July 16, 2015 Report this

  • Scal1024

    It seems to me Mr. Gravino thinks he owns the Oakland Beach seawall. He doesn't. The ego to even state he doesn't have to increase parking ( due to being granfathered) is laughable. Iggys has benefited from no competition over the years, not great product. Now Tommy's and Rocky Point Clam shack are taking away $ and he's scared of losing more business. If he wasn't losing sleep over it then he would stay quiet, and allow a local businesses a chance to grow and create jobs. If this gets delayed it is a true indictment of doing business in this city. The seawall could use as many thriving businesses as possible. Mr. Gravino should understand that.

    Monday, July 20, 2015 Report this

  • Ray3565

    Great Idea !

    Wednesday, July 22, 2015 Report this

  • DanMurphy

    Scal1024 is right on target. Gravino has had no competition, and is really not ready to start now. Contrary to duke02889's assessment, Iggy's does not enjoy the "great reputation" you credit them for, and has the name recognition only because of their intense marketing.

    I don't know where the seawall comes into play. That's the stone structure bordering the parking lot. Where Gravino is now, and the new Mrs. Gus's will be, the last few hundred feet of Oakland Beach Avenue, is known among old-timers as The Midway, probably so named for the amusement features that once thrived there.

    Bring on Mrs. Gus's Doughboys! I'd love a cup of chowder and a few clam cakes that I didn't buy because of marketing, but more about product.

    Friday, July 1, 2016 Report this