PIGrille Damages Sent to Mediator

PLUM ISLAND – Frank Bertolino with North Shore Realty is marketing the site of the former Plum Island Grille as a large home with an accessory apartment or as a multi-family house.
Or the now-vacant restaurant, two blocks from the beach, could become a restaurant again with an ice cream shop – all overlooking the salt marsh with awe-inspiring sunset views.
“Can you imagine your 4,000 – 5,000 sq. ft. home with an Accessory apartment at this location? Maybe your Multi-Family home or your 5 Star Restaurant or Restaurant with Ice Cream Shop?” Bertolino posted on Instagram.
It is unclear if the mosaic bar from the front dining room or a mahogany bar will be available for a new restaurant. Both bars were ripped out, and along with lights and other decorative items from the Grille, were taken away by the former restaurant owner Frances Broadbery.
Both Broadbery and the landowner, Mark Fiery, claim the bars and other items as their property in an on-going legal battle in Newburyport district and superior courts.
The Newbury Police have cited Broadbery for deliberate vandalism of the restaurant at 2 Plum Island Blvd., which a building contractor, hired by Friery, estimates totaled $192,000 in damages. A hearing on the criminal charge of vandalism and property destruction will be held next week.
When asked Friday by a surprised Judge Peter Doyle in Newburyport District Court where the bar tops and other items were, Broadbery said he gave them away.
“That does not make sense to me,” Judge Doyle said. “Did you think about returning the items to the restaurant?”
Broadbery said he was not talking with Friery. “At the time, I did not have any choice,” he said.
He told the judge he moved the bars and other items from the Grille to the space of a new restaurant that he was negotiating a lease for. But that lease fell through, Broadberry told the judge, because of newspaper coverage of the accusations of vandalism against him.
When pressed by the judge, Broadbery said he thought he could get the mosaic and mahogany bars returned.
After questioning both Friery and Broadberry about specific damage and removal of items, Judge Doyle proposed that the North Essex Mediators visit the restaurant and assess what items, such as the bartops and cabinets have been removed and what other damage, including wires that were cut in the heating and cooling system as well as the lines to the beer dispenser.
The court will hear the results of that site visit at 2:30 p.m. on March 14.