Chloe Kim: Brought to you by 91.9 KVCR News, I’m Chloe Kim. Nestled in the corner of Downtown Riverside on University Avenue, you’ll see an old-school brick building with dim, red lighting peeking out of an open door. On Fridays nights, passerbys will hear chuckles, chatter, clinking, maybe even cheering, and most importantly, music. From creating punny, vintage posters to booking bands of all genres to running the restaurant itself, I interviewed Andrea Palagi, owner of Arts Bar and Grill.
Andrea Palagi: My name is Andrea Mario Palagi. I’m known as Dre. Arts Bar and Grill opened in 1984 with the original owner, Art Conti. I was lucky enough to be in the restaurant business. My father uh had a restaurant. So, at 15 years old, I started working with my brothers at Mario’s Place restaurant in Riverside. Arts Bar and Grill opened up in 1984, the year that my father passed away. So for me, it’s special to my heart that it’s parallel with major moments in my life. I took over Arts Bar and Grill in 2023 and am lucky enough to carry the flag and continue on the legacy. It’s been in Riverside for 41 years. My mother passed away and Arts Bar and Grill was her favorite bar. So I bought my mom’s favorite bar and I’m doing everything possible to keep the legacy alive.
Chloe Kim: I was first drawn into Arts by following the lively jazz wandering out the door. I walked in, feeling an immediate transformation, and found old friends lounging back on a couch with a drink, nodding to the music. And the tables and bar filled with people enjoying company. The jazz group on my right stole my attention, jamming out, front and center in yellow lighting. Arte Herandez, part of the Jazz Junkies, switched between the deep, smooth sax and energetic flute while Andre Berry couldn’t help but make stink faces to his own bouncy notes from slapping and twiddling his bass. Dre’s idea to incorporate music has reshaped the restaurant and added the true meaning of “art” into Art Conti’s name…