After closing its doors earlier this summer, Keon’s 105 Bistro is getting a second act.
The longtime restaurant at 105 Washington Street in downtown Haverhill is preparing to reopen under new ownership this fall, with the new team promising a refreshed space, familiar favorites, and some additions to the menu.
According to a recent report from WHAV, the Haverhill License Commission recently approved the licenses needed for the restaurant to reopen, putting the project one step closer to welcoming diners back. Robert DeFrancesco appeared before the commission as the restaurant’s new executive chef and owner alongside partners William and Ada Kathleen Vadeboncoeur.
“My partners and I are looking to re-liven up Keon’s. Get it back into the community,” DeFrancesco told commissioners. “I have been a chef for 25 years in this restaurant business and I pride myself on doing things the right way and being successful.”
The new ownership team officially purchased Keon’s on July 22, according to a recent social media post, and has spent the past several weeks preparing the restaurant for its next chapter. That work has included personally deep-cleaning the restaurant, basement, and kitchen while working with the city to bring the plumbing and electrical systems up to code. The owners have also added fresh colors and new design touches throughout the restaurant.
There’s plenty of experience behind the bar and in the kitchen, too. William “Bill” Vadeboncoeur will serve as owner and front-of-house manager, bringing more than 40 years of experience in the restaurant and bar industry. His Haverhill résumé includes eight years at Mr. Mike’s Restaurant & Lounge, 20 years at Haverhill Country Club, and eight years at Essex Street Grille.
Meanwhile, Ada Vadeboncoeur, an educator and administrator with more than 30 years of experience, will handle the restaurant’s administrative operations while also greeting guests. DeFrancesco will oversee the kitchen as executive chef and back-of-house manager. According to the ownership team, he has more than 25 years of restaurant experience as an executive chef and has managed multiple restaurants.
One of his biggest projects will be developing new menu items while bringing back some of the dishes longtime Keon’s customers remember. Past popular dishes have included short ribs, cider-glazed pork chops, and steak bomb egg rolls.
The restaurant previously operated under chef and owner Robert Giallongo, who purchased Keon’s from Alan Boisvert in 2017 after working as its chef since 2013. The restaurant closed without notice on June 24, and Giallongo later surrendered its licenses. At the time, he indicated that he was working toward a “new chapter” for Keon’s.
The new owners also say they will honor previously purchased Keon’s gift cards, working with the Toast point-of-sale system to retrieve existing gift card information. They will not, however, continue with Groupon; customers with previously purchased Groupons are being directed to Groupon for refunds.
When it reopens, the restaurant plans to operate on a new schedule, opening at 4 p.m. daily. Planned hours are 4 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 4 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Reservations will be encouraged, although walk-ins will be welcome, and bar seating will remain available for walk-in guests.
An official opening date has not yet been announced. Final approval from the state’s Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission could take another six to eight weeks, according to License Commission Clerk Nicholas Flynn, while the owners continue working through construction and city requirements. The team said an opening date will be shared as soon as the timeline becomes clearer.
