HOLLIS – For Alan and Michelle Archambault, owners and operators of the Alpine Grove, the banquet facility and pavillion at 19 South Depot Rd., Rte. 11A, Hollis, these past few months have not been easy.

“It’s been about reinventing Alpine,” Alan said. “We had to rewrite a whole new pub menu. We had to change equipment.”

“We had to create a different menu that was more suited for casual eating,” Michelle added. “We had to create a new point of sale system. But what sets us apart is that we are a good team. It’s all unchartered waters to some degree. But we know how to put on events.”

The open-to-the-public menu is more a la carte as opposed to what people are accustomed to.

“The complete menu is on our website (alpinegrove.com) and our big show with Danny Klein will be on August 23,” Alan stated. “There’s ticket information on the website as well.”

Well known by area residents, the Alpine Grove banquet facility, an area institution that’s been in business for over 50 years, is limited to fifty percent capacity inside, which equates to roughly 120 people in half of the main ballroom. Alan said that the operation can still facilitate parties of a sizable count.

Currently, he and Michelle have been focused on how to utilize the space outside of the facility to accommodate an outdoor audience for special events.

With one large tent already set up courtesy of Christian Party Rentals, Alpine will add another 100′ by 60′ tent for the Hollis-Brookline high school prom.

“We’ll have 220 with the COVID-19 seating,” Alan said. “Two-thirds will be open for dancing and the DJ will set up on the stage. That will be the 23rd of this month. It should be pretty good. But we have had to reinvent every square inch of the tent.”

Rarely in the past did Alpine Grove necessitate an outdoor scenario, but with the coronavirus pandemic, the Archambaults have had to rethink every process in order to create new business.

“Christian Rentals definitely gets some kudos for this,” Alan said, gesturing around the interior of the tent.

With no playbook, road map or how-to guide, the Archambaults strategically repositioned themselves along with the catering aspect and staffing for future events.

They’ve created a Wednesday, Thursday, Friday music and comedy series that will run throughout the month of July and most likely further into the summer.

“We have an open blues jam on Wednesdays,” Alan noted.

The house band will be the River Blues Band and musicians are asked to bring their own instrument, excluding drums and a personal microphone if they require one as part as their performance. A sign-up sheet will be available. Doors open at 5:30.

This is no get-rich-quick scheme. The Archambaults are just trying to be creative and invite folks back to the Grove. They’ve been blasting social media with announcements, which includes comedy night on Thursdays, featuring top comedians from the region.

“We’re just trying to get the word out,” Alan said. “We’ve been killing it on Facebook. Hollis, Brookline, Chelmsford, Dunstable, Pepperell – you name it. We do have Pete Tarrior at WZID. He just did a giveaway on air for us. But we need people for the comedy night.”

The hope is that people will come out and support the venue by buying tickets for comedy night, or just coming to sit outside at socially-distanced tables and enjoy some food and drinks.

“We started this right when we could open up, which was June 15,” Michelle said. “Our staff is sanitizing between trips to tables. And I think that we’re lucky to have some people who are very loyal to us. So, I think that’s been extremely helpful.”

Still, the Archambaults are concerned people are either reticent about venturing out, or simply don’t know that the Grove is back to hosting events.

“The comedians and the musicians have been very reasonable for us,” Alan said.

Michelle commented that the talent is probably as happy to be able to perform as audiences are to listen and enjoy.

“I think they’re glad to be out and performing,” she said. “But it’s tough.”

Congregating even in a safe environment is still intimidating so some, the Archambaults acknowledged. Mask wearing is expected.

“The exception is being at the table,” Alan said. “When people go to the restroom or the bar, they should wear their mask. Those are the guidelines and the recommendations.”

Then there’s the question of dancing.

“We haven’t come to that yet,” Alan replied. “Next week, if the weather is good, the kids can dance but the principal is going to be a stickler as far as keeping six feet apart.”

Slow dances are most likely going to be discouraged, if not disallowed.

“We were really worried about that,” Alan said. “We don’t want to be ‘that guy.’ A couple of the moms have ideas. But we’ve been working into the wee hours of the morning trying to make sure that each piece of the puzzle fits.”

The Archambaults have extensively created floor plans, ensuring six feet of distance between tables and double-checking that seating is limited to small groups and not a cluster.

“They’ll still have plenty of open space,” he continued. “It’s basically like Gov. Sununu said. He’s not going to be the COVID cop. But we’re the stewards of that.”

“We’re doing our part and doing what we’re supposed to do,” Michelle added.

Like people going out across the Greater Nashua area, there is a majority of concerned and careful folks who err on caution, wear masks and respect other people’s space. Then there may be others who object.

Staff will be wearing masks and PPE.

Due to COVID-19 however, the Archambaults have suffered with the cancellations of many events.

“Some weddings, And anything that we do yearly, is just cancelled until next year,” Michelle said.

“The BG prom with 650 kids is gone,” Alan said. “With the Senior Center’s ‘Fire and Fusion,’ we’ve tried three different ways from Sunday and we just can’t make it happen.”

The Archambaults have received a lot of positive feedback, and they’re hoping their efforts will attract more people.

“We have the food and beverage,” Alan said. “We just need the people to come over and check us out.”

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