Indigo Pizza And Lounge Prepares For Second Year

Start with intriguing fare, including one-of-a-kind pizzas, add live music and entertainment on an intimate stage, insert these ingredients into a quaint and comfortable 50-seat setting with a sit-down bar, and you have Indigo's Pizza Lounge at 599 Tiogue Ave.

Located on a section of Route 3 where several relatively new and refurbished businesses are reporting increased activity, Indigo's began a year ago under owner Mary Day who soon designed it into a distinctive restaurant and lounge at the site of a former Dairy Queen and Rose Petals Flower Shop.

"I love all genres of music and I just liked the word 'indigo,'" Day said of the name and concept of the lounge. "I have been in the music world since I was 18. I play guitar and sing, write songs and have my own CDs. I have played in bands up and down the strip (Tiogue Ave)." She's also played at police benefits.

So far, Bill Gannon, Mark Cutler, Becky Chace, The Hype and Jury — all established and popular performers — have performed at Indigo's. But Day is also a proud mentor for what she considers to be a very promising top 40s band quartet, Boys without a Clue, young men she identifies as "Ben, Matt, Dan and Sean."

Sports buffs also like to watch the action on Sunday on one of the lounge's four TV screens, including the 50-inch set installed over the stage. "We also invite people to come down and audition on open mic nights," she said. "I like to discover new talent and give them a chance."

While lively at night, Indigo's is a quieter setting up until early evening. "I want it to be comfortable for anyone coming in here from a solo lady coming for a pizza and beer to kids and families," Day said. "But after nine, we usually get a crowd of ages 21 and up. 

"I also want this to be a place where you can come in with your jeans and relax," she added, something easy to believe when you see the walls of "Ralph Lauren denim blue."

"We have been allowed to use the ingredients that Domenic DiMicco used in his pizza recipe at his Domenic's Pizza Restaurant," Day said of the former popular pizza spot. And while she also serves conventional pizzas in personal, medium and large sizes, with take-out and free delivery service, it is the ingredients of speciality and dessert pizzas that have already created a buzz.

Besides American chop suey, sloppy joe, lemon pepper and other speciality pizzas, Day encourages customers to try her dessert pizzas such as apple cinammon, French toast, cinnamon raisin or even smores. Indigo's also serve appetizers, calzone pies, pasta dishes, sandwiches and salads, and offers a children's menu.

Day is also the co-owner with Pam DiMicco of PJ's Diner at 608 Tiogue Ave., diagonally across the street from Indigo's. "It has sort of a Cheers' atmosphere there," she said of the 32-seat establishment that primarily serves breakfast and light lunch fare.

Though she has a hand in many things, Day can not do it all — but she can turn to a familiar and reliable face for overseeing the business when she is not there. "Jeremy DiMicco is my manager and sidekick," she said.

So what was the compelling reason driving her to become the owner of Indigo's? "I've been a Providence police officer for the last 25 years and wanted to put my hands on something that I could run once I retired," she said. Now that she has it firmly in her creative grasp, she envisions doing even more with the business and the building.

So what might alson take place alongside Karaoke nights, open mic nights, live music nights on Friday and Saturday and Sunday game days? Will she create another pizza concoction and maybe discover a band? Only Day knows, but she promises "I want my place to not be like any other pizza place around and offer live entertainment."

Indigo Pizza and Lounge is located at 599 Tiogue Ave., Coventry 02816-5571. It is open Monday, 4-10 p.m.; Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m. – midnight; Friday-Saturday., 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. and Sunday, noon-midnight.