Good Life Bar and Restaurant - Boston, MA
New Look + Improved Efficiency = Life Is Good At Good Life
Good Life has come a long way since its opening in Boston’s financial district. Originally an “old school” martini bar hearkening back to the Swinger era, Good Life changed ownership last year and has been completed renovated. Their lounge showcases artwork by local artists as well as musicians and performers on certain nights, and movies are featured on Monday evenings. Good Life offers a stylish American-International Bistro menu and an extensive list of specialty drinks – including, of course, martinis. The bar prides itself on its broad selection of vodka served chilled, according to the web site, “in the manner in which it was intended from its inception.” (For those patrons wondering what the difference is between all those varieties, vodka-tasting nights are also offered each month.)
The Fiumara family, who owns and operates the Good Life, wanted a more classic, modern feel to the interior, incorporating granite and marble – and this new aesthetic had to translate to the bar’s two restrooms as well. Peter Fiumara said they updated the bathroom fixtures and installed teak dividers between the stalls for a nicer look. He also decided to install the high-speed XLERATOR® hand dryer. “I’d heard about these dryers online, and decided it sounded like a good match,” he said. The XLERATOR hand dryer is unique in that it completely dries hands in 10 seconds*, versus conventional dryers that take 30-45 seconds or longer.
“The part I love most about the XLERATOR is the response it gets,” said Fiumara. “Every time someone dries their hands, there’s laughter and you see people exiting the bathroom with smiles on their faces, telling their friends about it. It works so well that it catches everyone by surprise.”
In addition to its unexpected speed, the XLERATOR uses 80% less energy than conventional hand dryers. It is the first hand dryer to achieve GreenSpec® listing and the only hand dryer endorsed by the Green Restaurant Association. The XLERATOR also helps facilities qualify for LEED® Credits (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) by the U.S. Green Building Council.
“We’re very green-conscious,” added Fiumara. “We try to use renewable resources wherever possible. We’re not buying paper towels anymore, which makes a big difference.” He stated that by avoiding buying multiple cases of paper towels that bar patrons required in the past, the cost of one dryer was offset in less than a year. “We’ve also cut the electric bill significantly,” he added. Since the XLERATOR is motion-sensor activated and only runs for quick bursts, it consumes very little electricity compared to dryers that take much longer to dry hands.
Overall, customers have embraced the new Good Life and view the changes quite positively. “Business has increased,” said Fiumara. “Since modernizing the interior and expanding the menu, we’ve received a lot of positive feedback and more regular patrons.” He agreed the updated look and improved convenience for customers is what keeps them coming back.
