BURRILLVILLE – A couple from Johnston has purchased a deli in Pascoag, saying they hope to maintain the same operations as the prior owner while also securing a license for the business this week.
Arminda Costa and Otaniel Mendes bought the Cow’s Tail Deli & Creamery from founding owners Mike and Christy Karmozyn. The High Street restaurant has built a following serving up an extensive menu of sandwiches, salads, seafood, ice cream and more since it first opened in 2019.
The Karmozyns announced they would take a break from the business in January, with plans that included renovations, a vacation, and addressing some ongoing health issues, telling customers that they planned to return in February. But it seems they may have since had a change of heart.
The restaurant occupies a 1,100-square-foot standalone leased space on the same property as CVS Pharmacy, owned by JJP Pascoag, LLC. It will continue to operate as Cow’s Tail under ownership of OM Coating, an LLC registered with the Rhode Island Secretary of State out of Johnston last May.
An application listing Costa and Mendes – both of the same Johnston address – as the president and vice president respectively, for a license went first before the Burrillville Redevelopment Agency this week, in case the board had an opinion or objection to provide to the Town Council.
“Had we wanted to object to it, we could have,” explained Chairman Jim Langlois. “We did not. We just took no official position on it.”
“I’m not sure what they’ve got planned there,” he said.
“Whether they’re going to make changes or not is something we do not know yet,” Langlois added.
The couple told town councilors the business will remain the same when they appeared before the board on Wednesday, Feb. 26.
“We want to do the same thing as Mike was running,” said Costa.
Town Manager Mike Wood said his office had no objections.
“I just wish them the best of luck and I’m looking forward to them opening up again,” said Town Councilor Dennis Anderson.
Langlois said that his agency hopes to meet with the new owners soon.
Editor’s note: An original version of this article stated that the applicant also applied for an entertainment and liquor license, an error caused by the new form used with the application. We were misinformed and apologize for the error.
