⚓ DEEP DIVE ⚓ New Stamford Pop-Up Restaurant a Reflection of Owner’s Innovative Approach
A look at 4th Quarter restaurant and why you should visit
STAMFORD — Isis-Rae Goulbourne, owner of the 4th Quarter restaurant at Stamford Town Center, never had an elaborate plan outlined for her own eatery. For that matter, she had no prior industry experience either. But she did have an entrepreneurial mindset that helped get it all started.
Born in Canada and after time spent in Jamaica, she arrived in Stamford in 2018. At first, she didn’t know anyone. For leisure activities, Goulbourne would visit New York City to spend time with people she knew there. For dinner or another outing, she would simply get on the train or in her car and go to the city.
Then, after the pandemic hit and residents stayed in their own communities, she started to explore Stamford and all it has to offer.
For some, her name may not be immediately recognizable –– for now. However, Goulbourne’s fingerprints are on a lot of projects across the city and region.
Heard of Stamford Events? That’s her company, which began as a hobby to track local happenings. Currently run with four staff, the company recently expanded into Greenwich and Norwalk.
On the remarkable growth, Goulbourne admits that “it’s amazing when you create something out of a necessity for yourself because it resonates so deeply with so many people.”
Elsewhere, Goulbourne leads events and community efforts at Stamford Partnership. As if all of that wasn’t enough, she also serves as Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Events for Stamford-based Realist Lab, a non-profit which describes itself as a “[r]evolutionary ecosystem ushering in the next generation of innovative startups and uplifting communities through business creation.”
Her latest venture at 4th Quarter follows the same innovative approach undertaken in other professional endeavors, but in a different venue — and industry.
Stamford Town Center was among Goulbourne’s clients for Stamford Events. “I was sitting there one day and I was like I really want to go to a Halloween-themed bar in Stamford. I don’t want to go to the city. So I kind of flipped 180 where I no longer want to go to the city,” she said. “I want to create here.”
Goulbourne brought her idea to Dan Stolzenbach, Stamford Town Center’s general manager, who she indicated “has been invested in this vision since the beginning,” to inquire about the location at 230 Tresser Boulevard formerly occupied by Kona Grill.
“There’s nothing we love more than helping local entrepreneurs realize their dream of opening a new business,” Stolzenbach shared in an email to The Stamford Current. “Not only does it strengthen our community, but our entire mall benefits from the energy, creative spirit, and camaraderie these new business owners bring.”
However, it was not an easy process. The first theme of the pop-up restaurant was planned for Halloween with the name “Paranormal Parlor.” Though extensive efforts were made to prepare the entire space — including creatively named and furnished areas — Goulbourne’s business partner ghosted her and never provided the investment he had committed to the project. “It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done,” she acknowledged.
With no additional funding to remain operational at that point, she had to skip the next phase: Fall Harvest. Quickly pivoting with new restaurant partner — and back of house operator –– Ram Komani, who brought everything from tables to kitchen appliances, Goulbourne began plans for a Winter Wonderland experience.
Festive lights brighten an already welcoming atmosphere while other seasonal decorations adorn the dining area. In the back, a continuation of Goulbourne’s commitment to community: a photo booth staged by an “up-and-coming photo booth business [seeking] more exposure so she’s placed that in here to help her brand, to help her capture more leads.”
Regarding the food itself, it is a mix of Italian and American favorites. The menu lists a selection of mouth-watering meals at affordable prices with something guaranteed to attract the interest of each customer. “Some of the things that I love on our menu are personal pies. I think we hit it out of the park. We have this bruschetta pizza that I’m obsessed with. So good.” There are burgers, pastas, wings, and even vegan options available, too.
After her first business partner left, Goulbourne had to repeat the necessary regulatory requirements like health inspections and safety checks, but this also meant reapplying for a liquor permit. So it is currently a BYOB establishment.
“Representation Matters”
Although she faced obstacles along the way, Goulbourne also talked about what makes 4th Quarter so unique — the local impact, a furniture partnership with Remix Stamford, the DJ during Sunday brunches, the floral pieces inside and out that Designs By Lee arranged, the photo booth available from a local company — but at least one other factor stood out.
On the day that The Stamford Current spoke to Goulbourne, she received an Instagram message that morning which got her attention from a Latina mother of a young girl. The woman emphasized what a positive effect and source of inspiration for her to surround her children with powerful and successful women of color. She added how proud they all are and what it means to the community.
“[R]epresentation matters. There are no Black women-owned restaurants this size in Stamford,” Goulbourne emphasized. “There are some women-owned restaurants, for sure, there are some women of color-owned restaurants, but nothing of this size or that is solely owned by one individual. … [T]hat boggles my mind.”
Conversely, “We can … have a brunch where people get a little wild. But then we can also cater an event off-site at GE CoCreate and we’re able to play in all of these spaces,” she noted. “I feel like it helps with that narrative that there is a monolith and [proves] we can flow through different spaces and be excellent at it. I think that’s also important for people to see, not only people in underrepresented communities, for everyone to see.”
Looking Ahead
As for future plans, Goulbourne is solely focused on the present. She mentioned that Stolzenbach, the Stamford Town Center general manager, “has agreed to let us stay until the end of February for me to try to make something of this space [and] idea.”
“In general, owner-operated businesses care more about the quality of service and products, so we intentionally pursue them,” Stolzenbach said. “We find them to be more successful in the long-run because of their personal investment.”
If the numerous events held — including one hosted by State Representative Corey Paris alongside State Comptroller Sean Scanlon and other dignitaries — and customers served is any indication, 4th Quarter will continue to flourish for however long it remains open.
“If anything else, this project has taught me that I can get what’s in my head out into the world,” Goulbourne reflected, “It’s possible if I just trust my compass.” And so her vision continues as she navigates her latest groundbreaking project.
Learn more about Isis-Rae Goulbourne at isisrae.com.
To visit 4th Quarter, check out 4thquarterct.com.
Follow them on Instagram at @4thquarterct.
They are also available for orders on GrubHub.
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