Michael Covino when he won WBJ's 40 Under Forty award in 2008

Covino in 2019

Photo | Erika Sidor From the 20th anniversary of WBJ's 40 Under Forty edition are (from left) 2019 winner Mike Ciprari, 2010 alumni Andy Lacombe, 2019 winner Charlotte Bradrick, 2019 winner Eric D. Batista, and 2008 alumni Michael Covino at the Blackstone Heritage Corridor Visitor Center in Worcester.

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Click here to read about the other featured alumni from the WBJ 40 Under Forty 20th anniversary edition and meet this year's winners
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Michael Covino

Then & Now: President of Niche Hospitality Group, Worcester

Since 2008, Covino’s restaurant group has expanded and flourished in some of the most high-profile locations in the city. He moved Mezcal Tequila Cantina from a small location on Shrewsbury Street to downtown Worcester and filled the old Mezcal space with the Fix Burger Bar, only to move that successful venture to a new, larger location on Grove Street. What was three restaurants in 2018 has expanded to eight, with nine on the way in the form of another Fix location to open this fall in Marlborough. Although Block 5 has, one of this first original three restaurants, has closed, Covino continues to roll out new concepts and restaurants. That growth has included a partnership with the Worcester Railers Hockey Club and owner Cliff Rucker, spawning two new Niche concepts: Nonna’s Pizza & Pasta inside the Fidelity Bank Worcester Ice Center and the Railers Tavern directly next to the DCU Center. The growth of his business allowed him to open fitness and physical therapy center Peak Fitness Performance Training on Plantation Street in 2015. – Profile written by Zachary Comeau

What did 40 Under Forty mean to you? It bolstered a strong sense of responsibility to continue to live up to a high standard to do good things for other people.

What advice do you have for this year’s winners? Be a role model or a mentor.