Durfee High’s student-run restaurant and salon open to the public this week

FALL RIVER — Students at B.M.C. Durfee High School are preparing to launch the vocational department’s new beauty salon and restaurant to the public with a grand opening on Thursday.

“When the people of Fall River realize exactly what they have on their hands and they come and experience it… I think it’s gonna explode,” said Cindy Sylvia, the school’s director of Career, Vocational and Technical Education.

On Thursday, Dec. 2, members of the public from Fall River and beyond are invited to check out the Granite Grille and Elevations Beauty Academy, both run by students in the CVTE department’s culinary and cosmetology tracks. For $14.95, attendees can enjoy a buffet of some of the restaurant’s offerings, including homemade bread and butter, shrimp Mozambique and chicken piccata, all made by students. A $18 ticket will include the buffet and one of the services offered by the students in the salon, which include things like haircuts, facials and manicures.

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“This is a big deal,” Sylvia said. ““These kids have been working really hard.”

The salon will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with lunch served at 11:30 a.m.

Going forward, the restaurant and salon will be open to the public in the mornings and afternoons from Tuesday to Friday each week. Sylvia said it’s best to call Elevations ahead of time for appointments, although they plan to accept some walk-ins.

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Thursday’s grand opening will be a chance for members of the public to get a look inside the new school, which includes a professional-grade kitchen for the restaurant and expanded space for all the other CVTE programs.

Sylvia said she wants the broader community to feel connected to what’s happening at Durfee, and take advantage of the services they offer.

“We’re excited to open up these two venues for the people in Fall River because they are truly everything that they had hoped they would be when they supported this new building,” she said.

Audrey Cooney can be reached at [email protected]. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Herald News today.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Durfee High’s student-run restaurant, salon open to Fall River residents