Kathy Cafarelli and her husband, Jim, have more than 40 years of experience in concept development and hospitality management. Their impressive client list includes House of Blues, The Walt Disney Company, Universal Studios, Chelsea Football Club, David Copperfield, Motown, Comcast, Greg Norman, and Quincy Jones.

 

In their early development career, they founded CAFCO, a Boston-based concept design and construction management company specializing in restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. After years of successfully overseeing the design and opening of several hundred restaurants nationwide, Jim went on to become the exclusive developer of the famed House of Blues opening locations in Cambridge,

New Orleans, Los Angeles, Chicago, Myrtle Beach, Disney World, Disneyland, and Las Vegas.

 

As a follow-up to this success, he co-founded The Olive Group and opened 10 restaurants, including Olives in New York, Aspen, and Washington, D.C., as well as Kingfish Hall and Bonfire in Boston, and Tuscany at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut. 

 

After years of partnerships, Jim & Kathy branched out on their own and opened the first Rustic Kitchen in Boston. The restaurant quickly became known for the beautiful design and seasonally inspired, locally sourced dishes. Their commitment to excellence earned Rustic Kitchen many awards including Boston Magazine's "Best New Restaurant" and Sante' Magazine's "Best New England Bistro."