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Business & Tech

The Person Behind The Voodoo

Voodoo Grill Owner Wes Clark Shares His Story

As I entered the , to meet with owner Wes Clark, I wasn’t sure what to expect from a rowdy Cajun restaurant owner that serves Bayou Alligator. My imagination took over. Was he an exotic import from New Orleans?

It turns out Clark grew up in Groton and is a 1972 Fitch graduate. He’s a hospitable, mellow and smiling family man who savors the restaurant industry. He got his start 20 years ago at Par Four Restaurant and golf course in Groton where he met his wife Valerie Allen. After they got married, he and Valerie decided after 16 years of dedicated service at Par Four, it was time to work collaboratively on their own project.

“Tom Crosby who owned the Roadhouse on Bank Street was looking for someone to run Voodoo Grill," said Clark. "We ran it for two years and then he sold it to us. It’s been 8 years now.”

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Like many restaurateurs who work tirelessly, his restaurant is a big part of his life. Working around the clock, Wes has successfully created a community of friends and family at work. His daughter Lauren manages and nephew Wayne bartends. Co-workers and customers have become good friends and many of his employees have children or relatives working at Voodoo. 

“Our customers are one of the best a parts of our business," Clark said. " It’s the best part of my day, bartending and waiting on them. We feel like we are part of the community.”

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Clark continued, “I don’t just look at them as customers; I look at them as friends.  

Clark is thankful for Mystic’s notoriety and the positive impact it has on his business, allowing him to stay local.

“I just want to be around to see my grandchildren grow up” Clark said.

He enjoys spending time with his wife, going for walks on Bluff Point. He agrees that family is everything to him and keeping his employment local allows him to spend more quality time with family. 

His family days seem deeply gratifying but many of his more colorful days seem to be on the job.

“People come and sit on the patio, once we left the back door open and a skunk traipsed in and the dining room was full. Everybody held their breath and the skunk fortunately turned around and walked out.”  He laughs incredulously. ”This has happened twice!” 

The annual Irish parade is a favorite day for Clark. The Voodoo Grill courtyard becomes an after party filled with Guinness kegs and 7-8 pipers, an event, which Clark compares to Mardi Gras. 

“It’s our busiest day by far”  Clark said, “It’s fantastic and so much fun.”

The festive atmosphere, always with an element of surprise, brings people back. An authentic Cajun menu with reasonable prices doesn’t hurt either.

As for Wes’s future he admits he’ll probably be bartending until he’s 70 and then hopefully pass the business on to family.

“We have been blessed with good health and a successful business and we hope to do it until we can’t do it anymore," Clark said. "We hope to be a part of this community for many more years.”

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