Food

At Providence's Nicks on Broadway, Staff Vacation Is Mandatory

Liz Grossman

Most 24-year-old chefs opening their first restaurant focus on building revenue and filling seats, but when Derek Wagner opened Nicks on Broadway in Providence, R.I., he took a different approach. He and his staff took summer and winter vacations. “I was emaciated and worn down mentally,” recalls Wagner. “When I created Nicks, I wanted to be able to perform at a high level for an extended period of time...