From bartender to builder: Joey Arcari named Thomas J. Butler award winner

South Boston Neighborhood Development Corporation and the South Boston Chamber of Commerce are pleased to present the Thomas J. Butler South Boston Small Business Leadership Award to Joey Arcari, owner of Monarc Development.

Each year during the South Boston Street Fest, the two organizations present the award to a local businessperson who exemplifies service to the community and what Tommy stood for.

Tommy, who spent his career with Massport, was the heart and soul of South Boston — an unwavering community champion whose decades of service reflected his deep roots and fierce pride in the neighborhood. Known for his Irish wit, boundless generosity, and tireless advocacy, Tommy embodied what it means to be a good neighbor and a true South Boston leader.

Congratulations, Joey!

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When Joey Arcari arrived in the United States from Dublin, Ireland in 1993, he was a college student working a summer job as a bartender in New York City. After that experience, he dropped out of school where he was studying accounting, moved to South Boston, and decided to chase the American dream.

It was a decision that would ultimately shape the dining and development landscape of South Boston for decades to come.

Arcari’s influence on the neighborhood and his generosity to the community earned him the Thomas J. Butler South Boston Small Business Leadership Award given by the South Boston Chamber of Commerce and South Boston NDC. Arcari, 54, will receive his award at the South Boston Street Fest on Saturday, Sept. 20.

"Joey's vision has been instrumental in the growth of our neighborhood," said Donna Brown, executive director of South Boston NDC. "He's not just a business owner; he's a true community partner."

Arcari is humble – and a little embarrassed – about the award. “It’s a great honor,” he said, joking that there must have been lots of better candidates.

“I just look forward to continuing the work. I love this town. I think I'll be doing projects in this town for a long time. The future … there's still so much potential.”

In 1995, Arcari, along with his brother Mario and partner Jon Cronin, opened the Boston Beer Garden on East Broadway. It was an overnight success. They then opened the Playwright, a huge success, too.

From there, Arcari built Broadway Hospitality Group, which grew into a cornerstone of South Boston’s restaurant scene, encompassing more than 20 establishments. Earlier this year, Arcari sold the company to a New York investment firm, stepping away from the restaurant business to focus fully on Monarc Development — a company he launched five years ago. The name is a tribute to his late mother, Monica Arcari.

While Arcari is now focused on building homes and mixed-use properties, his ties to the restaurant world remain deep. “Restaurants are the life of a community,” he said.

South Boston has been at the heart of Arcari’s work since he moved to the neighborhood in the mid-1990s. Even though he’s a transplant, he feels like he was born and raised here.

Arcari noted the neighborhood’s transformation. “When I came here in ’96, Whitey Bulger had just left town,” he said, noting it was a different place then. “Today, it’s become such a vibrant, young town. I think it’s the greatest place to live — close to the Seaport, close to downtown Boston, just incredible.”

He now calls South Boston his professional home, since he lives in Brookline. “This is where my office is; this is where I am every day.”

Arcari is actively shaping the future of South Boston and other neighborhoods through his development projects. In South Boston, Monarc is currently selling new townhouses, redeveloping The Playwright property, and has plans to replace the former RE/MAX building with 12 new units. Beyond South Boston, he’s building in Dorchester, Lower Mills, Quincy, and other neighborhoods.

The path to becoming a developer wasn’t linear. He learned as he went, making mistakes along the way and improving with every build. “South Boston was such an up-and-coming city, and the opportunity is really there in front of you.”

He credits mentors — particularly the team at Cedarwood Development — for helping him navigate the transition. Over time, he has built a wonderful team and a vertically integrated approach: buying, constructing, managing, and selling or renting properties. His wife, Andrea, is a real estate lawyer who is now also his broker.

He is quick to acknowledge those who’ve helped along the way, including Stephen DeSousa, CEO of Broadway Hospitality Group.

“It’s really teamwork,” he said. “I didn’t do this by myself.”

Arcari’s story is one of transformation — of a young man who traded textbooks for bar towels, built a restaurant empire, and is now reshaping neighborhoods as a developer.