Ernest Nardolillo is a lifelong resident of Coventry and a product of the Coventry School System and the educators who built his foundation for success. Throughout his time at Coventry High School, he participated in both football and wrestling. Despite this involvement, he still managed to raise a newborn child during his senior year. He was able to successfully graduate in 1995 and continued to complete his associate’s degree from the Community College of Rhode Island. 

     Following graduation and the birth of his daughter, he committed his time working to provide for his family. Ernie worked full time in various restaurants with the dream of owning his own one day. He began a job with the Town of Coventry in the Public Works Department in 2006 and in 2010, he started working nights at Olde Theatre Diner, booking local entertainment. In 2018, Ernie’s dream came true when he was able to join the restaurant as a partial owner. Now in a position to influence decisions at the restaurant, Ernie put his selflessness and kind heart on full display and created the community restaurant he always dreamed about. Whether it was a local resident who experienced a tragic loss of their home or a loved one, or even just a small gesture of donating a pizza to the local police and fire departments, he always ensures that when he can help, he will. From donating turkeys to Coventry residents to helping employees from a competing restaurant that suddenly closed, there is seldom a time when a resident is in need that OTD does not support the cause. 

   Olde Theatre has continuously supported the students of Coventry by funding the Olde Theatre Diner Scholarship through the CHS Alumni Association that began in 2019, sharing profits from fundraisers to support the senior class, and creating a great first job for many high school students. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the team at Olde Theatre pooled together a total of $15,000 to give to their employees as a token of appreciation for making all of these community contributions possible. With this new endeavor, Ernie continues to work full time at Coventry Public Works and spends 50 hours a week managing while also working alongside his 75+ employees. In addition to all support of public causes from the Diner, Ernie completes daily acts of kindness. Anytime he is made aware of someone in need, he never second guesses and always will donate to ensure others do not go without.