After the sudden announcement a couple weeks back that Dune Brothers would not be coming back to the concession stand at Crescent Park — following a couple of no-shows by the seafood-slinging business at show-cause hearings initiated by the city council due to outdated licenses — it looked bleak that anyone would be chowing down on clam cakes this summer at Riverside’s open space gem.

Enter Joseph Dourado to the rescue.

The unassuming man with East Providence roots sat dutifully through two hours of Tuesday night’s meeting of the East Providence City Council before, finally, he was awarded a contract to serve food through his business, Joe’s Snack Shack, at the concession stand; starting this summer.

City Solicitor Mike Marcello confirmed, when asked by councilwoman Anna Sousa, that Dune Brothers and the city had mutually parted ways and dissolved their previous contract, paving the way for Dourado to move in.

Tracy Johnson, who oversees operations at the Carousel (including the concession stand), said that Dune Brothers still had to come to the site and remove their equipment from the shack. Additionally, there were a couple small roof leaks that have to be repaired by city staff. However, she said a fire inspection has already been conducted and water has been turned back on in the building.

Johnson said that hoping for things to be up and running by May would be a little too ambitious, and that a June opening of the new concession stand under Dourado would be more likely.

After the council unanimously approved the new contract for Joe’s Snack Shack to take over, Dourado answered a couple questions from the council about his plans for the concession stand.

“I’m going to simplify it a little bit,” he said, adding that clam cakes and chowder (courtesy of Blount’s) will certainly be on the menu.

He added that he would personally be on the site during the buildout to ensure things go smoothly.

“I will be there as much as possible to get it up and running,” he said. “I do have a multitude of staff, highly qualified and trained, to perform the duties of the clam shack.”

Council Vice President, Frank Rego, expressed his excitement that not only would the shack be reopening in time for summer, but it was being operated by someone with Townie roots.

“You’re a local person, you have family ties here, which is absolutely great,” he said. “I feel bad for the former company but it’s great we have a local person at that historical venue there.”