Worcester’s seemingly bottomless appetite for chicken continued this week, with three more poultry-focused restaurants winning licenses to open in the city.
Meanwhile, developers are proposing more than 300 new apartments near Newton Square and on Chandler Street, and a 141-year-old Main South building has reopened as housing after years of vacancy.
Winner, winner chicken dinner: Three more poultry eateries licensed
Three chicken-themed establishments were among five new restaurants that gained unanimous approval for Common Victualler licenses from the Worcester License Commission on Sept. 10.
“People in Worcester like chicken,” Commission member Martiza Cruz said just before the second chicken eatery of the meeting, Maaz’s Chicken at 910A Main St., was approved.
“We’ve opened about twelve of them in the last month or so,” added Chairperson Anthony Vigliotti, referring to Worcester’s recent string of new chicken joints.
The Coop, a takeout and delivery operation with no dine-in service, plans to take up residence at 275 Park Ave., according to owner Angelo Tsetsos of Worcester. Joining existing locations in Millbury and Shrewsbury, The Coop’s menu will feature wings, sandwiches, barbecue and waffle fries. The takeout-window-style location plans to open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
“We’re looking forward to opening in Worcester,” Tsetsos told the Commission.
Maaz’s Chicken serves fried chicken, rice, burgers and sandwiches on Main Street about a block from Clark University. The Worcester spot will be the chain’s fifth location in New England, joining restaurants in Boston, New Hampshire and two in Rhode Island. Proposed operating hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Rounding out the trio of chicken locales, Tropical Chicken Flavors was granted a license to operate at 229 Canterbury St. The menu will feature various flavors of tropical chicken, chicken salad and rice. Operating hours are Monday through Friday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
In non-chicken-themed business, the Commission also granted licenses to Pida’s Pizzeria at 121 Millbury St. and Not Ya Mama’s Vegan Cafe at the Worcester Public Market, 160 Green St.
Pida’s will take over the former Family Ties Pizzeria location and offer pizza, subs, wraps and platters. A small dine-in area will be available in addition to takeout service. Operating hours are planned for Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Not Ya Mama’s Vegan Cafe, owned by Gary and Lisa Young of Worcester, plans to open a new location offering “vegan food that doesn’t taste like plants.” The menu will include vegan steak and cheese and Italian subs. The establishment was previously located in Salem and also had a former Worcester location at 6 Waldo St., near Main Street. Operating hours will be Sunday and Wednesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
More than 300 new apartments proposed for Newton Square, Chandler Street
The Worcester Planning Board will review definitive site plans for proposed apartment buildings at 1 and 3 Suburban Road and 216 and 221 Chandler St. at its next scheduled meeting on Sept. 16.
PR II/Wood West Side LLC plans to construct three five-story, multifamily apartment buildings at 1 and 3 Suburban Road near Doherty Memorial High School. Each building would feature 100 units for a total of 300, with a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments.
Planned amenities include a 5,000-square-foot clubhouse with a leasing office, lounges, co-working space and a fitness room. The development would also include a pool house and 600 parking spaces.
The Board will also review plans from 216 Chandler LLC for a six-story, 29,840-square-foot mixed-use building with 28 one- and two-bedroom apartments at 216 and 221 Chandler St. The project also calls for 1,020 square feet of commercial space on the ground level.
Amenities would include a roof garden, fitness rooms, a lobby and lounge areas. New sidewalks and walkways are also planned as part of the development.
Main South building revitalized with affordable housing options
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Sept. 8 to celebrate the opening of a 141-year-old building at 5 May St. that has been renovated into apartments by Kensington Management.
The long-vacant building will be utilized by Meryl’s Safe Haven, a nonprofit organization that assists young people aging out of care within the state Department of Children and Families.
Not all units will be designated as affordable housing, according to Meryl’s Safe Haven, but the organization hopes to support families transitioning out of shelters, including those interested in sharing a larger apartment as a pathway toward housing stability.
The building features one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments, with co-sharing options available for families seeking another potential pathway to permanent housing.
For information about available units and leasing opportunities, email leasing@merylssafehaven.org.
About Building Worcester: Building Worcester is The Worcester Guardian’s weekly roundup of business, development and economic news from across the city, tracking major projects, new businesses, public meetings, commercial real estate and the decisions shaping Worcester’s future.
Have a tip about a new business, development project or commercial property? Email Executive Editor Charlene Arsenault at carsenault@theworcesterguardian.org or reporter Mike Vigneux at MikeVigs@gmail.com.
