A marathon Zoning Board of Appeals meeting cleared the way for a new Tatnuck Square cafe, Worcester’s first commercial dog training facility and two housing projects this week.
Elsewhere, local bar owners are preparing to breathe new life into Greendale’s Pub, Bri’s Sweet Treats celebrated five years in business and the Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance opened new downtown offices.
New cafe, dog training facility and two apartment projects get approvals
In a meeting that spanned nearly five hours, the Worcester Zoning Board of Appeals granted initial approvals to four projects on Sept. 28.
A new restaurant, a dog training facility and two residential projects all gained unanimous backing from the Board to move forward as part of the marathon session.
Cafe Eidy, a 2,200-square-foot full-service restaurant planned at 643 Chandler St., secured a special permit to allow food service, including the consumption and sale of alcoholic beverages. Owner and operator David R. de Castro of Boylston said the restaurant is named in honor of his late mother, Eileen.
The Tatnuck Square cafe offers flavors inspired by Castro’s diverse culinary career in places including Dubai, Australia and the Caribbean.
The building had been vacant since its previous use as a takeout restaurant. Now with a refurbished interior, the restaurant will offer approximately 45 seats, including a bar.
Also securing a special permit for kennel use in the BG-2 zoning district was Loyalty and Legacy, a dog training business owned and operated by Jade Schouten.
Worcester is now in line for its first commercial dog training facility, a 5,000-square-foot first-floor space at 1233 Main St., the former site of a Work ’n Gear retail store.
“We are a very well-respected, very well-trusted dog training provider here in Worcester over the last six years,” Schouten told the Board. “There is no centralized behaviorist in Worcester. Everyone is in the outside towns.”
Rounding out a busy evening for the ZBA, Broadview Holdings LLC and GM Properties LLC were each granted special permits for residential projects.
Broadview plans to convert two historic buildings at 16 and 18 Claremont St. into lodging houses featuring a total of 27 units. The properties will seek to attract college students, recent graduates and emerging professionals in search of affordable housing. Maverick Property Services LLC will be the on-site property manager.
GM Properties proposes 20 single-family attached townhouse-style units on a vacant lot at 321 Grove St. Plans call for six buildings, two containing four attached dwellings and the remaining four containing three units each.
Worcester bar owners provide encore for Greendale’s Pub
North Worcester Ventures LLC, a joint venture of local bar owners Izzy Cruz and his wife, Kate Shaw, has entered into an agreement to purchase Greendale’s Pub from longtime owner Kenneth Nicolas for $50,000. Greendale’s permanently closed July 1 following Nicolas’ retirement.
Through North Worcester Ventures, Cruz and Shaw will provide $30,000 to Nicolas through a home equity loan, with a $20,000 promissory note payable within one year.
Cruz and Shaw also own the Press Box on Lincoln Street and Trackside Tavern on West Boylston Street.
The Worcester License Commission unanimously approved North Worcester Ventures for a common victualler license, a transfer of the restaurant and alcohol license and an entertainment license including live music at its Sept. 24 meeting.
“Good luck with the new business venture,” Commission Chairperson Anthony Vigliotti said. “Glad to see Greendale’s is going to still be operating.”
The new manager of Greendale’s Pub will be Cruz’s son, Izzy Cruz III. Proposed operating hours are 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday. A reopening date for the establishment at 404 West Boylston St. was not immediately announced.
Bri’s Sweet Treats celebrates five years in business
Bri’s Sweet Treats celebrated five years in business with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting Oct. 1 at the Worcester Public Market.
Specializing in handcrafted artisan chocolates and treats, the business was launched by Briana Azier in 2021.
The inspiration for Bri’s Sweet Treats came when Azier and her son, Cole, began making candy treats for relatives and friends during the pandemic in 2020.
“Built on four core values–faith, family, community, and connection–this business has always been about more than candy. It’s about creating joy, building relationships, mentoring others, and making a real impact,” according to Bri’s website.
CMHA moves into new downtown offices
The Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance has moved into a new downtown location at 18 Chestnut St. in an effort to make its services easier to access.
The nonprofit organization helps residents find or maintain safe, stable housing. CMHA held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Sept. 23 to celebrate the opening.
The former home of Unum, 18 Chestnut St. has recently become a base for several nonprofit organizations in Worcester.
“The City of Worcester recognized the need for a one-stop center where nonprofits could come together to better serve our community, and by moving into this space, CMHA is proud to be part of bringing that vision to life,” CMHA said in an announcement posted on social media.
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.
