AMHERST — A new Italian restaurant featuring brick oven pizza will take over the vacant building long used by Bertucci’s, putting an end, for now, to plans to redevelop the downtown site into a new mixed-use project.
Richard Annunziata, who runs Michael Vincent Pizza in Long Branch, New Jersey, recently signed a five-year deal with property owner Central Amherst Realty LLC of Westborough to bring Porta to the 7,900-square-foot space at 51 East Pleasant St.
On Monday, Annunziata began the process of getting both all-alcohol and common victualers licenses from the Select Board. He will also have to get a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals at a meeting later this fall.
Annunziatta said Porta will have six to seven entrees and five appetizers, along with the pizza specials.
The plan for the new restaurant at the site comes just weeks after the Historical Commission imposed a one-year demolition delay on the building, which was constructed in 1946 as an auto repair shop. Bertucci’s occupied the building from December 1992 until spring 2018. Prior to Bertucci’s, the site was used as Rowe’s Chrysler-Plymouth dealership.
Before issuing the licenses, the Select Board requested more information about Annunziata’s employment history, how his background check was done by police and how outdoor dining will be used at the location. Annunziata will return before the board on Monday at 6:45 p.m.
Amherst attorney Kristi Bodin, who is representing Annunziata, said more information will be presented at that time.
Annunziata said he will be the manager of Porta when it opens but will likely turn the restaurant over at some point. He said the chef at the Long Branch restaurant will be coming to work in Amherst.
Select Board member Andrew Steinberg said Porta is a good use for the building. “We’re very excited about the fact that you’re bringing this restaurant to the community,” Steinberg said.
The Bertucci’s building had been slated to be replaced by one of two five-story, mixed-use projects, featuring 68 apartments, in vicinity of East Pleasant and Pray streets.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
