By TOM SPOTH, Sun Staff
LOWELL -- Two new downtown eateries are moving toward opening, although one has switched to a new location.
Patty Stella of Tewksbury altered plans to open a Mediterranean restaurant called Centro at 124 and 128 Merrimack St., after she determined that the project would be too expensive. She now hopes to open Centro at the corner of Market and Central streets, next to the post office.
"The whole project fell through," said Stella, who had hoped to open in the Merrimack Street location sometime in early 2007. "There were so many questions with the building."
Scott Peacock, one of the developers of 124 and 128 Merrimack, said Stella was asking for too much help in remodeling the first floor. He said he and his partners have had interest in the site -- 124 Merrimack could end up as an Italian restaurant, while 128 could be a cigar shop or women's clothing store. Condominiums are in the works upstairs.
Stella said her Market Street location will be smaller -- 2,400 square feet, as opposed to 3,500 on Merrimack.
She was optimistic, though, that luxury condos being sold on the upper floors would provide a built-in customer base. "Hopefully, this one will work," said Stella, a former chef at La Boniche and the Andover Inn. She hopes to open Centro by June.
Back over on Merrimack Street, the Angelina's pizza and sub shop is set to open within three or four weeks, said manager Marc Costa. Angelina's is an established name in Massachusetts -- the family business first opened in Everett in the 1950s, and also has locations in Methuen, Haverhill and Salisbury.
The Lowell location, located in the former La Terraza building, has already been accepting take-out orders and providing food for customers of the neighboring Hookslide Kelly's pub. Costa said he's waiting for some more equipment to come in before he opens the dining room, which will seat almost 50 people.
Angelina's will continue to operate as a standalone business and cook for Hookslide Kelly's patrons, Costa said. Its specialty is pizza -- a large cheese costs $9, or two for $14 -- and the chicken fingers are good too, Costa said.
Tom Spoth's e-mail address is tspoth@lowellsun.com.
This story appeared in the Lowell Sun on Sunday, January 28, 2007