THAT'S AMORE! Italian restaurant planned for High Street

CLINTON — The Wachusett Health Education Action Team (WHEAT) Community Service Center has been collecting clothes and food for the area’s needy families for years. Now, the human service organization might need to start looking for donations of cardboard boxes, packing tape and Styrofoam peanuts because it’s moving on down the road — literally — to make room for an Italian restaurant.

On Tuesday, Community and Economic Development Director Don Lowe announced that Clinton native Michael Ernst and his wife are moving forward with plans to convert the soon-to-be vacant WHEAT building on High Street into an Italian restaurant.

“It’s my understanding that if there is not a signed purchase and sale agreement one is imminent,” Lowe said on Tuesday. “I know people were in the WHEAT building this weekend studying the layout to come up with a plan to present to the Board of Selectmen for when they seek a liquor license.”

Rumors have been swirling about the possibility of an Italian restaurant opening in Clinton for months. Original plans called for the restaurant to be located in Sevi’s Bar on Mechanic Street; however, those plans fell apart due to parking concerns.

A couple of months ago, Jodi Breidel, executive director of WHEAT, said she was approached by Bill Roberts, owner of the WHEAT building, asking if the organization would be willing to break a newly-signed three-year lease. According to Breidel, Roberts said he had an interested party looking to purchase the building and turn it into an Italian eatery.

Lowe said it was his understanding that Ernst was impressed by the WHEAT property because of the additional parking the municipal lot on Walnut Street provided.

But, could a proposal by the Clinton Council on Aging to convert the municipal parking lot into a new senior center hinder plans to open the restaurant? Lowe said he wasn’t sure how the possibility of losing the parking lot would affect the restaurant plans and he doesn’t have any details regarding the purchase and sale agreement, which is being handled by Roberts’ attorney.

Both Roberts and Ernst could not be reached for comment before the Times & Courier went to print. Clinton Attorney David Philbin, who is representing Ernst in the sale, was out of the office and could not be reached for comment.

Last week, WHEAT announced that it would be moving further down High Street into the two vacant storefronts located next to the Gael House Grill. The vacant storefronts used to be occupied by Coda’s Music Store and Rolling Thunder skate shop. The move, which includes the multi-service center, food pantry and Hidden Treasures Thrift Store, is scheduled to be complete by the end of May.

Two weeks ago, WHEAT announced that it had just closed a deal to purchase the vacant lot next to Papacalos Market on High Street. WHEAT is planning on building a four-story building that would house the multi-service center, along with Hidden Treasures and about 16 one-bedroom affordable housing units. The new building also allows WHEAT to expand on its current programs plus add various free health services. Breidel said, with her fingers crossed, that the new building is scheduled for completion in 2009.

“I was just down at the new location with the building inspector, making sure there wasn’t anything that needed to be done that I wasn’t already thinking of to start moving everything down there,” Breidel said.

The dividing wall between the two stores will be torn out to accommodate for all the services WHEAT provides, Breidel said. Hidden Treasures will run across the entire front of the space, while the food pantry will be located toward the back of the store. Breidel said WHEAT’s offices will be located on the second floor of the building.
“It’s definitely smaller but that forces us to be more efficient,” Breidel said of the new location.

WHEAT isn’t looking for donations of cardboard boxes and packing tape just yet, but Breidel said she is looking for donations from anyone that might be able to help with the electrical work or wiring up the center’s computer system.

And while no one likes to move, Breidel said it gives WHEAT a chance to streamline how it provides its services. She also said the move will be easier knowing that it’s in the best interest of Clinton.

“You know what? If it means that an Italian restaurant can come to town then we are doing a great thing by moving,” Breidel said. “Is it going to be a little uncomfortable? Yes, because we have to maintain our current services while preparing for the move, but we have three months to do it and as long as we are on top of things it should be easy; it’s like a rebirth for WHEAT.”

(Patrick Brodrick can be reached at pbrodric@cnc.com or at 978-365-8044)