SAUGUS — At its meeting Tuesday, the Board of Selectmen approved a wine, malt, and cordial liquor license for a new Italian restaurant called Paolo’s set to open at 304 E Lincoln Ave. in late September.
The board also approved a Common Victualler License for the restaurant, which allows it to operate from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Paolo’s Manager Paul Delios said the restaurant will open earlier on the weekends for brunch. He added that it will serve Italian food with “Mediterranean overtones.” This license also permits Paolo’s to have about 40 table seats and nine bar seats. It will fill a vacant spot in the Lincoln Avenue plaza currently home to Flex Fitness, Sizzle Salon, and BEAT ConnXtionz Dance Company.
“I’m trying to make a family-friendly place so people can go out and enjoy without having to go out on Route 1,” Delios said. “Especially with the price of gas going up and everything else, I think neighborhood restaurants are coming back.”
Delios, who grew up in Saugus and lives in Wakefield, also operates Kane’s Donuts. He said he feels the town would benefit from another local eatery. Board of Selectmen members agreed and voted 4-0 to approve both license requests. Chairman Anthony Cogliano abstained due to the fact that Paolo’s will reside in a building he owns, which is a conflict of interest. Board member Corinne Riley said she thought Paolo’s was a “great” and “lovely” idea and wished Delios well.
“You’ve been an absolute diamond for Saugus and I do think the town is in need of this kind of thing,” board member Jeffrey Cicolini said. “It’s great that even in this economy people are still taking a risk and putting their effort and money into investing in Saugus. I think that’s fantastic.”
At the meeting, the board also approved several appointments. Board members voted to approve Alberto Morgante as a town constable, Stephen Sweezy as parking hearings officer, and Chris Riley as an alternate member of the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Rachel Barber can be reached at [email protected].
