LYNN — Amado Merida waited 594 days to reopen his pizza shop that was shut down due to a fire on Sept. 27, 2022, only four months after Merida and his partners had opened it. The grand reopening was Monday and everything went according to plan — except for the fire alarm that accidentally went off, providing a bit of cruel irony to the proceedings.
This time, thankfully, the Fire Department came and left without incident, leaving Merida and his family to bask in the glow of a sunny spring day and praise for his determination to reopen.
“We congratulate you on the commitment and the tenacity you have showed,” Mayor Jared Nicholson said, before presenting Merida with a citation from the city. “We’re proud to be able to celebrate with you today. This is a wonderful family affair.”
Shoreline Grill & Pizza, located at 163 Lewis St. at the site of the former Sam’s Subs, has been a staple in the neighborhood for more than 35 years. Peter Fatouras has owned the building — which includes apartments on the two floors above the restaurant — since 1982. The new owner operated it for 17 years before selling to Merida, Abida Deleon Chun, and Enehemias Gabino in 2022.
According to Merida, business was very good in their first few months before the fire, which caused enough damage to shut them down for a year and a half. He knew he needed financial assistance in order to do the necessary repairs, and he turned to the Economic Development and Industrial Corporation of Lynn, which provided a $70,000 loan that was used for new equipment and other improvements.
“I’m thankful for the support of the city and EDIC,” said Merida, who has worked in restaurants for decades, including 17 years at Polcari’s in Saugus and a stint at The Ship in Lynnfield. “They helped us a lot.”
EDIC/Lynn Executive Director James Cowdell said his agency was pleased to help Merida get back on his feet.
“Our mission in general is to provide businesses with the resources they need to be successful,” Cowdell said. “In this case, Amado was a most deserving recipient of the assistance we are able to provide. We wish him great success moving forward.”
EDIC/Lynn was represented at the grand reopening by Outreach Manager Justin de la Cruz, who helped coordinate the loan. Ward 3 City Councilor Coco Alinsug and Ward 2 Councilor Obed Matul presented a citation on behalf of the City Council.
“This is an institution in this area,” said Alinsug, who lives not far down the street. “Everybody is excited to have you back. I know the teachers at Brickett (School) like to get lunch here. We will support you in any way we can.”
Shoreline Pizza and Grill is open Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
