SWAMPSCOTT — As of Monday, the Bertucci’s in Vinnin Square has officially closed its doors, sparking a new project aimed at redesigning the whole square.
A sign taped to the front of the door read: “Our apologies that your favorite location, Bertucci’s Swampscott, has closed. Thank you for the years of loyalty to Bertucci’s.” The sign also informed residents that the next closest Bertucci’s location is now in Reading.
With the closure of the Swampscott location, the number of remaining Bertucci’s locations is down to 15.
The move to close the Swampscott restaurant coincides with the town’s wider plans for the site. Back in May 2023, the Swampscott Town Meeting approved zoning changes that would regulate a portion of Vinnin Square, designed to strengthen the town’s commercial tax-base.
According to the project’s vision statement, the overall goal is to give residents and tourists a “re-imagined, revitalized and walkable center of community activity that fits with the seaside community.” The town hopes that the new development will attract much needed business, create jobs for residents, and increase consumer spending in the town.
The town will also incorporate certain design guidelines into the project. One area of focus involves prioritizing outdoor spaces and community amenities, which would support a variety of outdoor activities and improve landscape areas.
Another point of interest within the design guidelines is the project’s approach to redefining existing buildings, as well as strategic editions of new ones. It was noted that the scale of new buildings and open spaces should be properly calibrated, so that outdoor spaces have a sense of enclosure.
The project also hopes to incorporate narratives relating to Swampscott and the property’s history into the design, through elements such as landscape design and interpretive displays.
