By Paul Giorgio
Kozara closes. Wilson Wang, owner of Park Avenue’s Kozara Asian Restaurant, recently closed down the place next door to his other restaurant, Baba Sushi. He plans to open a traditional Szechuan-style Chinese restaurant in its place.Further down Park Ave. We hear that Chopsticks, one of Worcester’s oldest Szechuan Chinese restaurants, has closed, and new owners will be taking over and reopening. Chopsticks has been around for about 30 years and was the first Chinese restaurant in the city that wasn’t an old-fashioned Chop Suey place. Chopstick’s was owned by Alex Seto, who owns Sakura Tokyo, also nearby.
Changes at the Beechwood. Longtime general manager of the Beechwood Hotel and Ceres Bistro, Mark Waxler, has left and has opened a hotel and restaurant consulting company. The new manager is Mario Cuevas, who formerly worked at the Park Plaza in Boston.
Happy 80th birthday and what a gift. Atlas Distributors of Auburn is celebrating its 80th year in business, and it just got a big gift. The company was chosen to be the Central Massachusetts distributor for Yuengling products. Yuengling, founded in 1829 and located in Pottsville, Pa., is the oldest brewery in America. Consumers can expect to purchase D.G. Yuengling & Son, Inc. products beginning in March 2014. Initially, Yuengling will sell its Lager, Light Lager and Original Black & Tan in Massachusetts, eventually expanding to its entire portfolio.
Yes, we have no bananas. Banana Joe’s, a fruit stand on Worcester’s West Boylston Street, closed last year, and the sign promised a new restaurant in its place. Well, The Saloon will soon be opening at the 715 W. Boylston St. location. The restaurant will serve alcohol, and we will get you the details about the opening.
Bridge over troubled waters. After a management change and new owners this summer, we have heard that The Bridge Street Bistro in Grafton has closed. This is according to postings on Trip Advisor. There was no answer or message on the phone when we tried to call. The Bistro was owned by the same people who own Shrewsbury’s Elsa’s Eatery on Route 9.
Buffalo Wild Wings opens. The newest restaurant in the Buffalo Wild Wings chain opened its doors right before Christmas. Located on Route 9 and Lake Street in Shrewsbury, the restaurant occupies the former Borders Bookstore. The restaurant also added windows, so now you will have a great view of Worcester. The first 100 customers received free wings for a year.
Brew City gets new chef. Shrewsbury Street’s Brew City has a new master of the range. Jon Kaupilla, a graduate of Johnson & Wales University, recently took control of the kitchen. Kaupilla formerly worked at Rovezzi’s in Sturbridge.
Speaking of brewing. Owen O’Leary’s restaurant, which is just over the line in Framingham on Route 9, will be opening a second location in Westborough. The restaurant and brew pub will feature a 10-barrel system, which is on the large side for a brew pub. Stay tuned.