The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts announced that Chris Rassias of Holden signed a lease last week to open a new restaurant that’s anticipated to open before the close of their spring season. “It will be a big season for the theater and a big season for us,” he told Mass Foodies earlier today.
Rassias has owned the Fairmont Grille in Boston’s Hyde Park neighborhood for four and a half years and has managed restaurants in the Boston area for the last two decades. The Hanover will mark an entirely new concept for the restauranteur, this time, in his hometown. Rassias grew up on Woodland Street in Worcester and graduated from St. John’s in Shrewsbury.
Construction is set to begin in mid-December and last for 6-8 weeks. Rassias shares that the design will take inspiration from 1920’s theater.
“The concept is nearly ironed out, obviously paying homage to 1920s America; but, we’re still working on a name that fits,” Rassias told Mass Foodies on Monday, “but will channel Josephine Baker.”
The 2017 annual meeting, where the board of directors and staff will meet with media and patrons alike, was held Tuesday, November 14th, but the event has been anticipated for weeks since talks turned serious about finally occupying the space on Southbridge Street in Worcester, MA.
In 2014, the Hanover Theatre purchased a neighboring building at 551 Main Street with the hopes to further develop downtown with offices, working studios, and a restaurant to give theatre patrons more reason to come to the theatre. “The need for great options within walking distance for our patrons to enjoy tasty treats before and after our performances have been heard and we’re looking forward to the opening of a restaurant especially created to cater to our audiences,” a representative from Hanover Theater said earlier today.
Since its purchase in 2014, rumor and speculation of who would take residency spread like wildfire. Although there were several attempts and offers from as far as New York City, Worcester is happy to be “keeping it local with Rassias.” You can expect to see work done in the space as soon as the end of the year with an anticipated opening in spring of 2018.