Norwood's Olivadi Is Back In Business Hours Before Selectmen Deadline

NORWOOD, MA - It was a case of beat the clock, as a popular Norwood restaurant closed during the pandemic reopened just three hours before the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday was scheduled to decide whether its alcohol license should be suspended or revoked due to lack of use.

"We're open for business," attorney Tom Thayer announced at the start of the meeting on behalf of his client, Anthony Delapa. "Open for business at 4 o'clock."

Olivadi, located at 32 Guild St., closed in June 2020 and planned to reopen in March. Owner, Anthony Delapa, explained to the board in October 2021 that he had encountered a number of setbacks, including the death of his father and restaurant patriarch Anthony F. Delapa at the age of 82. The restaurant was named after the elder Delapa's hometown in Italy.

At that meeting, he added that a deal to sell the license fell through.

Delapa already had received several extensions of the license at that time. But he said the dining area, signage and logo were being redesigned.

The board's patience appeared to wear thin, as current chair William Plasko asked Delapa for "a drop-dead date." The board granted him an extension if he agreed to open on or before March 8 after considering the lack of available liquor licenses in town for other interested venues.

Supply chain issues and the inability to hire adequate staff postponed the March reopening.

After hearing the news, Plasko had only one question for the attorney.

"How late?" he asked as board members laughed and congratulated Thayer.

"We're open until 9 if you get out of here early," Thayer replied.

Right now, the restaurant's inside patio and bar are open for a summer schedule of Tuesday through Saturday from 4-9 p.m. The full restaurant previously had been open every day except for Monday, but the restaurant may consider opening on Sunday in the future. The dining rooms will remain closed until more staff members are hired.

The board decided to take no further action on the license and wished the restaurant well.