Long-Closed Downtown Worcester Restaurant To Become Sports Bar

WORCESTER, MA — A downtown Worcester restaurant space that's been vacant for nearly a decade will soon become a sports bar run by the owners of a similar business in Framingham.

The owners behind 158 Sports Grill Garage appeared before the Worcester License Commission Thursday seeking permission to serve food and alcohol and have on-site entertainment. The commission postponed approval of those licenses pending a site visit.

158 Sports Grill Garage owner Reginaldo Grilo, a Northborough resident, appeared at the meeting with the co-owners, who are his wife and son-in-law. He said the restaurant would be open daily from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., and would have room for up to 150 people. Grilo also owns 135 Grill in Framingham, which opened in 2021, taking over for the troubled Braza Grill Union House.

158 Sports Grill Garage will use the restaurant space that was once occupied by Viva Bene. The restaurant operated for 23 years at 144 Commercial St. — except for an interruption in 2013 due to tax issues — until closing after a New Year's Eve party in 2016.

The new sports bar will be the latest in a series of eateries opening in the downtown area, following Toro Loco at the DCU Center, The Mercantile and Ruth's Chris Steakhouse.