Andover eatery buys Vera Ristorante building

By Jim Sullivan

jsullivan@newburyportnews.com

NEWBURYPORT — Andover-based LaRosa’s Italian Cafe & Bar is expanding its reach into the city after recently buying the former Vera Ristorante building in Market Square for just under $1.6 million.

Robert Bentley, owner of Bentley’s Real Estate, said he sold the property at 31-35 Market St. Unit 1, on Jan. 30, for $1,599,900.

“This is something that’s going to stand out in that prominent location that kind of ties Market Square in with the rest of the downtown,” he said. “And they will be bringing in some delicious products too.”

The just over 1,800-square-foot retail space comes with “every stitch” of Vera’s furniture and kitchen equipment, according to Bentley.

While city records show the property was last assessed at $972,800, Bentley said LaRosa’s purchased a fully functional restaurant in the process. He added the new owners hope to be open by spring.

“They bought the place fully equipped,” he said. “So they should be able to open pretty soon.”

Unlike Vera, Bentley said the incoming LaRosa’s Italian Cafe & Bar will not just be open for dinner but will offer lunch as well.

The incoming restaurant, Bentley added, should create some new excitement in the city.

“There will be a lot of high-end and developed sandwiches to go,” he said. “They sound like something to be admired.”

In 2020, Vera Ristorante owner John Santaniello opened the quaint Italian eatery. The restaurant did its best to work with the city to offer patios in the front and rear of the building.

But Bentley added the combination of COVID-19 restrictions, staffing and other issues conspired to see the restaurant closing less than three years later.

“(Santaniello) owned a number of successful restaurants in New York over the course of his career,” Bentley said. “He came to Newburyport and saw this as an opportunity to not do a full-time, full-scale restaurant as he has done in the past.”

Bentley added he has worked with a variety of potential restaurant owners who had dreams of opening an eatery in Downtown Newburyport. But making that a reality takes a lot more than being a dreamer.

“Restaurants are challenging, obviously it’s a business that requires people to — one — know what they’re doing and — two — have the money, resources and financing to be able to pull it all off,” he said. “We went through a lot of talks and marketing. We finally found and landed the right group that could close the deal.”

Brine owner Nancy Batista Caswell said

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any restaurant owner needs to be smart when it comes to operating in a seasonal city like Newburyport.

“You can’t operate in Newburyport and walk away from the summers with your revenues and start spending it,” she said. “The winter season unfortunately, depending on how rough it is, truly determines the success or failure of a restaurant.”

Snow and post-holiday expenses, Batista Caswell added, are all serious concerns to think about when owning a restaurant on the North Shore.

“We’re just not busy in the first quarter of the year,” she said. “If you’re not savvy with your finances, then you find yourself stretched incredibly thin during the off-season. This is a very fragile industry. The only advise to the new owners is to remain present in the space and work within the community.”

LaRosa’s Italian Cafe & Bar, Bentley said, has both the experience and wherewithal to make a place like 31-35 Market St. work.

“They have the same exact kind of concept with about 1,800-square-feet in Andover,” he said. “They also have the same kind of food to a certain extent and it just works perfect for them.”

LaRosa’s Italian Cafe & Bar owner Paul LaRosa did not return a phone call in time for this report.

The former Vera Ristorante in Market Square.

Staff writer Jim Sullivan covers Newburyport for The Daily News. He can be reached via email at jsullivan@newburyportnews.com or by phone at 978-961-3145. Follow him on Twitter @ndnsully.

JIM SULLIVAN/ Staff photo