From the window of Classic Pizza III on Main Street in Bolton, owner Mema Kalemi can clearly see the parking lot of Nashoba Regional High School, now empty every day. It’s a constant reminder that a large portion of his customer base disappeared overnight a few weeks ago, and it won’t be back until at least the beginning of May. “It’s like something out of a movie,” he said.
The story is much the same at takeout eateries in small towns across Massachusetts, where the businesses and schools that provided the majority of customers for these restaurants are now closed, and the small number of residents that live nearby are staying in.
The Press spoke to managers and owners of several takeout restaurants in and around Harvard this week, and while the details varied, the bottom line was always this: lunchtime business is way down, and dinner business is not what it was. “People are afraid,” said Bravo Pizza co-owner Simon Exarhopulos, “and I don’t blame them.”
Exarhopulos said business was down 50% at Bravo Pizza, located in Boxborough on Route 111. He said he normally gets a lot of lunchtime business from employees at nearby office parks, but “last week it just stopped.” He had to let some employees go. Others who had small kids at home left because they were afraid they would catch the virus at work and bring it home to their families. “Nobody working here right now has kids,” he said.
The story was much the same at nearby Oscar’s Burritos, also on Route 111 in Boxborough. Owner Oscar Garcia said his lunch business is usually better than dinner, but when the Boxborough companies closed, that business dried up. Oscar’s also has tables for dining in, and Garcia was just ready to extend his hours, having received his beer and wine license from the town before the coronavirus crisis hit. Instead, he now closes earlier than usual, at 8 p.m. “We have to stay open, it’s better than nothing,” he said.
Sorrento’s Brick Oven Pizzeria restaurants in Harvard, Acton, and Concord were closed for a day on March 31. The restaurant manager told the Press that the owner was going to close all three locations for two weeks, but he changed his mind and they all reopened on April 1. The manager said business at the Harvard location is down 50%, and a few employees had to be let go.
In Bolton, Kalemi said Classic Pizza III business is down about 70%. Lunchtime is dead, he said, and he lost all the business from students coming in for slices after school and families picking up dinner after sports practice. He added that he’s trying to keep all his staff working, but he can’t keep going like this for very long. “I’m not sure what we’ll do,” he said. “I’m scared about how I will pay the rent and the utilities for the restaurant.”
At Siam Pepper on Ayer Road in Harvard, manager Sudasawan Bottomley told the Press that lunch business is 60% off. She said takeout at dinnertime is sometimes OK, but sometimes very slow, and it’s not predictable. The restaurant has managed to keep its employees working, but they all have reduced hours, especially since the dining room is now closed. Instead of four people working every day, two people work one week, and the other two work the next, including herself. Bottomley credited the people of Harvard with helping the restaurant stay open. “People in this town are so nice,” she said. “They thank us for staying open.”
Kathy Stamis, owner of Pizza Bella in Devens (formerly in Harvard), said her regular customers also tell her they’re trying to help her restaurant stay open, but Stamis relies on the military base at Devens for most of her business. The soldiers were gone during two weeks in the middle of March, and “business was horrible,” she said. She even considered closing at 4 p.m. every day. But the soldiers returned to the base earlier this week, and business has picked up. “They’re keeping us going,” she said, “and I’m very thankful for them.”
Wok N Roll on Park Street in Ayer said business has slowed at lunchtime, and while dinner can still get busy some nights, they close an hour early when business is particularly slow.
Bravo Pizza, 1233 Mass. Ave. (Rt. 111) Boxborough. Open Sunday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Order by phone: 978-635-0637. Delivery to Harvard available, pickup is in the restaurant.
Classic Pizza III, 1076 Main Street, Bolton. Open daily 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Order by phone: 978-779-0200. Delivery to Harvard available, pickup is in the restaurant.
Oscar’s Burritos, 1233 Mass. Ave. (Rt. 111) Boxborough. Open Monday to Saturday, noon to 8 p.m., closed Sundays. Orders by text or phone: 978-266-0001. Pickup is in the restaurant; they will bring food out to the car if requested.
Pizza Bella, 8 Andrews Parkway, Devens. Open Monday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sundays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Order by phone: 978-772-0004. Pickup is in the restaurant.
Siam Pepper, 325 Ayer Road, Harvard. Open Monday to Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Sat. and Sun. 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Order by phone: 978-391-1251. Pickup is in the restaurant. Delivery from DoorDash is also available at doordash.com.
Sorrento’s Brick Oven Pizzeria, 285 Ayer Road, Harvard. Open daily 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Orders by text or phone: 978-772-0025. Pickup is in the restaurant.
Wok N Roll, 49 Park Street, (Rt. 111/2A), Ayer. Open Monday to Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., Sundays 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Order at woknrollayer.com or by phone at 978-772-4526. Delivery to Harvard available, pickup is in the restaurant.
