Chiara Announces Closure as Owners Retire and Begin New Chapter
Westwood, Massachusetts – Chiara, a beloved neighborhood culinary destination in the heart of Westwood, has announced its upcoming closure after delighting the community for 17+ years. The decision to close comes as the owners, Michelle and Steve LaCount, have decided to retire and embark on a new chapter in their lives.
Since its establishment in 2005, Chiara has consistently been recognized as a sophisticated and refined dining destination, offering a modern and elegant ambiance that captivates patrons.
Over the years, the restaurant has garnered a loyal customer base, who have enjoyed the warm ambiance, impeccable service, and exceptional culinary experiences.
“Clientele at Chiara is made up of approximately 85% “regulars,” or those who visit the restaurant on a regular basis. We have been incredibly fortunate to serve this neighborhood and the surrounding towns of Dedham, Norwood, Walpole, Needham, Wellesley, Newton, Medfield, Millis, Norfolk, Canton, Foxboro, and Sharon,” expressed LaCount. “This clientele is one that has had a keen interest in good food and nice wines, which has been an honor to share with our guests. However, after careful consideration, we have made the decision to retire from full-time restaurant ownership.”
The LaCounts have opted to sell Chiara to Newport Restaurant Group, a renowned establishment that plans to introduce Bar ‘Cino to the Westwood community.
Newport Restaurant Group is a 100 percent Employee-Owned company headquartered in Warwick, Rhode Island, with a portfolio of high-end unique restaurant and hospitality concepts throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Their intent is to convert the Chiara location to their Bar ‘Cino concept, which they plan to open in early 2024. The Newport Restaurant Group describes the concept of coming to Westwood as a neighborhood gathering spot with fresh, Italian-inspired dishes, creative drinks, and their famous thin-crust grilled pizza. The first Bar ‘Cino was opened in 2019 in downtown Newport, Rhode Island, with a second location that opened in Brookline, MA in 2020. They are just completing the construction of a third Bar ‘Cino location in Watertown which will open this July. Further information about Bar ‘Cino can be found at BarCino.com.
“We are thrilled for Newport Restaurant Group and have complete confidence in their exceptional leadership, which will undoubtedly contribute to the continued success of this neighborhood. We also feel that they are the best fit for our staff to continue on with,” commented Steven LaCount, Executive Chef/Owner of Chiara.
Chiara will officially bid farewell to its cherished patrons in October.
Until then, regular business hours will be maintained, and reservations can be made by calling the restaurant after 1 pm at 781-461-8118 or booking online through Resy here.
The sale transaction was facilitated by Mark Richard of Corbett Restaurant Group, who adeptly represented both the buying and selling parties during the process. Recently, Richard also facilitated the sale of Barker Tavern in Scituate to the Wedgewood Wedding Company out of California.
About Corbett Restaurant Group
Corbett Restaurant Group is the leading commercial real estate firm located in Boston, specializing in the sale and leasing of restaurants and other hospitality industry properties. The firm offers exclusive seller representation for independent, regional, and national food service operators, including franchises and multi-unit operations. Its wide range of value-added services includes restaurant brokerage, commercial real estate brokerage, restaurant leasing, site selection, market intelligence, restaurant valuations and appraisals, real estate development, and negotiations. Corbett Restaurant Group also represents tenants, landlords, and developers as part of its leasing service.
All of Corbett Restaurant Group’s listings for restaurants for sale can be found here.