Spoleto Express closed for business Saturday in Northampton and has been sold to Tully O'Reilly's Pub owner Tully McCulgan, Spoleto Restaurant Group Chief Operating Officer Bill Collins said Monday.
Northampton 1/21/03. Claudio C. Guerra, of Northampton, owner of Spoleto Express in Northampton.
Spoleto Express has pulled out of its 225 King St. location to make way for a new businesss.
Spoleto owner Claudio Guerra said Monday that he will no longer operate his restaurant there and that Tully O'Reilly's Pub owner Tully McColgan has renegotiated a lease with the owner of the property.
Guerra, 51, said he has three young children and is trying to refocus his energies by reducing the number of restaurants he owns.
"Less is more," he said.
Last year, Guerra moved his Northampton Spoleto restaurant from 15 Main St., where it had been for 20 years, to a property he owns at 1 Bridge St. for more autonomy. He still operates Pizza Paradiso and Mama Iguana's in Northampton, another Mama Iguana's in Springfield and a second Spoleto in East Longmeadow. The new Spoleto location in Northampton is doing well, he said.
"This is a phase in life," said Guerra. "That's all."
Spoleto Restaurant Group Chief Operating Officer Bill Collins said that
Guerra ceded the space to McColgan last week after talking and negotiating for a couple of months.
"The most important thing for us is a big thank you to all of our great customers who have patronized the place for 10 years," Collins said. "We look forward to seeing what Tully can do. We hope that they continue to go to the place.”
Collins said he's not completely sure of McColgan's timeline but believes the pub owner has plans to open a restaurant with a menu that's inspired by street food from around the world. McColgan could not be reached for comment Monday.
"We really hope that he’s able to create a vibrant business that does well for many years to come," Collins said.