A beloved Haverhill Italian restaurant is finally making its way back to its longtime home in Ward Hill.
Joseph’s Trattoria has broken ground on a new restaurant at 15 Knipe Road, returning to the site of the family’s original location with plans to bring back its bakery and cafe. The restaurant is expected to reopen in the spring of 2027 as part of Oxford Crossing, a planned neighborhood village with retail space and 220 apartments.
Owner Deanna Faro Gaiero and her family gathered at the site for a ceremonial groundbreaking on Monday, October 5, marking a milestone in a project that has been roughly six years in the making, according to WHAV.
Plans for Oxford Crossing were approved by the Haverhill City Council in 2022, but severe stormwater flooding damaged the existing Joseph’s Trattoria building in August 2023, forcing the restaurant to close ahead of schedule. Although the family had already planned to vacate the building as part of the larger redevelopment, the flooding accelerated its departure from Ward Hill.
However, the Gaiero family remained in Haverhill, opening Joseph’s Trattoria Downtown in October 2023. Nick Gaiero, Deanna’s son and the restaurant’s general manager, said they hope to keep both locations open once the new Ward Hill restaurant opens.
Joseph’s first opened in Haverhill in 1996, though the family’s culinary history stretches back even further. Before launching the restaurant, the Gaieros operated several bakeries and a pasta company, laying the groundwork for the Italian specialties and baked goods that would eventually become part of the Joseph’s experience.
The new Joseph’s Trattoria Bakery & Cafe will build on that legacy with a refreshed concept and more room for guests to gather. The approximately 240-seat restaurant will feature a larger bar, an outdoor patio, a spacious dining room, and two private dining rooms for special occasions. The bakery and cafe will also return, bringing back the popular pastries, cookies, and prepared foods that longtime customers know and love.
The building’s exterior will incorporate repurposed brick from the original structure, which also housed the Knipe Brothers shoe factory more than a century ago. While the team is keeping interior design specifics under wraps until the grand opening, guests can expect a brand-new take on the longtime restaurant.
The menu will similarly balance fresh additions with familiar options, including the fan-favorite Ravioli di Zucca, Pollo Ripieno con Mozzarella, and Bolognese with house-made rigatoni. The family looks forward to welcoming back longtime team members alongside new faces as the restaurant begins this next chapter.
“We hope to see all the familiar faces that have dined with us for 30 years in our current downtown location and in the new Joseph’s Trattoria Bakery & Cafe at Oxford Crossing,” the Gaieros told What Now Boston. “Our Joseph’s Family wants to thank you for your continued support over the years!”
Can’t wait until next spring? You can still get your Joseph’s fix at Joseph’s Trattoria Downtown, located at 6 Moulton Way in the former Krueger Flatbread and Olivia’s Restaurant space, while construction continues at the original Ward Hill site.
