Last spring, What Now Boston reported that Phil Frattaroli of Filmark Hospitality Group was planning to open a second location of his North End staple Caffé Ducali in Winchester. Now, new details about the project have come to light.
Frattaroli hopes to bring the café to 959 Main St, but during a recent Select Board hearing, members voted to continue the discussion after realizing they needed guidance from town counsel on several issues.
According to the Daily Times Chronicle, the delay centers on Frattaroli’s request for a Chapter 15 package store license, which would allow the café to stay open until 10 p.m. (later than both his original 5 p.m. proposal for Winchester and the 4 p.m. hours at the Boston location).
Some abutters pushed back. One neighbor argued the evolving proposal felt more like a full-service restaurant than the café/bakery concept originally approved by the ZBA, raising concerns about added traffic, noise, and parking. Others questioned whether extended hours might violate the previously approved 5 p.m. closing time attached to the ZBA’s original conditions.
Board members also debated whether the Planning Board or ZBA has authority over hours and use, ultimately agreeing they needed clarification from town counsel before proceeding. They noted that updated zoning for North Main Street could support the business, though parking impacts on a nearby condo complex remain a concern.
Frattaroli acknowledged the changes to the plan, noting, “We’re going to have to evolve as we go.”
For now, the Select Board will wait for guidance from town counsel before taking a vote, and asked Frattaroli and the abutters to “get on the same page” in the meantime.
Launched in 2020, the original Caffé Ducali is known for its specialty coffee beverages, daily pastries, and breakfast sandwiches. The eatery also offers lunch items such as paninis, salads, and Roman-style pizza al taglio (pizza by the slice).
Caffé Ducali’s Winchester website says that it will open this winter. Stay tuned for updates as the project moves through its final approvals.
