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Troubled, shuttered Roggie's in Cleveland Circle could be replaced by family-friendly pizza place
By adamg on Thu, 10/01/2015 - 9:45pm
Fans of the brushed metal look better hurry over before it's stripped away.
Pizza-making brothers from the Fall River suburb of Somerset have an agreement to buy the long closed Roggie's on Chestnut Hill Avenue and remake it as their second pizza place.
Dimitrios and Nicholas Liakos brought boxes of their Agoro's pizza to introduce themselves to members of the Brighton Allston Improvement Association tonight.
Agoro's, open since 1984, is a family-oriented "pizza bar," Dimitrios Liakos told members. He said he planned extensive renovations to Roggie's, starting with getting rid of the current steel front. The restaurant will have both a sit-down area and a separate place for take out and sales of individual slices.
The Liakoses are seeking association backing for their bid for Boston Licensing Board approval to buy Roggie's beer-and-wine license.
The city shut Roggie's in May, 2014 after an incident involving a patron who fell down the stairs there. Owner John Rogaris was indicted on charges that he had workers dump the unconscious man in an alley and that he tried to tamper with the restaurant's video-surveillance system when police began asking questions about the incident.
In response to a question from a BPD officer tonight, Dimitrios Liakos said he would install a state-of-the art video system. He joked he would wire it directly to District D-14 if that's what police wanted.
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Comments
Good riddance.
Although I think any place that serves alcohol in that space will become a BC student drunk tank, but it would be nice if it could be a place that appeals to the entire neighborhood including those of us who live there year round.
"family-friendly"
My god but I loathe the phrase "family-friendly", and ditto "family-oriented". If you mean "doesn't allow drunken shouting", then say so...or "quiet" or whatever. If you mean something else, then say that.
Nahh it's cool
Not Roggies (spits), but "family friendly".
It may be a little cliche, but when something is family friendly (with alcohol), I know the music isn't too loud, the bar scene isn't crazy, the seating is regular tables - not just high tops - and the waitstaff won't get into a huff when a family walks in. It's helpful code that is more nuanced than, "Very little shouting, except during Pats games."
Really?
I've seen "family-friendly" used as a code word to mean all kinds of things ranging from "yeah, we're ok with kids" to "your children should feel free to act like feral animals and you should feel entitled to ignore the problems they create" to "gays not welcome because 'family' means hetro". That's why I dislike it.
That too...
I agree with all your translations. If I want to go out to a romantic dinner with my wife, I wouldn't look for a place that's family friendly.
clevo circle doesn't need more pizza
this place will never outshine Pinos. CC needs something new, not just more pizza and burgers.
I live in the area and I can
I live in the area and I can't tell you how little ANOTHER Pizza place interests me :|
I'll take anything but Pizza, Burger, or Burrito joint.
bring back presto's
Why all the way from Somerset?
Are they related to Rogaris?
Ahhhh...Presto....
I miss them sooooo much.... I know everybody loves Pino's but Presto pizza blew them away. Pino's crust is rubbery, Presto was crunchy outside and fluffy inside. And Sal's sauce was top notch. Not to mention the chunks of steak on their steak and cheese, not the greasy shavings everyone else does, partnered with well-done steak fries. I even miss surly Guy breaking my stones for being a Yankees fan. But yeah, another pizza place doesn't make sense. A Mexican restaurant would be nice.
It's not closed
I walk by there quite often, and see people inside. I just called them, and they are indeed open.
Only the shitty pizza side is
Only the shitty pizza side is still open. The shitty bar side has been closed for a year since their shitty owner dragged a guy into the parking lot out back and left him for dead. This place has always sucked. Good riddance.
Cleveland Circle really doesn't need more pizza, but it's better than this place just continuing to lay dormant I guess.
both sides
I've seen people sitting in both sides, but I haven't paid attention to what they're eating and/or drinking.
I think you're mistaken
They lost their liquor license and the larger bar/restaurant side hasn't been open since early last Summer. I walk by this place every day too and the take out side is the only part that has been open. They were doing some renovation work in the restaurant side a little while ago (ripped up the gross carpet). Maybe that's what you saw. Definitely has not been open for business though.
Reference for last year's
Reference for last year's incident: http://www.universalhub.com/2014/da-bar-owner-offered-pay-worker-take-fa...
This is still a free country right?
First of all maybe a lot of you should move out of the city, your complaining about noise and college students..really it's Cleveland Circle...Try Watertown or Weston if you want to hear nothing but grasshoppers at night.. Second isn't this America? A Pizza Place is a total legitimate business and being next to a college is a great way to make money..If you don't like it you buy it and make it what ever you want...and user Ibb, gays have family's too..you sound worse then the drunk college kids with comments like that. Are you not about equal rights? Let the guy have his pizza place. Maybe we make it another Starbucks for you yuppies..
Wow
This is a joke, right? Joke?
I mean, not that I don't totally respect your principled defense of that most threatened and oppressed population, the Boston college student, and that most rare and endangered form of cuisine, pizza. Because if pizza and college kids didn't have brave freedom warriors like you to defend them, they'd be extinct tomorrow.
Agoro's
I live in Somerset and Agoro's is an excellent place to dine. They have a welcoming bar and all around excellent atmosphere. I visit often at the bar with my husband for apps and a cocktail or with all 3 kids for a family dinner. The menu is way more extensive than just pizza. They do a great take out business as well. They will be an asset to your town.