Jay Nuss Realty Group, LLC brokers sale of South Shore landmark restaurant Bella’s in Rockland; new owners will open Lucca South Shore this fall

ROCKLAND and BRAINTREE, MA: Jay Nuss Realty Group (http://jaynussrealtygroup.com), a leading commercial real estate brokerage firm, recently brokered the sale of Bella’s Restaurant in Rockland, MA to new owners Sean Williams, Theodore Kennedy and Matthew Williams, who will reopen the restaurant  this fall as Lucca South Shore.

Nuss’s team represented the sellers, P&M Rockland Realty Trust. Bella’s had been under the ownership of the Barnes family of Braintree for more than three decades; the family’s other restaurant ventures have included Café Bella’s in Randolph, and Bella’s at Five Corners, Braintree. When the former owners decided to sell, they chose Jay Nuss to be the sole broker for the transaction.

“I’ve known the family for a long time and they have certainly built a good name and reputation for themselves over the years,” Nuss said, adding, “It was a privilege to be selected to find the next owner for this unique property.  And this is an excellent match! The new owners will do great things at this location!”

The property sits on three acres of land on Route 228, and the 8500 square foot restaurant is currently in the midst of renovations in preparation for a fall opening. Owners Sean Williams and his partners are hard at work making a number of improvements to the property, including new sliders at the back of the facility, a larger patio area, a chef’s garden and much more. “We are excited to be coming to the South Shore, and are confident that patrons will love the new appearance of the restaurant,” he said.

Williams, a Norwell resident, envisions Lucca South Shore as an elegant lively high end restaurant and bar similar in look and feel to their popular like north end style establishment. Lucca, named for the Tuscan town renowned for its extra virgin olive oil, offers Northern Italian classics, combined with creative innovations aimed at pleasing even the most discriminating palate. Their locations include the North End, Back Bay and at Logan Terminal B.

And soon, Rockland! Lucca executive chef Anthony Mazzotta will open the kitchen at Lucca South Shore. Mazzotta, who built his culinary career applying a combination of classical training and a home-spun passion for great food, grew up with Italian parents who cured their own sausages, grew gardens ripe with fresh produce, and made their own wine. He began his career in Boston at Le Meridien Hotel. He has also worked at The French Laundry in Napa Valley and its sister restaurant, Per Se, in New York. Then, returning to Boston, he worked with Ken Oringer at Toro, served as sous chef at EVOO in Cambridge, and has led the team at Lucca Back Bay as Executive Chef. He continues to work closely with the area’s farmers and purveyors, bringing the best of local, seasonal ingredients to the table.