Moody Street Deli Closes 'For Renovation'

WALTHAM, MA — Moody's Delicatessen & Provisions, which has become a staple of Moody Street since the Italian deli opened in 2013, is undergoing some changes. Today the deli posted to its Facebook page that it was closed for renovations. But no word, yet on how long that will last. Patch has reached out to officials to confirm.

Moody's told customers on Facebook that it planned to reopen and honor gift cards. It also said they'd been calling folks who had reservations to let them know about the closure, although at least one person who said he'd had a reservation said he didn't get one.

The sudden announcement comes a week after Boston Restaurant Talk reported that the owner had stepped away from his restaurant.

Moody's is the brainchild of Joshua Smith, who has worked at Tico, Sweet Caroline's and Battery Park. The restaurant will served weekly farm-to-table dinners and offer deli platters, and has won a number of awards.

Officials from the restaurant came to a licensing commission meeting at the request of the commission Tuesday night, since everything, both liquor the beer and wine and cordial, as well as the all alcohol license and common victual, were under Smith's name.

"Where is Mr. Smith?," asked the commissioner.

"Mr. Smith is no longer affiliated with the business," the managing owner, replied.

But that, the commission said was not good enough.

"You can be an owner, but you don't have licenses. You have to be properly vetted. You have to close immediately this evening. You can't reopen. You have to apply for a license transfer from Mr. Smith. He is the license manager and licensee," said the commissioner.

Moody's owners must now apply for a license transfer, which comes with a public hearing with the license commission that must be published in the paper for two weeks, ahead of time, according to the commission. Then, if the new license transfer gets approved in Waltham, it goes to the Alcohol and control commission in Boston.

"Unfortunately, it didn't end in the way we wanted it to, so we're in this position. It's nothing we wanted to do," said one of the business officials. "We're here to do the right thing. There's a lot of investment and hard work that's been done into that facility," he said, asking for help getting on the right track. "We're here for eternity, we're here to put something amazing."

Smith was not only behind Moody's, but The Backroom, and New England Charcuterie, and his other business, El Rincon de Moody's, which is still closed after abruptly shutting down around the holidays. Marc Hurwitz reported he said goodbye to all of those businesses.

Patch has reached out to Smith for comment.

More on Moody's

• New Delicatessen Opens on Moody Street (2013)
• Moody's Delicatessen & Provisions Is Expanding (2014)
• Moody's Deli Owner Plans Smoked Meats and Baked Goods (2016)
• El Rincon De Moody's Abruptly Closes Taqueria (2019)

For a throw back view of the deli, check out the photos here and the video of Smith from the opening below:

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).