Woburn's Cafe Sorelli To Close Friday After 17 Years

WOBURN, MA — Cafe Sorelli, a popular lunch spot that serves pizza and sandwiches, will close permanently Friday, after 17 years in Woburn.

Despite making changes to the business and receiving a Paycheck Protection Program loan in the spring, the pandemic was too much to bear, said Danielle Farnkoff, the daughter of owner Jerry Guarino.

"We changed our hours at the beginning of all of this to open up at night and we gave free delivery and discounted pizzas to get people to come in," Farnkoff said. "Over the summer people were here, but then the winter came, the slow season, and it was just too much of a loss of business."

The restaurant is in a commercial district, not a residential one, so food traffic has been low with so many people working from home, Farnkoff said.

They had planned to apply for more federal relief, but the second round of the Paycheck Protection Program came too late to save the restaurant, she added.

Farnkoff praised Woburn and thanked the loyal customers who have supported the restaurant for its nearly two decades in the city, including the city's police and fire departments.

"We've been residents since 1983, so opening up a business in your hometown, it's pretty special," Farnkoff said. "Being in the city has been great, we've really enjoyed being part of it."

The next step for her dad is probably early retirement, she said — he's been in the food business for 45 years.

"It's emotional," Farnkoff said. "Ending a chapter always is."

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.