Following the Board of Selectmen's approval of a liquor license transfer at Abbot Hall Wednesday night, the local man opening Joey D's Italian Grill on Pleasant Street said he hopes to open for business next week.

Marblehead's new Italian restaurant will open in the 30-seat space formerly occupied by Hooked Seafood & Grill, located at 115 Pleasant Street - directly across the street from Warwick Place and adjacent to The Rip Tide.

At a brief public hearing Wednesday night, board members unanimously approved the license transfer requested by Joey D's owner Joseph Costanzo, of Green Street.

The restaurant's hours of operation were also changed Wednesday.

When Costanzo originally applied for a common victualler's license, he requested permission to be open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

On Wednesday, the restaurant's hours of operation were changed to 11 a.m. to 12 a.m., Monday through Sunday. 

Local residents can expect the former Hooked sign to be repainted to read "Joey D's Italian Grill, Pizzeria & Seafood, Beer & Wine", according to a design presented Wednesday night.

At a Selectmen's meeting last month, Costanzo told board members that he recently sold Luciana's Restaurant and Pizza on Highland Avenue in Salem and is looking to offer a menu featuring fresh-caught seafood, Italian fare and pizza.

"I've been in the restaurant business for 30 plus years and I've owned my own restaurant since 1985," Costanzo said at the meeting, "so I have many, many years of experience under my belt."

Know of a new business coming to town? Let us know and we will make it the focus of our next What's Moving In? column.

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