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O'Driscoll's to be sold to Paddywagon Inc.

Date: 9/11/2012

By Chris Maza

chrism@thereminder.com

WILBRAHAM — Plans are in the works for a new restaurant at the site of the now closed O'Driscoll's Pub on Boston Road.

At its Aug. 6 meeting, the Board of Selectmen approved a new restaurant liquor license for Paddywagon Inc., an enterprise owned an managed by Vincent and Lisa Santaniello, contingent upon their purchase of the property and now the sale appears imminent.

The current property owner, East Longmeadow Selectman James Driscoll, confirmed to Reminder Publications that he plans on selling the property to the Santaniellos shortly.

"I am thrilled that they are buying it," he said. "We have a purchase and sale signed and we're just waiting on final approval before the transaction is complete."

A request for comment from the Santaniellos through their attorney, Daniel Kelly, was not returned as of press time.

According to meeting minutes, Vincent Santaniello is a former Springfield police officer while Lisa Santaniello, who will act as manager of the restaurant, has experience conducting health inspections in the food service industry during her employment with the city of Springfield.

They expressed their intentions at the meeting of opening an affordable family restaurant offering lunch and dinner service and Sunday brunches.

Kelly explained at the meeting that the Santaniellos also own another restaurant on Page Boulevard in Springfield called Rory Fitzgeralds and they intend to move the chef from that location, which lacks adequate seating, to their Wilbraham location, which is approved for a capacity of 99 patrons.

A representative from the Board of Selectman's office said that while Paddywagon Inc. has been approved for a local liquor license, approval from the Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission has yet to be obtained.

She also said that the Santaniellos have requested applications for food service establishment and entertainment licenses, but have yet to file any paperwork.

O'Driscoll's, which was most recently operated by A&P Enterprises, closed in early February after sustaining damage from a fire in its kitchen on Dec. 4, 2011 and the liquor license for the site was revoked on June 18. Since the fire, Fire Department officials have stated concerns with the fire safety equipment at the site and Building Inspector/Zoning Enforcement Officer Lance Trevallion told the Board of Selectmen in January that he had concerns about the condition of the kitchen as he had not inspected it.

The Santaniellos stated at the meeting that they intended to recuperate the property and that improvements were already in the works. They added that they have been in touch with Trevallion and the Board of Selectmen's office confirmed that he has been on site to give them guidance on what needs to be done.

They also stated that they were in contact with fire personnel.

Neither Trevallion nor Capt. David Bourcier, who is in charge of fire prevention and training for the Wilbraham Fire Department, could be reached for comment.