Indian restaurant, spa to open; dog park location in question

By Tara Vocino

The Board of Selectmen approved a special permit to operate a spa business and a common victualer and entertainment license during Tuesday’s meeting at Town Hall.

The selectmen approved a common victualer and entertainment license to open Athidi Indian Restaurant LLC at 1268 Broadway, Suite 2 during Tuesday’s public hearing at Town Hall.

“We come from an ethnic restaurant family,” Athidi Indian Restaurant co-owner Jaya Krishna Vasireddy said. “We want to bring the culture here.”

Athidi Indian Restaurant co-owner Sowmya Jakkireddy said the restaurant will specialize in South Indian food, but they will also offer North Indian food. The owners are cousins, originally from Hyderabad, India.

“It’s a dream come true,” Vasireddy said. “We’re so excited.”

Board of Selectmen Vice Chair Jeffrey Cicolini asked if they have done interior renovations since the former restaurants, Punjab Kesari and Out of Asia, closed. Jakkireddy replied that they did it along with cleaning.

Board of Selectmen Chair Debra Panetta asked about drivers cutting through the parking lot. Vasireddy said they’re addressing it. Town Manager Scott Crabtree said the issue revolved around companies leasing land, but they are no longer using it, so it shouldn’t be as much of a problem. Jakkireddy added that there are three televisions and one projector.

The restaurant will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. The restaurant expects to open on September 1 with a final walk through by the Board of Health.

Oreng Consulting Consultant Raphael Fraga said that having a culturally diverse business is a plus. “I’m an immigrant from Vitoria, Brazil, and I’m blessed to help fellow immigrants,” Fraga said. “I moved here when I was seven.”

Fraga said it’s a good location, and it’s looking nice. Town Manager Scott Crabtree said a liquor license would be the next step.

Also, during a public hearing, the Board of Selectmen granted the request, 5-0, for a special permit to operate KPS Esthetic and Threading LLC at 27 Essex St., which is expected to open the end of this month. Owned by Saugus resident Shova Lagoon Gajmer, of School Street, the spa will offer eyebrow threading, body waxing, henna, eyebrow tint and body massages.

“I’m so happy and glad,” said Gajmer, who moved to town from Bhutan in 2011.

Panetta asked if there would only be one employee. For now, it’s just Gajmer, but she plans to hire a massage therapist. Panetta asked if she has certifications, and Gajmer replied that she does.

Board of Selectmen member Michael Serino asked how many years’ experience she has in this field. Gajmer replied that she has 11 years’ experience. Cicolini added that the Fire Department would do a safety walk through.

Besides the public hearings, the question about building a dog park surrounding Stocker Playground was raised.

During public comment, Stocker Street resident Marie Floramo asked Panetta if she is for the environment or not since she is the president of the Saugus River Watershed Council. A grant application for a proposed dog park at Stocker Playground has already been submitted.

“I am here speaking for the children, and future generations surrounding Stocker Playground deserve better,” Floramo said. “Dog parks are not conducive to riverine ecological health.”

Floramo suggested building the dog park at the former Oaklandvale School. “It’s been like that for 100 years,” Floramo said. “It’s the way it should stay.”

After the meeting, Panetta told The Advocate that there’s a dog park committee that is established, and that the council doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with building a dog park. “It’s not supposed to be a back-and-forth conversation,” Panetta said. “I thought it was a rhetorical question.”

Town Manager Scott Crabtree deferred all questions to the dog park committee.

Floramo read a statement on behalf of Town Meeting Precinct 3 member Mark Sacco, who said Stocker Playground has been a beloved space for children. “Repurposing it into a dog park would not only conflict with this intention but also reduce recreational opportunities for the younger members of the community,” Floramo read on behalf of Sacco.

“I’m here to support my constituents,” Sacco said. “Oaklandvale School sounds like a perfectly reasonable location.”