Angelina's RIP

And if the crowds (or lack therof) are any indication then Bad Dawgs, Centro and Monkeys will be next to close.

Angelinas was pretty good, but I didn't eat there very often. If I wanted to eat subs and pizzas, I could've stayed living in the suburbs. I think the food themes that aren't as over-represented would tend to perform better in an urban environment. (Like, say, BBQ!) When our friends from the 'burbs visit, they want to go for Mexican or Asian, not something they drive by 5 of on the way here. Unfortunately, I think some churn is inevitable, but "natural selection" is how things get better (when we're lucky). Maybe if the Hamilton Canal District development gains some momentum, we'll achieve critical mass?

Angelina's suffered from an identity crisis. The exterior and interior set-up screamed drinking hole and late night atmosphere. Yet, without the beer or liquor to back up the projected image, it tripped over itself in setting up an expectation that it couldn't meet.

Too bad Angelinas closed. I always had a decent lunch there and the staff was friendly. My high school kids loved going there to split inexpensive pizza with groups of friends. Loved the interior design too. It will be missed.

Personally I thought their delivery service was awful. The constantly forgot simple items, like soda, every time we ordered. To be honest, I liked their pizza, but everything else on the menu was fairly bland. It's sad to see any business go under. The owners were very nice and I'm pretty sure they just had a baby not too long ago. I wish them luck in the future. I think one thing Lowell is truly lacking is a venue for live music, like Evo's used to be. I think if someone took over Hookslides/Angelinas, and made it into a bar/restaurant/music club it would do well.

I think local restaurants could have a better online presence. Emails are cheap last time I checked. A monthly or biweekly newsletter with coupons is a great way to increase business. The chains are sending big glossy coupons to us in The Sun. If you can't afford that you need to be creative.

I'm suprised they lasted this long. The few times I ate there the food was bad and the orders were always messed up.

It doesn't help that "Downtown this Week" on Lowell.org hasn't been updated since early July. You would think restaurant owners would get on Bernie Lynch to keep the site updated. As a newer restuartant I would make damn sure my info is at least listed on the "Restaurant and Bar" page. I can't stand apathy but somethimes wonder why I care.

Although I barely ever went there (food wasn't spectacular, was never happy with the service), it's never good to see someone close and like someone else mentioned, the list of suspected not-lasting-much-longers, especially with the outdoors season ending, is scary. I know the economy is bad and there's been lots of speculative development going on that is going belly up, but still.

I really like the marketing idea. I'm sure, like all newspapers, The Sun's subscription base is shrinking. Besides, with lifestyle columnists saying things like "A non-Blowellian only ventures downtown to drink or for jury duty" maybe the paper doesn't always help :-)

I can imagine the city has a marketing budget for this sort of thing, but where does it go? I'm from Tyngsboro, and I don't remember seeing too many "There's a lot to like about Lowell" postcards in my mail. I can only think of two restaurants in Lowell I've seen advertise on cable, and neither one is downtown. Word-of-mouth is great, but it only gets you so far. I think one of the larger failures is that too little has been done to funnel the Spinners and the Tsongas Arena traffic into downtown.

Can any downtown merchants say if game/concert nights are a significant boost to business?

Angelina's delivery was ALWAYS messed up - we loved their subs and pizzas though, so we always ordered from them. It got to the point where I'd ask, "Can you please make sure that all of my items are in the bag BEFORE your delivery person leaves, because there are always items missing," and they would assure me that they always did that.
Of course, when my food was delivered, there was ALWAYS something missing. It's such a shame too, because the chicken alfredo pizza they had was awesome.

Angelina's is a chain of 5 or so pizza joints. I wonder if the others are still in business ?

We stopped going because the service was terrible. We went in once for eat-in, about 7pm on a weeknight, and they did not tell us as we ordered that they were backed up with orders from next door. We waited 35 minutes, and no one bothered to even approach us to explain what was going on. We saw a family with kids have to leave for their event at the arena without eating, and when the family asked for their refund, they had the nerve to charge them for the 3 sodas they did drink. Just unreal.

They also screwed up delivery orders, and the food was inconsistent, although generally palatable. We stopped ordering from them after the endless dinner that never came, and we can't be the only ones. Sammy's down the street is so much more attentive, or even Broadway or Trolley.

And they didn't even have the Lowell location on the box or website, from what I recall. We always had to hunt for the number.

You guys nailed it - advertising, advertising, advertising! Many, many people still have a very bad impression of Lowell, and therefore never go there! Something has to be done to get the word out that downtown has a LOT to offer and get people down there.

I heard the owner went MIA.

I live very close by and always ordered from them and have never had a problem with their pick-up service. I am very sad to see them go. I always liked their pizza and steak tips were very good. The restraurant seemed clean too. I really hope some scummy pizza and sub joint doesnt move in there because how many of those can lowell really acquire. gross.

Wait a minute. Isn't Angelina's part of the deal in Hookslide Kelly's sale? The real estate broker listed them both together, meaning the same person owns both, right? I think they shared the same kitchen too.

Was this another scam to grab two government grants for basically the same business? Are they going to repay the money given them if that's the case? Or is it just another example of giving money away to people who have no clue of how to run a business and who have no intention of being a part of Lowell for the long haul?

I believe the listing said there was a paying tenant. So I guess the listing sheet will have to change.
It also could be a positive thing. Someone is then free to come in and use the kitchen and serve the type of food they want because they do share a kitchen.
I believe that not every business gets a grant and if they get loans they do need to put up some collateral. So why worry how the lender gets repaid.

My boyfriend and I went to eat there once. The food was decent. The fact that punk teens were hanging out there (only drinking refills of soda) and the counter person was busy talking to her friends instead of getting our order, made us decide not to go back. Places need to cater to paying customers not freeloaders.

Because the government grants they get mean that the lenders are you and I, the taxpayers. How many more times are we going to put money into the hands of people who disappear like thiefs in the night without fulfilling their obligation? Isn't there a better use for our money?

Surprised they lasted this long. When I called to order a thin pizza and I had to convince the order taker that Scilian pizza was not thin crust I knew it wasn't going to go well. It did not. We tried them several times and take out orders were always missing something, or the crust wasn't cooked, another time they gave our sub to someone else...on and on and on.
It pays to hire people with brains and manners! I hope someone else can use the space and offer good Italian pizza - it isn't so difficult..... And shame on them for taking off - bad karma.

Well Lowell Foodie, I don't know what you mean about 'Centro' being in that mix! Hardly comparable to HotDogs and IceCream! Plus, they outstanding service, food, and atmosphere. Read this blog back to gourmetgal's review of Centro, or better yet, have dinner there!

Not that it affected Angelinas, but constant weekend State Trooper road blocks on Thorndike st. hurt everyone as well, and Lowell's destination initiative. People who have good jobs and drink a couple glasses of wine with dinner, have too much to risk, and will stay away just as much as 21 yr old students guzzling beer, if not more.

We've been told by more than a couple of customers that the fear is enough to keep them away.
splath

Interesting post Scott, I never thought of that. I live downtown so I just have to worry about stumbling into the street and not getting run over by all the drunks leaving the city for the 'burbs at night. ;-)

In general, I think the police presence on the Connector to downtown has gotten a little excessive. They would be much better off on foot downtown, dealing with public drunkeness BEFORE they get in cars, or patrolling neighborhoods. Couple nights ago you could hear gunshots from Market St, turns out it was someone unloading into a car over by the University Ave Bridge. Not something you want casual diners listening to, and certainly not something the people in the Acre want happening.

Corey, the presence of the troopers on thorndike street will be beneficial in the long run. The theory is the undesirables will eventually realize Lowell isn't the place to come to if creating havoc is your idea of a fun night out.

While Scott's theory might hold some truth and I don't doubt a few people have remarked on it, the reality is probably different. The constant presence of state troopers and police officers in Nashua doesn't seem to adversly affect their dining scene. Pretty much every restaurant on Main Street and Daniel Webster Highway is packed, despite NH cops being obsessive about their enforcement and harrassment of drivers. You can't drive through some of those cities and towns without getting a police escort to the border.

Plus Scott, I'd be willing to wager the police presence at your new place in Chelmsford is much greater than in Lowell. As someone who used to frequent Skips for a drink or two in the evening, I could always count on one of Chelmsford's finest to be parked right across the street. Between that and them patrolling the parking lots, it got where I eventually recognized all their faces.

Police efforts to crack down on drunk driving are a fact of life these days.

Scott,

That's a great point. I think it would be analogous to setting up a checkpoint on Storrow Dr. in Boston. Wouldn't happen. What gives them the right to pull anyone over without probable cause? They should just stick to the highways.

I would think that having a sobriety checkpoint between 1 and 3 am on weekends would be sufficient enough - but starting at 8pm is too much, and I can see how that would have a negative impact on restaurants downtown.

Angelinas going under is truly very sad for me - I live in downtown and really liked the food the decor and the late hours. I got to know the owners and I fell very sorry for them. They spent alot of time getting that place open and working everyday. It seems like other places are not doing all that well either - I hope that the economy picks up so other people will not have to close their doors!! Where ever you are "Sam and Wendy", good luck in the future and you will be missed!!!

I loved their pizza, but the service was beyond bad. I live 1 mile from the place but delivery still took over 1 hr each time. It usually was cold and the order wrong. Complained several times and usually got some excuse or attitude, especially from the girl that answered the phone. So stopped ordering and going there..... not surprised they closed....still sad.

Hey Gourmet Gal,
Have you heard any scoop? It looks like the Elliott's franchise has closed! What's up with that? That place was like a Lowell Institution...
Like Arthur's & the Boott Mill.

Thanks,

Darla