Sessa's successor

[jlauspitz.livejournal.com]

After 35 years in Davis Square John Sessa has sold his business to Giovanni Maione, a Johnson & Wales graduate from a Neapolitan baking/restaurant family. After a four-year stint at Four Seasons, Giovanni helped to launch his family's Waltham restaurant, La Campania, where he has worked since its founding in 1996.

Giovanni will retain the Italian delicatessen core of the Sessa's business and add a few new touches:

-- fresh baked bread (the oven arrived today) and other baked goods (e.g. ricotta pies)
-- a line of Neapolitan street dishes
-- more prepared foods
-- licensed seating for 20 persons indoors (+ 10 outdoors) for sit-down lunches and fresh espresso

He expects the new elements to be in place in about a month.

John Sessa will be at the store for the next three weeks to say goodbye to old customers.

Comments

[mem-winterhill.livejournal.com]

That's a very nice sounding transition. I wish both parties the best in their new directions.

I am already craving the bread.

[jicama]

This does sound promising.

[ron_newman]

Will he change the name of the store?

[jlauspitz.livejournal.com]

The new name will be Pepe Bocca Italian Specialty Market

[junesrose.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is sad news. I will make a note of stopping by to say good bye. Thanks for letting us know.

My mom and I have known John since he started the store. He catered my "post-wedding-back-to-the-house" late night feast, along with many other various smaller events. Back then, it was nice to have a local place where we could get authentic Italian foods/goods.

Alas, my mom has passed, but it was always nice to stop in and say hello whenever I happened to be in the Square. He will be missed.

I wish Giovanni well, and I'll be looking forward to see what he has in store!

[pywaket.livejournal.com]

Having dined at La Campania, I'm thrilled about this development! Sooo glad to have him in the neighborhood.

[maelithil.livejournal.com]

I'm Italian (been here ten years, so not really fresh off the boat anymore, but still) and Sessa was always a huge disappointment to me. Hopefully the new store is better, fresh bread does sound delicious.

If anyone is craving it in the meantime, l'Impasto on Mass Ave has delicious fresh bread. I just wish he'd change up his menu once in a while.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Oh, that is so good to know! Assuming they sell the bread aside from as part of a meal?

[teko.livejournal.com]

L'impasto will not only sell you fresh bread on the spot, but last time I went in there, they gave me enough free bread samples to make a meal out of.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

I think this will be a nice addition!

[obie119.livejournal.com]

Thanks for posting this! I am a huge Sessa's fan and will appreciate the chance to wish John well. I hope he will get to go on a giant European soccer tour now with his free time :)
So glad to hear the store will serve similar items!

[jducoeur]

Oooooh, neat. Campania is on my list of the five best restaurants in the region, the hidden gem of Waltham. It's a bit unprepossessing on the outside, but you walk through the door into a truly high-end Tuscan restaurant. Fabulous food, as well as one of the finest wine cellars in New England.

I very much look forward to seeing what he does with the market...