The most read stories of 2021 on The 016

• Posted by 016 Administrator December 31, 2021 - Filed in News - 2,648 views

  As we prepare to welcome 2022, here's a look at the stories you made the most popular on The 016 in 2021.

  No. 15: Bar planned to replace legendary Dive Bar in Canal District | October 26th
  

  The Dive Bar closed in November 2019 amid the anticipation of the building of Polar Park.

   

  No. 14: Restaurant to open new Shrewsbury Street location on Thursday | November 9th
  

   

  Pepe's Italian Restaurant moved from its longtime home on Franklin Street.

   

   

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  No. 13: Park Ave eatery opens its doors | August 9th

  The "multi-cuisine" Shack opened its doors at the corner of Park Ave. and Pleasant Street.

   

  

  No. 12: Worcester man hits the lottery ... again | December 18th

  John Gregarczyk of Worcester (above) scratched a lottery ticket worth $1 million. He also did it in 2008.

   

  

  No. 11: Shrewsbury St. restaurant going into hibernation | January 14th

  An unfortunate recurring theme in 2021 was how the pandemic hurt Worcester restaurants. Brew City (above) bounced back, though, and reopened.

   

  No. 10: Shrewsbury mother and daughter found dead inside home (1:59) | March 20th

  An unspeakable tragedy struck close to Worcester. Authorities later concluded the mother killed her daughter and then took her own life.

   

  No. 9: Local restaurant closes all 3 locations because of COVID-19 | January 7th

  Prior to Brew City temporarily closing, The Fix -- with locations in Worcester, Leominster and Marlborough -- closed temporarily.

   

   

  

  Daderot, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

  No. 8: State board recommends Worcester attorney be disbarred | October 12th

  The Board of Bar Overseers wrote that Abby R. Williams, also known as Abigail R. Williams, “intentionally deprived several clients of their money from personal injury settlements” by “fraudulently inflating case expenses.”

   

  

  No. 7: Lincoln Plaza getting new tenant | November 3rd

  Just in time for New Year's resolutions, Planet Fitness plans to open at the site of the former W Fitness gym (above).

   

  

  No. 6: Worcester restaurant wants to know who took its kegs | May 25th

  In one of the oddest local stories of the year, 2 men made off with empty kegs from a gated area outside Antonio's Pizza on Chandler Street. The kegs were later returned.

   

  

  No. 5 : New restaurant opens at Lincoln Plaza | June 8th

  Lincoln Plaza's momentum continued when Torito Mexican Restaurant (above) opened in the space formerly occupied by Ruby Tuesdays.

   

  

  No. 4: Large crowds welcome Lincoln Plaza's newest stores | April 25th

  With great fanfare, HomeGoods and T.J. Maxx (above) replaced the former Staples and Barnes & Noble locations.

   

  

  No. 3: Popular Worcester diner, closed during pandemic, is for sale | June 15th

  The pandemic claimed the popular Blanchard's 101 Diner on Cambridge Street in Worcester (above).

   

  

  No. 2: Here's what's replacing Crown Bakery on Gold Star Blvd. | January 5th

  A Brazilian meat market took over the for iconic Scandinavian bakery.

   

  

  No. 1: COVID claims brother, sister from well-known Worcester family | January 24th

  The most-read story on The 016 in 2021 was the heartbreaking story of Francis Bafaro and his sister, Theresa Bafaro, who died a little over 2 weeks apart.

  What else is happening in and around Worcester? Click here or keep scrolling ⤵️