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 ⤵️
In The News
>WEATHER: Mark Rosenthal's 7-day forecast (1:06). High of 34 today in Worcester
>TOP OF THE NEWS
+6:00: Worcester bar's liquor license suspended for 5 days for after-hours assault
+6:00: Indie horror film festival returning to Worcester’s Mechanic Hall for second year
+6:00: 100FM The Pike (8:12): Worcester film maker Tom Dwyer talks about Dead of Winter Horror Festival
+6:00: 100FM The Pike (14:26): Bull rider Marcus Mast on near death experience with a bull and growing up Amish
+Noon: It's Friday! Check Dining Out and Bars & Bands before making plans
+Noon: Guide to Dead of Winter Horror Film Festival in Worcester
+Noon: Mechanics Hall to host The Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy
+Noon: "Black Angels Over Tuskegee" in Worcester will tell story
+Noon: WPI professor explores how Black artists helped transform opera
+Noon: New shows and movies to watch this weekend
+Noon: New movies on demand — "The Brutalist," "The Last Showgirl," and more
+Noon: 19 Carter in Berlin is a hub for both the arts and the community
-Hazardous ice lingers on Worcester streets days after storm. Video (1:18)
-Family of late state police trainee from Worcester speaks as state senators seek investigation update (2:49)
-Stop & Shop faces potential strike in Mass. over contract dispute
-Radio Worcester (40:20): Transformative plans for Worcester’s 51-acre Saint-Gobain site in Greendale
-West Boylston will fire Town Administrator amid police station flag conflict, lawyer says
-Earlier: Flag controversy discussed at Select Board meeting (1:49). Article
-Families fighting to keep funding for medical research meet at UMass Medical School (1:50). Article
-After sky-high hikes, state orders gas companies to reduce total bills by just 5 percent (:23)
-Related: What is the delivery fee on gas bills and why is it so high? (4:30)
-Police find cocaine, fentanyl during search in Worcester
-Radio Worcester's The Rundown (25:32): Councilor's indefinite absence sparks debate
-Radio Worcester Roundtable (21:18): Media misrepresents Worcester's sanctuary city vote
-DINING OUT: New restaurant to open at site of former Compass Tavern
-ICYMI: City Councilor Thu Nguyen will not return to council indefinitely
-Worcester rolls out enforcement of new 25 mph speed limit
-Worcester schools eye 7.9% budget increase for coming year
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN (brought to you by Lamoureux Ford): March Among Friends senior newsletter
-Ice melt arrives at Holden hardware store for storm-weary residents
-Longtime customer salutes Lamoureux Ford (3:53)
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Favorite breakfast spot plans expansion to Shrewsbury
-Sterling officer hit by car during traffic stop
-Police seek help locating 29-year-old missing person
-Drug bust at Westminster residence uncovers cocaine trafficking operation
-Clinton Project 351 ambassador gets involved
-Clinton School Committee honors students, staff
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Friday
>SHOWTIME: Things to Do: Concerts, historical demos and more
-Orchids bring color to Botanic Garden
-One Act Play Festival to take center stage at the Singh Performance Center
>OPINION: Kenzie Landsittel: Remember Women's Rights Convention in Worcester
-City of Worcester's Ready Worcester (1:03): Episode 4, preparing for snow storms
-Unity Radio's Susanity Life (58:15): Melisa Ann, intuitive energy healer
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to Worcester matriarch who passed away at 100
>SPORTS: Canada beats U.S., 3-2, in overtime to win 4 Nations Face-Off championship
-Bravehearts' New England Sports Summit breaks records
-With a renewed focus on boxing career, Worcester's Khiary Gray ready for title bout
-'Sader Stories (29:47): Varsity Club Hall of Famer Sam Fregenti
-Holy Cross women’s hockey team travels to Maine for final regular season series
-2 Holy Cross athletes nominated for Allstate Good Works Team
>CARS: Toyota recalls over 160,000 Sienna minivans due to seat back issue
>NATIONAL: California woman chased, fatally shot in parking lot: video
-Brian Laundrie's parents pariahs in Florida over Gabby Petito's murder: neighbors
-Tragic: Mom charged with abuse after 3 kids left alone for years
>NEW ENGLAND: Timeline of activities of cultlike group tied to killing of Border Patrol agent
-Why ambulances are waiting nearly an hour to bring patients into some Mass. hospitals
>COLLEGES: This is biomedical engineering at WPI (:23)
-Clark student Isaac Tomeho shines in both the digital and tactile worlds
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): 5 places you'll recognize from famous songs
>BUSINESS: Walmart shares tank on dismal forecast as retail giant warns of slowing sales
-LPL Financial Research: Tariffs ignite a metals melt-up
-How Gen Z can get on the right financial track
>HOMES: Worcester is one of the hottest real estate markets in 2025. See how it ranks
>HEALTH: Study: 3 conditions increase risk of liver damage if you drink
-How "lemonading" can help you better cope with stress
>FOOD: Dunkin' to end non-dairy upcharges after guest feedback
>TV/STREAMING: George Stephanopoulos is "miserable" at "GMA"
>MOVIES: Who won the best actor Oscar last year? See list of recent winners
>CELEBRITY: Laraine Newman says Barbra Streisand confronted her over "SNL" skit
>ANIMALS: Ducks ask woman to help their friend who isn't moving (1:38)
>HISTORY: Worcester's Bull Mansion has historical ties to a doctor, not an animal
>GOOD NEWS: Man's liver transplant denial reversed after story goes viral
-Meanwhile, in Thailand, monkey uses human-like hand signals to direct traffic (:43)
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