Italian Deli Prepares to Open on the Square

If all goes according to plan, there will be a new Italian deli open for business in Danvers Square by Friday.

Danvers resident Anthony Maglione appeared before the Board of Selectmen last week with an application for a common victualler’s license for the location at 2 High St. – the former home of the Sweet Heart Bake Shop. The bakery opened in 2009 and closed last year.

Maglione, a professional chef, envisions running an establishment you might see in the North End of Boston.

“We’re going to bring some real authentic food to Danvers,” he said.

Situated at the heart of the square next to , Anthony’s Italian Deli & Pasticceria will feature seating for 16 inside, a deli, marketplace and café-like atmosphere where customers can enjoy an espresso or cappuccino, gelato, soup, salad, a panini or other affordable Italian style sandwich. Maglione said there would be all sorts of authentic Italian pastries, specialty breads and imported meats and fine cheeses for sale.

The hours of operation are Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. and 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Sunday. Catering services will also be offered.

The license is under the name of Bernadette Maglione – Anthony’s wife, who works on the other side of Danversbank as a clerk at the post office on Conant Street. He said he would run the deli day-to-day while his wife continued to work at the post office and manage the business finances.

Selectmen, who otherwise had no issues with the proposal, pointed out that the lack of immediate street parking outside the business has hampered the success of past establishments there. There are one-hour parking spots on Conant and High streets, but customers won’t be able to just pull over in front of the deli on their way home.

Maglione, however, didn’t anticipate parking being a huge obstacle. He noted the bus stop there may “scare people away” now, but said there’s plenty of parking nearby on the street or in municipal lots downtown, such as the lot behind the Danvers Atrium building across High Street.

“There’s no parking in Time Square either, but they do all right,” he said.

You find Anthony’s Deli online at www.anthonysdeli.org.