Viola Restaurante Closes Unexpectedly, Faces License Hearing

Sometime in the last several weeks, Viola Restaurante on Washington Street in Braintree closed its doors without notice and now faces a hearing before the Board of License Commissioners.

The Italian-style eatery, owned by Braintree resident Joseph Viola, also failed to pay for its 2012 all-alcohol license, according to a notice sent from the board to Viola on Oct. 25. Earlier this year a check was returned for insufficient funds and the license payment has yet to be made.

A hearing has been scheduled for Nov. 13 to determine whether this year's license is void, and if it is active whether it should be revoked because of the alleged lack-of-notice violation.

Both Viola's home phone and the restaurant's are out of service. A leasing agent for F.X. Messina, which owns the property and now has a "for lease" sign out front, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday. No update has been made on Viola's website.

A few weeks ago the owner of Lenox-Martell, a Boston-based beverage equipment company, noticed that Viola was closed, said Jessica Morse, who works in the credit and collections office.

Lenox-Martell attached an orange sticker to the restaurant's door indicating that the building contains property belonging to the company. Morse confirmed that a soda system remains inside and that Lenox-Martell has been unable to reach Joseph Viola.

Morse also said that about two months ago Viola said he was going to renovate the restaurant, keeping it open while changing its style. But it then closed unexpectedly and a week ago the Messina leasing sign appeared.