WAKEFIELD — Yesterday was supposed to be the first day back to work after a vacation for the family that owns Brothers Restaurant and Deli in the heart of the Square.
Instead, this was posted on Brothers Facebook page over the weekend:
Dear Wakefield,
After nearly two years of pouring our hearts into Brothers Deli, we’ve made the very difficult decision to close our doors. This wasn’t what we had hoped for, and despite our efforts to reach an agreement with our landlord, continuing on was no longer sustainable.
Still, we walk away with something far more meaningful than we ever imagined: .
From the moment we took over in 2023, you embraced us. You welcomed us into your routines, your families, and your stories. You cheered us on, laughed with us, cried with us, and reminded us, day after day, why community matters.
To the regulars who became friends…
To the kids who grew up before our eyes…
To the neighbors who always had our backs…
To the families who brought warmth to even the toughest days…
Thank you.
You made this place feel like home, not just to us, but to so many others. That love, that loyalty, that shared heart, you’re what made Brothers Deli special.
We may be stepping away from the business, but we’ll always carry this community with us. If the lights come back on under new ownership, just know: what we built together can’t be replaced or forgotten.
Just because we are closing up shop doesn’t mean its goodbye forever. DM us anytime to stay in touch!
With all our love and gratitude,
Sunny, Sonia, Happy & the Brothers Deli team
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In the summer of 2023, Jimmy and Maria Assimakopoulos announced their plans to retire and sell the business they had operated for 38 years, closing not just a chapter in their own lives but turning the page on an era in downtown Wakefield.
Representatives of the new ownership group, PK Brothers, Inc., appeared before the Town Council in August 2023 to apply for a Common Victualler’s License from the town. The Common Victualler application listed Parag Patel as the new owner. Jimmy and Maria were also on hand for the meeting and it was noted that they will remain a presence for a time at the restaurant to assist with the transition to the new owners.
The board recognized and thanked outgoing owners Jimmy and Maria for all of their contributions to the community, calling Brothers “a Wakefield institution.” Then-Town Councilor Edward Dombroski went a step further, calling it “the heart and soul of downtown Wakefield.”
The incoming owners operated several successful restaurants in the Boston area, including Bill’s Pizzeria in Newton Center and Lo Conte’s in Boston’s North End.
The new owners said that they planned to expand the hours to include dinner as well as breakfast and lunch. “Our plan is to open it back up and keep it going like it used to be,” they said.