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For the third time in 15 months, the Northborough Health Department has ordered the closure of a Route 9 restaurant. Casa Vallarta Family Mexican Restaurant, 45 Belmont St., has been closed since Oct. 20. It's unclear when the eatery will reopen. The closure occurred after the Fire Department responded to an alarm at the restaurant on the morning of Oct. 20, when firefighters made several discoveries, Chief David Parenti said. Firefighters found standing water in the bar area, leaking pipes and three illegal bedrooms in the restaurant's basement.

01430

Ashburnham — ZIP code 01430 — known as "the town of many lakes," is located on the New Hampshire border 29 miles north of Worcester, and 50 miles northwest of Boston. It was first settled by Europeans in 1736, and was officially incorporated in 1765. Today, the town’s 41 square miles keeps a population of roughly 6,320. The town is home to Cushing Academy, a private, coed college-preparatory school for boarding and day students. According to realtor.com, 21 single-family homes are for sale in Ashburnham, ranging from a 570-square-foot two-bedroom home listed for $189,900 to a 1,875-square-foot four-bedroom home listed at $699,000.

$185M

As part of hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs' first investment in the cannabis industry, an entity owned by Combs has acquired Sunnyside dispensaries in Worcester and Leicester, and Leicester's Sunnyside production facility from Chicago-based Cresco Labs. The Sunnyside properties, which were formerly known as Cultivate, were acquired by Cresco Labs in September 2021 from Leicester-based Cultivate Holdings. Cresco Labs is the No. 1 operator of recreational cannabis in the United States. The three Central Massachusetts properties are among 12 properties acquired by Combs from Cresco Labs and Columbia Care. The properties are expected to sell for up to $185 million.

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A developer is looking to raze the former home of Volvo Cars at 70 Gold Star Blvd., Worcester, to build an 18,100-square-foot retail building. Parkingway Management LLC, a developer based in Boston, is looking to replace the existing building with a five-space building, to include a Kelly’s Roast Beef restaurant and a ConvenientMD Urgent Care clinic, according to Michael D’Hemecourt, one of the principals at Parkingway. The Volvo building dates to 1965. A building permit application is before the city Zoning Board of Appeals. According to public records, the land was assessed this year at $1,285,600.

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Peppers Artful Events in Northborough has been sold to Gourmet Caterers of Boston. The deal was finalized Nov. 7, according to John and Susan Lawrence, who have owned the Northborough catering business for more than 35 years. Negotiations between the Lawrences and Gourmet Catering President Robert A. Wiggins and family began earlier this year. The Lawrences have agreed to stay with Peppers as full-time consultants through December, transitioning to part time from January to June of next year, according to John Lawrence. People who have scheduled weddings and special events with Peppers will receive notification of change in ownership, according to Wiggins.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Central Mass. by the Numbers digest on Worcester County businesses