Photo | Courtesy of Livia's Dish
Husband-and-wife restaurateurs Enton Mehillaj (left) and Oriola Koci parked a Ninety + Cellars wine truck at Livia's Dish as part of the eatery's eight-year anniversary celebration.
4 hours ago
Flying Rhino closes; location taken over by long-time Worcester restaurateurs
Photo | Eric Casey
The Flying Rhino on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester is closing after 25 years of operation.
Flying Rhino Cafe & Watering Hole, an eatery at 278 Shrewsbury St. in Worcester in operation since 2000, has closed its doors after the property was sold to the former owners of Altea’s Eatery and Livia's Dish in Worcester.
The transaction was finalized on Friday and saw Enton Mehillaj and Oriola Koci, the husband and wife former co-owners of Altea’s and Livia’s, purchase the site for $850,000 from Flying Rhino co-owner Paul Barber, according to Worcester District Registry of Deeds Records. Paul Barber bought the property for $800,000 in 2017.
Mehillaj and Koci did not immediately respond to an email asking about their plans for the site. The couple opened brunch spot Livia’s Dish in 2013, followed by the French-focused Alta’s Eatery in 2016, according to the website for Alta’s. They sold Livia's Dish in 2021 and Altea's Eatery in May to siblings Joseph Ciejka and Kristina Ciejka, but continue to own both properties, according to the Worcester Telegram & Gazette.
Flying Rhino’s final day of operation was on Wednesday as part of the annual Taste of Shrewsbury Street festival, said Tory Hall, a manager at Flying Rhino and the daughter of co-owners Paul Barber and Melina Capsalis Barber.
Flying Rhino expressed appreciation for its customers in a Facebook post on Thursday.
“Sending out BIG thank yous to everyone who has been part of the Flying Rhino Café journey,” the Facebook post from Flying Rhino reads. “After 25 incredible years filled with fun, food, friendship, and family, we will be closing our doors. Your support and memories have meant the world to us — thank you for being part of the ride.”
The 4,730-square-foot restaurant built in 1925 was put up for sale in March. James Kalogeropoulos of RE/MAX Partners in Worcester served as the listing broker for the transaction.
The property received a tax assessment value of $686,800, according to City of Worcester property records.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article stated Enton Mehillaj and Oriola Koci were the current owners of Altea’s Eatery and Livia's Dish. In fact, they have sold the restaurants but retain ownership of the properties.
Eric Casey is the managing editor at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the manufacturing and real estate industries.
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