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Bella’s Restaurant in Rockland will be closing its doors on May 31. They have been in Rockland at their Hingham St location since 1986. Many will also remember their Braintree location that closed years ago at Braintree 5 corners. Many people have memories of 1st dates, family special ocassions and more. Thanks to the Weymouth foodies FB group for letting us know.

It has a mixed bag of reviews Hockomock Swamp Supper Club Group lately which is sad since it been around for over 30 years. Poor service and food quality have gone downhill.

Here is a bit of history of Bellas

The Bella’s legacy began over 50 years ago with Marie and Patrick Barnes, Sr. from Braintree, MA. Decades before “Bella’s”, Marie’s mother and father, Bella and Frank Richardi owned and operated Richardi’s Sub Shop in Braintree for many years (currently owned by Dan Richardi – Marie’s cousin). Pat & Marie, over a 20-year period owned over 12 sub shops in Rockland, Weymouth, Scituate, Natick, Worcester, Stoughton and Wellesley, just to name a few. Although now under different ownerships, the Marie’s name still carries on in certain locations, as “Maria’s Sub Shop”. Marie’s ambitions in the restaurant industry did not stop there. In 1974, Marie and Patrick opened the first Bella’s, then located at Braintree Five Corners, as a small family-style Italian restaurant. Marie handled every detail in the kitchen, including the cooking, and Patrick made sure the details of the business ran smoothly. They also had Marie’s mother and several family members on the staff too.

With the tremendous success of Bella’s, The Barnes knew it was time to expand into a larger space. In 1986, Bella’s of Rockland opened its doors. Naturally, as the business continued to grow, so did the family members involvement. Marie and Patrick’s son Lenny and wife, Patti are involved with the day-to-day business operations. The restaurant business must be in the blood. Marie and Patrick’s son Patrick Jr. successfully runs his own restaurant, Caffé Bella in Randolph.

Although Marie and Patrick are no longer with us they are still the heart and soul of Bella’s. Their memory will live on with us forever.

We are committed to make improvements to the restaurant in an effort to keep Bella’s at its BEST – – because we plan to be around for a very long time!!!