'Scosso' Slated to Arrive in Peabody This Fall

Italian dining is coming back to the .

The owners of a new eatery called "Scosso" will be appearing before the Licensing Board Monday night for a public hearing on a full liquor license.

Peabody attorney John Keilty, who is representing North Shore Food Group, LLC, says the owners also operate the in Reading and plan to offer a similar style of Italian dining with a martini bar at Scosso.

Keilty said the owners and Simon Property Group have a lease agreement for the space vacated by Bertucci's in 2009.

Keilty said there is a "significant build out needed" for the space, partly to allow the restaurant to operate independently of mall shopping hours. A new entranceway will be created to allow direct access to Scosso from outside the building -- the existing mall entrance is between Nordstrom's and Macy's Men's & Furniture.

Scosso is seeking one of two remaining new all-alchol licenses the city controls. Peabody received due to the population increase identified in the 2010 U.S. Census.

Keilty said he's not anticipating the board will have too many concerns over issuing the license, other than perhaps adding yet another full-alcohol establishment to the mix at the mall. Already, , , and Joe's American Bar & Grill all have all-alcohol licenses.

At this time, the anticipated opening date for Scosso is early fall.

Monday's hearing will be held in the basement conference room at at 6:30 p.m.