NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A pizzeria that's anchored the north corner of historic Eagle Street closed indefinitely on Wednesday.

 

Village Pizza owner Christina Nicholas took to Facebook to announce the closure with an emotional goodbye, explaining that medical issues were forcing her hand. 

 

"Since 2022, I've been dealing with back and spine issues," she said. "Unfortunately, it's gotten worse and the sad news is effective immediately I have to close. I am no longer able to perform the work to keep this business going and I have to concentrate on my own health."

 

Nicholas later said Village had been her "whole life," working there since she was 14 and buying it in 1991. 

 

"It's not the way I wanted to think about retiring," she said, at the door of the empty pizza place. "It's probably the hardest decision I've had to make my whole life."

 

The closure came on the heels of her most recent medical report and the reality that she was facing a long recovery. 

 

She hopes that a buyer will come through and continue its pizza legacy. "It's a good business and I'm sad to make this announcement," Nicholas said in her post.

 

The location at 51 Eagle St. had been Carlisle's Drug Store for many years until Constantin Agnanos opened there as Colonial Pizza in the 1970s. Aristedes Theodoropoulos bought the business in 1986 and renamed it Village Pizza. 

 

The pizzeria had been popular with the college crowd for years because of its "crazy late" hours of operation. 

 

Its closure means that there's no pizza place on historic Eagle Street for the first time in at least 50 years as the Pizza House and its several successors closed on the south corner in 2020. It's also the second eatery to close this week after Bailey's Bakery ceased operations at 55 Main St. 

 

"I want to thank all the customers throughout the 40 years. It's been quite the ride for 40 years so, and my staff, but it is what it is I guess," Nicholas said her in social media post. "Hopefully it will be sold soon and you'll be able to get your pizza again. 

 

"Take care and thank you."