Worcester's Wholly Cannoli permanently closed after 24 years in business

WORCESTER ― After 24 years on Grafton Street, the bakery Wholly Cannoli has permanently closed, according to its ownership.

Richard Elia, one of the owners, gave retirement as a reason in a statement on Thursday that was addressed to customers.

"We are grateful for the support and loyalty you have shown us over the years," wrote Elia. "We appreciate the trust you have placed in us and we are proud of the desserts we have provided."

The shop's longtime location was at the meeting point of Grafton Street and Massasoit Road at Rice Square, inside a modestly sized building that shared a lot with a CVS Pharmacy and a TD Bank branch.

In May, the owners announced that the kitchen would close temporarily for renovations, and that in the meantime they would serve only takeout Italian club sandwiches and pizza slices.

The shop was best known for its "dynamite stick" cannoli, which the bakery's website describes as a caramel-and-chocolate-covered crunch shell packed with the shop's signature filling.

Following the closing, the building will be put up for lease, according to Madison O'Brien, an associate for Kelleher & Sadowsky, who are marketing the building for owners CSE Real Estate LLC.

Workers were hard at work Thursday as they continued renovations in the same space as where cannoli shells were once served from.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Worcester's Wholly Cannoli permanently closed after 24 years in business