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Peabody council approves Wonder restaurant at 229 Andover St., sets grease‑trap and health conditions
Summary
The Peabody City Council voted 10–0 to grant Wonder Restaurant a special permit to occupy 229 Andover St. as a 3,500‑sq‑ft fast‑casual location, approving hours through midnight and requiring a 1,500‑gallon exterior grease trap and health-department review before construction.
Peabody — The City Council on Feb. 12 approved a special permit allowing Wonder Restaurant to occupy an existing tenant space at 229 Andover St., giving the East Coast chain permission to open a 14‑seat, 3,500‑square‑foot fast‑casual location.
Attorney Mark Vaughn, representing the applicant, told the council the proposal uses the existing interior space and requires no exterior modifications. "They're not looking to expand or make any exterior improvements at all," Vaughn said, describing Wonder's model of serving diverse cuisine from a single shared kitchen.
The council approved the permit 10–0 after determining the use is allowed in the BR zoning district with conditions. Councilor Turco moved for approval with three specific conditions: installation of an exterior grease trap with a minimum 1,500‑gallon capacity per Public Services; a comprehensive plan review with the health department before construction; and hours of operation set to 10 a.m.–midnight seven days a week.
Jason Botcher, the remote participant Vaughn identified as the applicant, answered questions about the concept’s menu and operations, saying, "You would be able to order any number of different menu items in one ... basket, at any given time during the day." Councilors pressed only briefly on logistics; Turco said he had discussed the hours with the applicant and that the ABCC and local licensing processes will also apply for any alcohol sales.
The conditions approved by the council require the applicant to complete technical reviews before beginning work and to meet public‑services specifications for grease handling; the health‑department review will address kitchen, grease, pest control and waste‑management concerns. Vaughn said the team provided supplemental photos and materials to clarify interior plans during the meeting.
The approval is procedural: the special permit allows the use; any required building permits and health‑department signoffs must be secured before the restaurant opens.
