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The site where La Ronga Bakery and Delicatessen conducted business for many years has been sold to 599 Somerville Ventures, LLC.
Laronga Realty Partnership announced on Monday the sale of 599 Somerville Avenue, to 599 Somerville Ventures, LLC, managed by Rafi Properties, LLC (Rafi) which occurred on Thursday, January 23.
The approximately 21,908 sq. ft. mixed-use site was home to La Ronga Bakery and Delicatessen, a family-owned and operated Somerville business for over 50 years. Known for high quality breads and turn-key manufacturing, La Ronga distributed products daily to local colleges and universities throughout the region as well as popular retail grocers such as Trader Joes.
A small deli shop served as the anchor for the bakery, providing pizza, subs, and fresh cold cuts to the people of Union Square, Davis Square, and the Winter Hill neighborhood for decades.
“The entrepreneurial spirit and family values have been a part of the bakery and property for over 50 years. We met a great deal of potential buyers throughout this
Pictured L to R at La Ronga’s first Boston Food Show in 1999: Brothers Louis Ronga and Mike Ronga, Co-Founders and owners, La Ronga Bakery.
process but there was something sincere and genuine about Collin Yip’s approach,” said Michael Ronga, President of La Ronga Bakery. “From the beginning, our values and goals were aligned. Collin quickly demonstrated his understanding and respect for the important qualities beyond just the numbers. My family and I are confident that this property’s future is in good hands.”
Rafi is a Boston-based private equity firm with a focus on venture capital and real estate. Rafi Properties owns, develops and manages mixed-use commercial and residential properties in Greater Boston and Hong Kong. The firm focuses on value-add opportunities in transit-oriented, urban locations. Rafi is the current owner and operator of Somernova, Somerville’s Innovation Hub (formerly known as The Ames Business Park).
“I’ve been inspired by Mike’s work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit over 50 years in business. We wish Mike, Maria, Debra, and the entire Ronga family all the best,” said Collin Yip, Managing Director of Rafi Properties. “We will work with the community to continue the entrepreneurial endeavor on this property in an effort to preserve and expand the soul of this unique place.”
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Here we go again … More of our historical businesses being bought out by developers.
I’m waiting for the day they sell the Prospect Hill Tower and turn it into a penthouse condo. Great view of the city.
While I agree with your sentiment, LindaS, in reading the article it’s clear that the owner sold the business after an exhaustive interview process with potential buyers. Absolutely, businesses have been forced out by rising costs, ill-timed transportation changes and inability to grow within Somerville. What I would hate to see are assumptions being made and business owners being labeled as “sell outs” when all they want to do is retire.
This “historical business” was willingly sold by its owners, who themselves state clearly: “We met a great deal of potential buyers throughout this
process but there was something sincere and genuine about Collin Yip’s approach,” said Michael Ronga, President of La Ronga Bakery. “From the beginning, our values and goals were aligned. Collin quickly demonstrated his understanding and respect for the important qualities beyond just the numbers. My family and I are confident that this property’s future is in good hands.”
Living in the past is the theme these days.
This is the same developer that purchased ames envelope and they have kept it essentially the same as it was when they purchased it. However they did spend almost 90 million to buy ames and at some point they will want to recoup that cost and the current ames tenants are probably not in the longer term plans for that property. It’s hard to imagine that a larger bio-tech firm, University, or software developer aren’t the types tenants they have in mind for the longer term. That will leave the smaller businesses paying much higher rents or most likely priced out of the property entirely.
I don’t know what they paid for this property but at some point a return on that investment comes due and the local area will be changed. And no, this isn’t the fault of the property owner that sold but since the developer owns property across the street, their offer was probably significantly higher than most other offers.
I grew up there. Spring St. 3rd generation. Corner of that bakery. It was on the first floor corner of a triple decker. With childhood friends I grew up with. The Yores, The Fees, The Madores on the other side next to a U haul business. The Ronga are the nices people you’d ever wanna meet. Sadly Louie passed of a heart attack suddenly a few years back. Somerville is not the Somerville I grew up in. Anyone running their mouths about this bakery doesn’t know shit. Lou’s passing was terrible for everyone. Not only his wife Debbie, daughter, brother Michael. The whole Family. The whole neighborhood. Whatever the Family got or sold this property too doesn’t mean anything to me except? I’m glad for the Family. They earned and deserved whatever they had coming. All the crying here? Is the new Somerville.Change is inevitable. Time marches on. I’ll miss saying hello to Mike when I come home in the summers. Already been missing Lou. God Bless The Ronga’s and all my old friends. Enjoy the now. Peace +
Christopher C. Lavelli