On August 2, 2009 two people were killed and a third injured at the
popular restaurant Ka' Carlos at 33 Hancock St in Upham's Corner. On that day, Ka' Carlos met its untimely death.
The event began with an altercation and shots fired inside the
restaurant. One man died in the restaurant, the other
outside.
The restaurant has never re-opened.
Total Shock to the Community
Ka' Carlos was a
favorite place to gather for excellent Cape Verdean food and drink.
There was a dance floor, a bar and a wide-screen TV.
From the outside walking by you could pass within inches of the diners.
Yet they maintained their privacy because the lower portion
of each window was blocked by an opaque coating.
Still, you could see movements, hear the talking and imagine
the wonderful food inside.
The community was stunned at the terrible violence that happened that
night. For weeks following, neighbors, friends and family kept
candles burning - vigil watches at the places where their loved ones had lived and
died.
August 2010
It was early in the afternoon of a
late August day in 2010. Just over one year had passed
since the closing of Ka' Carlos. An SUV was parked at the
back of the restaurant and the back door was open.
Later that evening, Ka' Carlos was alive with the gentle sounds of people and music and good
times.
The lights were low and the sign on the door
said: "Private Party Only."
Changes Have Begun
Liquor licenses are hard to
get and in
practice cannot be retained without use.
What had happened to the one belonging to the owner of Ka'
Carlos? According to Jean at the Boston Licensing Board
(9/28/10), the current
owner of the liquor license has agreed to sell it.
Enough time has passed and we have begun to forget. The
memory of Ka' Carlos is fading and even as the signs so naming the
restaurant are removed, we barely notice.
The restaurant has been sold.
New owners?
New
ideas?
New life?
What will it be?
Some Facts
Some facts about the
property:
According
to a Boston.com article reviewing the restaurant in 2006, the owner was
Carlos DePina
According
to the City of Boston
assessing online, the owner of record as of January 1, 2010
was to Jisella DePina.
Assessing
online also indicates that the current owners
are Michele G. Bingham and Steven P. Bingham.