Others have tried to adapt and reuse the abundant mill space in the city of Lawrence with varying degrees of success. In today’s Boston Herald, Thomas Grillo tells the story of pizza chef and executive Salvatore Lupoli and his drive to deliver on his promise to restore a mill complex along the Merrimack River. There were skeptics – others had tried and failed.

For decades, millions of square feet of Lawrence mill buildings stood vacant and decaying, an eyesore at the edge of Route 495 and the Merrimack River.

That was until Salvatore Lupoli, chief executive of Sal’s Pizza, began a search for space to build a larger commissary for his growing chain.

Sal’s Riverwalk Properties complex now houses not only his restaurant and function facilities but also 200 companies including a  a vast array of medical offices and services and the Essex North Registry of Deeds. Over 2000 people are employed in the complex.  The complex is growing and could soon account for 4500 employees. Last Spring Lupoli received the Wilkerson Award given for his “significant contributions to the lives of Merrimack Valley residents.”

Read “the rest of the story” here in today’s Herald. And read about the award and Governor Patrick’s praise of Lipoli here  in the Eagle-Tribune of April 15.