WORCESTER, Mass. - Union Station is filling up.

The Worcester Redevelopment Authority (WRA) authorized lease agreements for two more spaces at the historic landmark, including a café and restaurant.

On Friday, the WRA authorized a lease agreement with Shabby Gourmet Juices to take over the 98-square foot café space at Union Station. Shabby Gourmet Juices has been operating out of Woo Food Trucks commissary. The business will operate under a three-year lease and is expected to open early next year.

The café's previous tenant closed shop in December 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The WRA will also approved a five-year lease agreement with 961 Restaurants, LLC for a 6,000 square foot restaurant and lounge space.

According to Peter Dunn, chief development officer of the city's Executive Office of Economic Development,  the restaurant will be a Middle Eastern and Lebanese full service restaurant with a night life and entertainment venue.

During Friday's meeting, Dunn said the restaurant space is gutted and is in "pretty rough shape," but said 961 Restaurants is prepared to invest more than $500,000 to overhaul the space. 

The lease will start on Feb. 1 and rent payments will start six months later. 

As Spectrum News 1 reported this summer, the Worcester Regional Food Hub will be moving operations into Union Station next year with kitchen, retail and multi purpose event spaces.