WORCESTER, Mass., March 2007 – Robb and Madeleine Ahlquist, co-owners of VIA, the new “Italian comfort food” restaurant scheduled to open in early April at 89 Shrewsbury St., today announced that Kevin Hunt of Charlton has been named General Manager.

Hunt, who began working for The Sole Proprietor in 1990 when he was a freshman at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), most recently served as a manager at The Sole and is part of the senior management team for The Sole and One Eleven Chop House, both of which are also owned by the Ahlquists.

“Kevin has proven skills as a manager and is a natural choice for the position of general manager at VIA,” Robb Ahlquist said. “His experience at The Sole and One Eleven Chop House has prepared him well for his new position. We’re confident he has the skills and experience to make VIA a success.”

Hunt started as a bar back and bussed tables before becoming a bartender and learning to cook The Sole’s kettle meals. He left The Sole after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in actuarial math to work at George Beram & Company in Newton as an Actuarial Analyst.

He returned to the restaurant business two years later before the opening of One Eleven Chop House, where he worked on cost controls and helped set up One Eleven’s communications systems. Soon after, he returned to The Sole as a kitchen supervisor and dining room manager.

Hunt was the Leicester High School valedictorian in 1989. For the past 10 years, he has been a volunteer fundraiser for Alternatives Unlimited, Inc. of Whitinsville, which serves adults with developmental or psychiatric disabilities.

VIA (www.VIAItalianTable.com) will offer Italian comfort food in a festive setting, using ingredients imported from Italy and authentic Italian recipes.