Dr. Rocco Monto Finds Home For New Private Practice On Cherry Street

Local orthopedic surgeon Rocco Monto finally has an office space for his new private practice. After the Planning Board shot down his first proposed location in Naushop following significant neighborhood pushback, Monto returned to the board on Monday with a plan to open Oceanus Health, his orthopedics and regenerative health venture, at 1 Cherry Street.

“I've been giving this community my all for the last 20 years,” Monto told the Current. “We're going to keep doing that because I know them. They know me. It's safe. It's secure.”

This time, there was very little discussion from the Planning Board during its meeting on Monday.

“It makes more sense here,” Planning Board member Joe Topham said of the small building at 1 Cherry Street, which was previously the home of the Fast Forward coffee shop, and was slated to be the new location for Slow to Rise bakery before a sudden fire gutted the building days before opening last May.

The only abutter who spoke at Monday’s meeting supported the plan.

“I just want to advocate for this. I think it’s a good thing,” neighbor Patsy Wright said. “I think that it would be a really good idea for this space.”

Monto initially targeted a building in a commercial zone off Old South Road, on Goldfinch Drive in Naushop, but a large number of the neighborhood’s residents came out against the proposal, claiming it would significantly increase traffic, create dangerous conditions for children, and dramatically alter the character of what is now a quiet residential neighborhood.

But now, after obtaining approval for an accessible ramp from the Historic District Commission and the support of the Planning Board for the proposed office, Monto looks poised to open a practice off of Orange Street in the Mid-Island area.

“I've been here for the majority of my career. I’m not going anywhere,” Monto said. “I look at this as a wonderful adventure that we're going to take everybody on with us. It's going to be great.”

Monto plans to continue offering traditional orthopedic services, but Oceanus Health will also serve as a regenerative health venture, offering alternative treatments like platelet-rich plasma, stem cell therapy, and supplements. Monto sees Oceanus Health taking an innovative approach, pursuing treatments that traditional healthcare can’t.

As for the Slow To Rise bakery, owners Tucker Puljic and Katrina Newfrock said they continue to look for a new space after the fire in May dashed their hopes of moving into 1 Cherry Street.

"Unfortunately continual delays prevented us from moving into the space until after the summer and we could no longer continue at that space," they said in a message to the Current. "We are continuing to operate via delivery, wholesale, and farmers’ markets as we have done in the past and are actively looking to find a new retail space for next season."