Wednesday, March 06, 2013

Pinkberry to Open in Boston's North End

A chain of frozen yogurt shops that has been expanding through the Boston area of late is planning to open in a neighborhood of Boston that is known in part for its Italian eateries.

The North End Waterfront.com site is reporting that Pinkberry is looking at opening at 283-285 Hanover Street in the North End, moving into the space where Nahas Shoes had been. The article says that a franchise owner of the California-based chain presented a zoning relief application to the North End / Waterfront Residents' Association (NEWRA) Zoning, Licensing & Construction Committee last week to discuss the proposal of adding eight seats to the place and also seeking a takeout license, with planned closing times being 11:00 PM on weekdays and 12:00 AM on weekends.

According to the article, NEWRA and the Neighborhood Council (NEWNC) will probably be voting on the plans at a future meeting (no date has been given at this point), and that the Zoning Board of Appeal could make a final zoning relief decision in a meeting scheduled for April 9.

[April 2 update: A new article in the North End Waterfront.com site states that both the NEWRA and NEWNC have voted in support of Pinkberry's proposal to open on Hanover Street. The next step comes April 9 when the Zoning Board of Appeal could be giving the final zoning relief decision.]

[April 10 update: North End Waterfront.com says that the Zoning Board of Appeal has given Pinkberry approval to open on Hanover Street.]

[July 29 update: An email sent to us indicates that the new Pinkberry in the North End will be giving out free frozen yogurt this Thursday (August 1), with the place having its official opening on Friday, August 2.]

Pinkberry currently has five locations in Boston as well as shops in Braintree, Cambridge, Hingham, North Beverly, and Wellesley. The website for the chain can be found at http://www.pinkberry.com/

Thanks to the Boston Business Journal for bringing this to our attention.