Monday, May 04, 2015

Benjamin's Restaurant in Taunton Has Closed

A landmark restaurant and function facility south of Boston has abruptly closed after being in business for nearly a half century.

According to an article in the Taunton Daily Gazette, Benjamin's restaurant in Taunton shut down over the weekend, letting both workers and diners (who had reservations) know at the last minute that it would no longer be in operation as of Sunday afternoon. The post says that the closure comes a couple of months after the Bay Street dining spot was put up for sale on the real estate market following a family conflict that included a lawsuit against the owner by the children of the now-deceased founder of the place (who was the present owner's husband).

Benjamin's, which first opened in 1968, was a formal dining destination that offered such classic American items as clams casino, veal marsala, boneless shortribs, baked stuffed lobster, sirloin and shrimp, sweet potato salmon, and prime rib.

It is not yet known what might become of the space vacated by Benjamin's.

[May 5 update: Wicked Local Taunton states that Benjamin's has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, with the plan being to liquidate its assets, pay its mortgage, and pay its debts to a number of different businesses. (At this point in time, it does not look like a public auction will be taking place.)]

[August 19 update: A new article from the Taunton Daily Gazette states that an auction will be taking place after all, with the entire Benjamin's property being auctioned off to the highest bidder on September 23 at 11:00 AM.]

The address for this now-closed restaurant in Taunton was: Benjamin's, 698 Bay Street, Taunton, MA, 02780.

Thanks to a reader for initially bringing this to our attention.

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]