Lou's Plans to Open in the Former Beat Brew Hall Space in Cambridge's Harvard Square

A new dining and drinking spot is on its way to Cambridge, moving into a subterranean space that had previously been home to another restaurant and bar.

According to a press release, Lou's is planning to open in Harvard Square, taking over the former Beat Brew Hall space on Brattle Street, with the upcoming place being a restaurant, bar, and lounge that features live music. Little else is known about the spot other than the fact that John DiGiovanni of Trinity Property Management and Thomas Keane and his team at Churchill James are involved along with design firm Elder & Ash, and that it hopes to open sometime in 2025.

Beat Brew Hall first opened in 2018, replacing Beat Brasserie, with both places being run by the team behind The Beehive and Cosmica in Boston's South End as well as the recently-opened Spy Bar.

The address for the upcoming Lou's is 13A Brattle Street, 13A Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138.

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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]

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Frank DePasquale Plans to Open Restaurant, Cafe, and Cooking School in Boston's North End

One of Boston's best known restaurateurs may be opening multiple new businesses within a North End space.

According to an article from Universal Hub, Frank DePasquale has proposed opening a restaurant, cafe, and cooking school where a vacant strip of storefronts between Hanover Street and Salem Street currently sits, with the plans also including an Italian furniture store and an Italian clothing store. The post mentions that DePasquale, who is behind Bricco, Mare, Il Panino, Assaggio, Fratelli, AquaPazza, Quattro, and Frank and Nick's, had purchased the entire Cross Street block in 2023 for $8 million last year.

The Zoning Board of Appeal gave its approval of the plans today, with one of the next steps being to meet with the Boston Licensing Board about the two-story restaurant and cafe.

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

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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]

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Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

 

Ginger Exchange Express Plans to Open in Somerville

It looks like another location of a local group of Asian Fusion spots could be on its way.

According to a source, Ginger Exchange Express is planning to open in Somerville, moving into the space on Highland Avenue that had been home to Highland Market Pizza. An introduction page sent to us mentions that the proposed eatery would offer such items as sushi, rice and noodle bowls, and Korean fried chicken, and based on the website for Ginger Exchange, this would indeed be under the same ownership as Ginger Exchange Express in Arlington and locations of Ginger Exchange in Boston's Mission Hill and in Watertown.

The address for the proposed Ginger Exchange Express is 22 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA, 02143. The website for all locations is at https://www.gingerexchange.com/

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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]

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Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill in Stoughton Has Closed

Another Boston-area location of a small chain of BBQ spots has closed.

According to a source, Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill in Stoughton is no longer in business, with a called placed to the Technology Center Drive restaurant confirming this permanently. With the closing of the Stoughton outlet, this means that there are only two remaining in Eastern Massachusetts, including Taunton and Tyngsboro; another one had been in Peabody but it closed several years ago.

Smokey Bones was founded in Florida, though it is now part of the FAT Brands franchising company which is headquartered in California.

The address for the now-closed location of Smokey Bones in Stoughton was 301 Technology Center Drive, Stoughton, MA, 02072. The website for the business is at https://smokeybones.com/

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

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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]

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Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

 

Boston Market in Brockton Appears to Be Closed

Last week it was reported that a restaurant chain that got its start in the Boston area had closed its sole remaining location inside Route 128, and now it looks like its only location inside Route 495 has shuttered as well.

According to a Google search, Boston Market in Brockton has permanently closed, with a call placed to the Belmont Street outlet indicating that the phones are no longer in service, while a check on the Boston Market website indicates that the entire website is actually down. This apparent closure comes on the heels of the Quincy location being locked up and dark on Friday, while a source told us that the Framingham outlet closed at some point as well. 

The address for the now-closed Boston Market in Brockton was 756 Belmont Street, Brockton, MA, 02301.

[Earlier Article]
Boston Market in Quincy Has Closed

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

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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]

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Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

 

Row 34 to Open in Boston's Kenmore Square

A local group of restaurants known for their seafood will be opening their fifth location--and their second within the city of Boston.

According to an article from The Boston Globe, Row 34 is planning to open in Kenmore Square, moving into a space next to the Hotel Commonwealth (Time Out confirms that it will be in the former Island Creek Oyster Bar/Pescador space) and being what co-owners Jeremy Sewall and Shore Gregory say will be the "next generation" of the dining spot. The post mentions that the 170-seat restaurant will offer such favorites as fish and chips and lobster rolls along with some new dishes, and it will have dinner service nightly along with weekend lunch service.

The new location of Row 34, which is hoping to open next summer, will join others in Boston's Fort Point, Cambridge's Kendall Square, Burlington, and Portsmouth, NH. (The website for all locations is at https://www.row34.com/)

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

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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]

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Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)