A New Restaurant/Bar May Be Coming to the Former Clarke's Space by Faneuil Hall in Boston

A few months ago, it was reported that a bar in downtown Boston that had been around for more than 50 years was closing its doors. Now we have learned that a new dining and drinking spot could be coming to the space, and the person behind a group of local pubs appears to be involved.

According to a licensing board hearing page within the city's website, the holder of the liquor license for Clarke's by Faneuil Hall (Merchants Row Corporation) has petitioned to transfer the license to MerchRow LLC which would operate a restaurant and bar at that location. The notice mentions that the place--which apparently doesn't yet have a name--would have two rooms and a bar area along with a seasonal patio, and that John Jacob (Napper Tandy's in Norwood, Walpole, Millis) is the manager listed. More should be known about the proposal by next week, so stay tuned for updates.

Clarke's first opened in 1975, being known as one of the last of the old-school drinking spots in the Quincy Market/Faneuil Hall area; it closed its doors for the last time in April.

The address for the former Clarke's space is 21 Merchants Row, Boston, MA, 02109.

[Earlier Article]
Clarke's at Faneuil Hall in Boston Is Closing

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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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Harvard Book Store and Lakon Paris Patisserie to Open Near Faneuil Hall in Boston

A beloved bookstore in Cambridge that has been around for nearly 100 years will be expanding to Boston, and it will be joined by a location of a local group of bakeries.

According to an article from Universal Hub, the Harvard Book Store is planning to open a second location just outside of Faneuil Hall, moving into a space on Union Street in the historic Yankee Publishing Building within the Blackstone Block, which the bookstore's website says is the oldest commercial district in Boston. The new store will be teaming up with Lakon Paris Patisserie which will run a cafe next door, while the bookstore will also offer wine at book talks along with other events. If all goes as planned, the new location of the Harvard Book Store will be opening sometime this fall.

The Cambridge location of the Harvard Book Store (which is located on Massachusetts Avenue in Harvard Square) was founded in 1932 while Lakon Paris Patisserie first started out in Newton Highlands in 2020 and now has locations in Newton Highlands, Brookline, Brighton, and Boston's Seaport District.

(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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About Thyme to Open in Cambridge's Harvard Square

A brand new Middle Eastern bakery is coming to Cambridge.

According to multiple sources, About Thyme is getting ready to open in Harvard Square, with a Harvard Crimson article mentioning that it will be moving to a space at the corner of Brattle Street and Mt. Auburn Street. The article states that the shop will be a Lebanese fast-casual bakery with seating for 13 people and that owner Taha A. Mikati plans to offer such items such as saj-baked wraps, labneh, coffee, and matcha.

If all goes as planned, About Thyme will open in early August.

The address for About Thyme is 1 Brattle Square, Cambridge, MA, 02138.

(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.)

Yas Chicken in Burlington Has Closed

A small group of chicken places with local roots has closed one of its locations in the Boston suburbs.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Yas Chicken in Burlington is no longer in operation, with the website for the business confirming this as it has removed the Middlesex Turnpike outlet. The Burlington location of the eatery first opened in the early part of 2024 in a space that had once been home to an outlet of Qdoba; currently, there are locations of Yas in Brockton and Lynn along with others in Westfield, Providence, and Las Vegas. (All locations offer such items as chicken sandwiches, wings, tenders, waffles, fries, and more.)

The address for the now-closed location of Yas Chicken in Burlington was 90 Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, MA, 01803. The website for the business can be found at https://www.yaschicken.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.)

Dear Annie in Cambridge Is Closing, Will Become an Events Space

An award-winning restaurant and wine bar is closing, though the business will continue on in another form.

According to a message sent to us from Leah Klein of City Living Boston, Dear Annie in Cambridge is saying farewell, with an Instagram post from Lauren Friel of the Massachusetts Avenue place saying the following:

Dear Annie's final evening in regular service will be on July 31st. Dear Annie as we know her--in both name and being--will cease to exist. Instead, we will be dedicating our space, time, and energy to bespoke events (include private events) devoted to the beauty and craft of exceptional wine and hospitality. We will close for the month of August  and plan to re-emerge in September.

The note goes on to cite the trend of Friel's favorite food businesses around the world closing and the proliferation of steakhouses and luxury chains opening in the Boston area, with Friel saying that "I've seen multiple articles declaring that food's golden era is at its end....This current trend is not why I devoted the past 25 years of my life to this industry. The writing is on the wall for many of us..."

Dear Annie first opened in late 2021, receiving much praise over the past few years including from Boston Magazine, Bon Appetit, the New York Times, and Wine Enthusiast. Lauren Friel and the team behind it also run Rebel Rebel, a wine bar in the Union Square section of Somerville.

The address for Dear Annie is 1741 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02140. Its website can be found at https://www.dearanniebar.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.)

Juici Patties to Open in Everett

A growing group of Caribbean restaurants will be opening its first Boston-area location, and it will be coming to a space a short distance north of the city.

According to a press release, Juici Patties is going to be opening in Everett, moving into a space at Gateway Center near the intersection of Revere Beach Parkway and Broadway. Once it opens, expect to see traditional Jamaican patties offered with options being beef, chicken, or spinach, while plantain fries and French fries will also be available along with other sides and drinks.

The first Juici Patties opened back in 1980, and today there are more than 60 locations in Jamaica while outlets in the United States can be found in New York, Georgia, and Florida. Its website is at https://juicipattiesusa.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.)