Boston Restaurant Talk

Friday, October 02, 2026

Chip City Closes All Locations, Including Four Shops in Boston, Cambridge, and Watertown

A cookie chain that got its start in New York City has ceased operations, closing all stores including those in the Greater Boston area.

According to a source, Chip City has shut down, with the website for the business saying the following:

Despite extensive efforts to stabilize our business in the face of significant macro-economic headwinds, we have made the very difficult decision to close all of our Chip City locations. We are grateful to our dedicated employees and loyal customers who have supported us for the past 10 years.

Chip City, which was established in Queens in 2017, had outlets locally in Boston's Back Bay and the North Station area along with Cambridge's Harvard Square and Arsenal Yards in Watertown.

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

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

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.)

Mochiko Hawaiian in Newtonville and Brighton Have Both Closed

A pair of restaurants known in part for their fried chicken and bubble tea have shuttered.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Mochiko Hawaiian in Newtonville is no longer in operation, with a check on the website for the business indicating that both the Newtonville and Brighton locations have closed. The note on the website says the following:

It was fun while it lasted. We enjoyed our time together + we tried hard to save it. Ultimately, we could not. Love the fam we built + we will miss you all. Keep supporting your local businesses if you want them to survive. Love ya, miss ya!

The Newtonville location of Mochiko Hawaiian first opened in 2022, while the Brighton location only lasted a few months at Boston Landing, having debuted this summer; both locations were known for such options as chicken sandwiches, pork sandwiches, fried chicken plates, burgers, spam handrolls, smoothies, iced tea, milk tea, and more.

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

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

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.)

Thursday, October 01, 2026

Mixue Ice Cream & Tea to Open Locations in Allston and Quincy

A Chinese chain known for its soft-serve ice cream and tea options is on its way to the Greater Boston area, with two shops in the works.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Mixue Ice Cream & Tea is planning to open locations in Allston and Quincy, with a check on the website for the business confirming this, though the Allston location also mentions Brookline (it appears that they may have mixed up Harvard Street and Harvard Avenue and it will apparently be coming to Allston as the Brookline address is residential). Once the two shops open, expect such options as ice cream, sundaes, milk tea, floats, coffee, and more.

Mixue dates back to 1997 when it was established in Zhengzhou; the chain currently has approximately 60,000 locations worldwide, including a handful in New York and California.

It appears that the Allston location will be at 178 Harvard Street while the Quincy location will be at 451 Hancock Street. The website for the chain is at https://join.mixueusfranchise.com/

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

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

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.)

The Woolly Brew Opens in Belmont

A new spot where people can enjoy a cup of coffee while knitting has come to the western suburbs of Boston.

According to a press release, The Woolly Brew is now open in Belmont, moving into a space on Brighton Street near the Cambridge line. The new business, which resides in a commercial property from real estate firm The Hamilton Company, is a cafe, coffee retailer, and knitting shop run by sisters Jo-Ann and Cheryl Spera that offers coffee, tea, baked goods, and pastries and is open Monday through Friday 6:30 AM to 5:00 PM and weekends from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

The address for The Woolly Brew is 55 Brighton Street, Belmont, MA, 02478. Its website can be found at https://thewoollybrew.com/

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

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

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.)

Wednesday, September 30, 2026

Bloom Is Opening in Boston's Seaport District on October 6

A new cocktail bar and lounge that focuses on tea is getting ready to open on the Boston waterfront.

According to a press release, Bloom is planning to open in the Seaport District on October 6, moving into a street-level space inside the atrium/lobby at 60 Seaport Boulevard. The new spot will focus on tea-based cocktails, mocktails, and more, with tea, matcha, and espresso being available during the day. Food will also be introduced in the weeks following the initial opening, with Japanese curry and sandwiches served during the day and small Japanese comfort-food plates served in the evening.

The website for Bloom can be found at https://bloombarboston.com/ while its Instagram page is at https://www.instagram.com/bloom.boston/

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

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

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.)

The Half Shell in Cambridge's Porter Square Has Closed; The Sub Shop to Open in Its Space

A longtime pizzeria in Cambridge has shut down, though a familiar name known for its artisan sandwiches will be moving into the space.

According to multiple sources, The Half Shell in Porter Square is no longer in business, with an article from the Cambridge Somerville Independent stating that The Sub Shop will be opening in the Massachusetts Avenue space. The article mentions that the Lagoudakis family, which has been running the pizza shop for nearly 30 years, has decided to retire, while also saying that Josh Winer will be bringing The Sub Shop--which started out as a popup within the now-closed Pastoral in Boston's Fort Point--into the space, offering freshly-made sandwiches using bread baked daily--and its popular spicy Calabrian chicken will be among the offerings along with the rest of the menu as well as a couple of new additions.

If all goes as planned, The Sub Shop could be opening around the middle of October.

The address for the now-closed Half Shell (and upcoming Sub Shop) is 1760 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02138.

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

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

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.)