J.P. Licks May Be Returning to Newbury Street

by Marc Hurwitz

A local group of ice cream cafes that shut down its Newbury Street location several years ago could be coming back, though to a new location a few blocks to the east.

According to a licensing board hearing page within the City of Boston website, J.P. Licks is seeking a license to operate at 173 Newbury Street, which is between Dartmouth Street and Exeter Street. The ice cream spot used to reside in a space at 352 Newbury Street between Hereford Street and Mass. Ave., but that shop closed in March of 2012 because its lease had expired and the landlord was reportedly looking for a larger tenant. Plans for J.P. Licks to return to Newbury Street have apparently been in the works for awhile, as a Back Bay Architectural Commission Review page from last year shows blueprints, photos, and other information on the proposed shop.

Currently, locations of J.P. Licks can be found in a number of locations in and around Boston, including another in the Back Bay as well as other locations within the city in Beacon Hill, Dorchester, Mission Hill, Jamaica Plain, and West Roxbury. The website for the business is at http://www.jplicks.com/

[Earlier Article]
J.P. Licks on Newbury Street Has Closed

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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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Massimo to Replace Met Bar & Grill at Legacy Place in Dedham

by Marc Hurwitz

Last week, we reported that an upscale suburban dining spot that was part of a local restaurant group was closing, and that it was going to be replaced by a new Italian restaurant. Now we have learned more about what will be moving in.

According to a press release, Massimo in Providence is expanding to Legacy Place in Dedham, and based on the address given, it will be taking over the former Met Bar & Grill space. The email says that the upcoming spot will feature a seasonal Italian menu, with the space including a "farmers table," a bar, a fireplace, and an outdoor patio. It appears that the new location of Massimo will be open for lunch and dinner daily along with a Sunday brunch.

Massimo has received much praise since opening a couple of years ago on Atwells Avenue in the Federal Hill section of Providence, including RI Monthly giving it a best "New Italian" in 2017 while Gail Ciampa of the Providence Journal said in a review that she "marveled at the food that was served in a short window of time" and "When a meal ends as strong as it starts, you know you've found a winning recipe for success."

The address for this upcoming Italian restaurant in Dedham is: Massimo, 400 Legacy Place, Dedham MA, 02026. The website for the original location in Providence can be found at http://massimori.com/

[Earlier Article]
Met Bar & Grill at Dedham's Legacy Place Has Closed

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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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Bon Me to Close Its Chestnut Hill Square Location

by Marc Hurwitz

A group of Vietnamese food trucks and brick-and-mortar spots will be getting a bit smaller this weekend, as one of its restaurants will be shutting down.

According to a source, Bon Me at Chestnut Hill Square is closing at the end of business hours on Sunday, August 26, with a Patch article confirming this, saying that the location was a "tricky" one. (Our source indicates that issues included the shop being further away from the base of operations for Bon Me and the place having difficulty finding workers.) It appears that all other brick-and-mortar locations will remain open, including Boston Public Market, Boston's Back Bay and Fort Point, and Cambridge's Fresh Pond and Kendall Square as well as East Cambridge, and that they still plan to expand to the Longwood area and Cambridge's Harvard Square as reported here earlier.

Bon Me first opened at Chestnut Hill Square around the end of 2015.

The address for this soon-to-close restaurant in Chestnut Hill is: 210 Boylston Street (Route 9), Chestnut Hill, MA, 02467. The website for the business can be found at http://www.bonmetruck.com/

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Food Items from Asian Restaurants in the Boston Area]

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ReelHouse Plans to Open at Marina Bay in Quincy

by Marc Hurwitz

A waterfront restaurant in East Boston that features seafood dishes with global influences is looking to open another location along the water, with this one being a few miles south of Boston.

According to an article from n-magazine.com, ReelHouse is planning to open at Marina Bay in Quincy, with the post saying that owner Charlie Larner is also thinking about bringing a restaurant to Nantucket while also preparing to open a new location of Mija Cantina at Logan Airport as well (the original location of Mija is in Boston's Faneuil Hall). Very little is known about the upcoming location of ReelHouse, including its exact location at Marina Bay and when it might open, so keep checking back for updates.

ReelHouse first opened at The Eddy apartment complex in East Boston in April of 2017, with Larner's Navy Yard Hospitality Group being behind it while its menu is led by Culinary Director Marc Orfaly (Pigalle, The Beehive). In addition to ReelHouse and Mija, Larner's restaurant group also runs Pier 6 in Charlestown.

The website for ReelHouse can be found at https://www.reelhouseboston.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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Club Bohemia in Cambridge's Central Square to Close

by Marc Hurwitz

It looks like another iconic music club is shutting down.

Vanyaland is reporting that Club Bohemia, which is located in the basement of The Cantab Lounge in Cambridge's Central Square, is closing on September 2, with the website for the place stating that its final show is September 1--and also mentioning that The Cantab will remain in operation. No reason has been given for the closure of the club at this point in time, and a post on its Facebook page discusses starting an online petition to save the place, so stay tuned for any updates as they come in.

Club Bohemia has featured many local and regional acts over the years, while the Cantab itself was once known for being home to Little Joe & The Thrillers, an R&B group that played there countless times (Cook passed away in 2014).

The address for Club Bohemia (and The Cantab Lounge) is 738 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139.

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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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Fiorella's Express to Open in Wellesley

by Marc Hurwitz

A trio of Italian eateries that focus on takeout will be joined by a fourth later this year.

The Wellesley Townsman is reporting that Fiorella's Express is planning to open in Wellesley, with the address indicating that it will be moving into a space on Route 16 in Wellesley Square. Once it opens, the new outlet will join others in Belmont, Brighton, and Cambridge, along with full-service locations of Fiorella's in Concord and Newton, and expect to see such items as pizza, calzones, pasta dishes, sandwiches, and more at the new spot.

The address for this upcoming eatery in Wellesley Square is: Fiorella's Express, 575 Washington Street (Route 16), Wellesley, MA, 02482. The website for the other locations can be found at https://www.fiorellasexpress.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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