Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Island Creek Oyster Bar in Burlington to Become Row 34

A week after it was reported that its Boston location will not be reopening, we have learned that the Burlington outlet of a seafood restaurant will be going away as well, though it will be replaced by a dining spot with a familiar name.

According to an article from Wicked Local/Burlington Union, Island Creek Oyster Bar within The District Burlington development is going to be reconcepted into a new location of Row 34, with partner Shore Gregory mentioning that "it is no surprise to say it has been an enormously challenging year for the restaurant industry" and that they have "determined a change of operator would best position the restaurant for success." The post states that Row 34--whose original location can be found in Boston's Fort Point neighborhood--will also focus on seafood, though it will be more of a family-friendly restaurant with an "approachable" price point. (If all goes as planned, Row 34 will debut around May 1.)

In addition to Island Creek Oyster Bar announcing that its Kenmore Square location was closed, two other affiliated spots within the same space--Eastern Standard and The Hawthorne--have decided to shut down as well.

The website for Island Creek Oyster Bar is at https://www.islandcreekoysterbar.com/ while the website for the original location of Row 34 is at https://www.row34.com/

[February 26 update: A press release mentions that the partners behind Island Creek Oyster Bar, Row 34, Branch Line in Watertown, and Eastern Standard Provisions have decided to separate, with Chef Jeremy Sewall and Shore Gregory being the sole partners behind Row 34, Garrett Harker running Branch Line and Eastern Standard Provisions, and Skip Bennett continuing to develop a new working waterfront on Duxbury Bay, while the Island Creek Oyster Bar brand apparently goes away.]

[May 7 update: According to a new press release, Row 34 plans to open in Burlington on May 8.]

Eastern Standard and Island Creek Oyster Bar in Boston's Kenmore Square Plan to Transfer Their Licenses to UrbanMeritage

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)


[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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