Last summer, it was reported that a landmark bar and music club in Cambridge was up for sale, and now we have learned that a new owner is indeed seeking to open the place back up.
According to a Cambridge License Commission page, a transfer of the liquor license for The Cantab Lounge in Central Square is in the works, with Richard "Fitzy" Fitzgerald and parent company Crystal Lunch, Inc. looking to transfer the license to Dancing in the Dark, LLC, with Michael Cronin being the proposed manager. In an earlier article here from last July, Fitzgerald mentioned that the club was going on the market, though no details on a prospective owner had been given at the time; Fitzgerald said that "After 50 years of good times and good friends I have made the decision to put The Cantab Lounge up for sale....The Cantab is currently closed, due to the governor's order that all bars will remain closed until a vaccine or credible treatment has been identified. We look forward to opening just as soon as it is safe to do so."
The Cantab was once known for being home to legendary R&B group Little Joe & The Thrillers. Its address is 738 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139.
Thanks to Cambridge Day for initially bringing this to our attention.
[June 9 update: A new article from Cambridge Day indicates that the city has given its approval for The Cantab to reopen under new ownership, with former Cambridge resident Tim Dibble, (who is a partner in a private equity firm) being the new owner and--as mentioned earlier--Michael Cronin (Tony C's, Jillian's) being the manager. The post mentions that the space needs renovations which could take a couple of months, though the plan is to have The Cantab remain a center for music and the arts; one of the next steps for the club is for the state's Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission to give its approval for the liquor license.]
[October 25 update: Cambridge Day states that The Cantab plans to reopen on December 2, though the Boston Poetry Slam won't be returning there.]
[December 8 update: A new article from Cambridge Day mentions that The Cantab now plans to reopen on December 15.]
[December 16 update: A check on its social media indicates that The Cantab is now open.]
[Earlier Article]
The Cantab Lounge in Cambridge's Central Square Is Up for Sale
[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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