Boston Restaurant Talk

Monday, September 23, 2024

Salem Lowe at Salem Willows Park Has Closed (Again)

A landmark North Shore dining spot that closed a couple of years ago only to reopen last spring under new ownership has shut down again.

According to a source, Salem Lowe at Salem Willows Park is no longer in business, with a Facebook post from the business saying the following:

After finishing our second season we have decided to close the Salem Lowe. We did our best to try and save a piece of history. We learned a lot. We have spent the last three years on this project and it is time for us to move on. The Salem Willows is a special place and we look forward to the next chapter and its future. The space is available for anyone who is interested. Spread the word!

Salem Lowe, which has been known in part for its chop suey sandwiches, was originally run by the Yee family who retired from the business after 50 years at the end of the 2022 season; Kathleen Rodgers and Ryan Harriman of Spitfire Tacos in Salem and Marblehead took over the place and opened it back up in April of 2023.

The address for Salem Lowe is 201 Fort Avenue, Salem, MA, 01970.

[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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Hobson's Bar & Kitchen Opens in Allston

Last fall, it was reported that a local restaurateur was planning to open a new spot in the space in Allston where a location of a group of pizzerias had been, and now we have learned that it is up and running.

According to a source, Hobson's Bar & Kitchen is now open in Allston, with local restaurateur Douglas Bacon taking over the space on Cambridge Street that had been home to Pizzeria Regina until it closed in 2020. The new place offers mostly New American and classic American fare including tuna tartare, deviled eggs, wings, pizza, burgers, skirt steak, roasted chicken, pork chops, and pan-seared scallops, and it also features live music as well.

The address for Hobson's Bar & Kitchen is 353 Cambridge Street, Allston, MA, 02134. Its website can be found at https://www.hobsonsbarandkitchen.com/

[Earlier Article]
Hobson's Bar & Kitchen Plans to Open in the Former Pizzeria Regina Space in Allston

[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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Yoshida Omakase May Be Opening in the Former Cornish Pasty Co. Space in Boston's Back Bay

It looks like a new Japanese restaurant could be opening in the Back Bay of Boston, and it would be taking over the space where a British-style spot had been.

According to a Boston licensing hearing board page, a new dining spot whose parent company is called Yoshida Omakase, LLC, is seeking to acquire the liquor license from the now-closed Cornish Pasty Co., and it would be operating within that Massachusetts Avenue space. The manager listed for the proposed restaurant is Gabrielle Morriseau, who may be the same person who has been involved with Craft and CruCraft, a wine shop in Milton, and JP Seafood Cafe, a Korean and Japanese restaurant in Jamaica Plain, though we are still trying to confirm this; we are also trying to confirm whether the dining spot would indeed be called Yoshida Omakase, so keep checking back for updates.

Cornish Pasty Co., which first opened in 2016, was known for its meat and vegetarian/vegan pasty options.

The address for the proposed Yoshida Omakase is 51 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115.

[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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Park City May Be Opening in South Boston

[Ed note: This article was updated to reflect the fact that Cannonball Cafe will remain open.]

It looks like the people involved with a local restaurant group with locations in South Boston could be opening a new spot in Southie.

According to a Boston licensing hearing board page, Cannonball Cafe on Dorchester Avenue is looking to transfer its beer and wine license to Park City, which would operate at the same site as the cafe (which will stay open) and would include an outdoor space, seating for 440, lawn games, and a stage for live music. The manager listed for the proposed spot is Michael Shaw while the company listed is 383 Lot, LLC, which Bizapedia shows as having the same address as Broadway Restaurant Group (of which Shaw is a part and includes Loco, Lincoln, Fat Baby, Hunter's, and Capo, all of which are in South Boston).

The address for Cannonball Cafe (and the proposed Park City) is 383 Dorchester Avenue, South Boston, MA, 02127.

[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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Restaurant News for the Week Ending September 22

Below are some of the biggest restaurant and food-related news stories that have been posted between September 16 and September 22.

Mazi Food Group to Open New Restaurant in the Former Butcher Shop Space in Boston's South End
A local restaurant group is opening a new spot within a space that had been home to a wine bar and butchery run by a well-known restaurateur.
Full Story

Naya to Open at Arsenal Yards in Watertown; Locations Also Planned for Boston
A growing group of Middle Eastern restaurants with roots in New York City will be expanding to the Boston area.
Full Story

Uno Pizzeria and Grill in Framingham Is Closing
A Boston-based group of deep-dish pizza spots continues to shrink, as a location west of the city is getting ready to shut down.
Full Story

Sullivan's Public House in Charlestown to Become Town Taqueria
A restaurant and bar in Charlestown that replaced a neighborhood watering hole a couple of years ago is planning to change its concept.
Full Story

Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza in Natick Has Closed
A Boston-area location of a Florida-based chain of pizza spots has shut down, and this coincides with its parent company declaring bankruptcy.
Full Story

[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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Friday, September 20, 2024

Mazi Food Group to Open New Restaurant in the Former Butcher Shop Space in Boston's South End

A local restaurant group is opening a new spot within a space that had been home to a wine bar and butchery run by a well-known restaurateur.

According to an article from Eater Boston, Mazi Food Group (Kava Neo-Taverna, Gigi, Ilona) is planning to open a new dining and drinking spot in the South End, moving into the former Butcher Shop space on Tremont Street. A name has not been given for the upcoming place as of yet, but Eater does say that it will focus on gastropub fare and that it could be opening later this year or early next year.

The Butcher Shop closed in the summer of 2023, and while it appeared to be a temporary closure, it never did reopen; the place was one of Barbara Lynch's restaurants and is one of several of her spots to close including Stir, Sportello, Menton, and Drink.

The address for the upcoming restaurant from Mazi Food Group is 552 Tremont Street, Boston, MA, 02118. The website for the restaurant group can be found at https://www.mazifoodgroup.com/

[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.)