Caffe Nero Is Opening at Center Plaza in Downtown Boston

by Marc Hurwitz

It looks like a rapidly-growing chain of European coffee places is opening another shop in the heart of downtown Boston.

According to a Twitter post from @ConciergeBoston, Caffe Nero is opening at Center Plaza, across the street from City Hall Plaza near where Cambridge Street, Tremont Street, and Court Street meet. Once it opens, the new outlet will join other downtown locations on Washington Street and Summer Street, along with a number of other shops in and around the city.

The website for Caffe Nero can be found at http://www.caffenero.com/

[September 14 update: A tweet states that Caffe Nero has soft-opened at Center Plaza.]

[September 19 update: Caffe Nero at Center Plaza is now fully open.]

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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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1000 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza Is Opening in Boston

A New Jersey-based group of Neapolitan pizza spots may be on its way to the heart of downtown Boston.

According to a licensing board hearing page on the City of Boston website, 1000 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza is planning to open on Court Street near Government Center and City Hall Plaza, with the place looking to have two rooms, outdoor seating during the warmer months, and alcohol available (it is applying for a Malt, Wine, and Liqueur License). If approved, the new pizzeria would be the first one in Massachusetts and only the second in New England, with the other being in Jewett City, CT.

1000 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza is known for its thin-crust pies that are cooked for approximately two minutes in a 1,000-degree oven. The chain was established in 2014, according to its website.

The address for this new pizzeria in downtown Boston is: 1000 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza, 45 Court Street, Boston, MA, 02108. The website for all locations can be found at http://www.1000degreespizza.com/

[July 20 update: 1000 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza could be one step closer to opening in downtown Boston by next week, as a new licensing board hearing page indicates that a hearing will take place on July 26 on its request for a common victualler license.]

[August 23 update: Eater Boston states that 1000 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza opens its doors tomorrow in downtown Boston and to celebrate, free pizza will be offered to customers until it runs out.]

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Pizzas in the Boston Area and Beyond]

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Boston Winter Opens at City Hall Plaza

A few months ago, we mentioned that a seasonal shopping and entertainment complex was headed for downtown Boston, and now we have learned that it is open.

Eater Boston is reporting that Boston Winter has its grand opening at City Hall Plaza today at 3:00 PM and it includes chalets set up for food vendors and retailers, a beer garden, and an ice skating path (which is weather-dependent), along with a Bavarian Village for December only that offers such items as fondue, pretzels, bratwurst, sauerkraut, and mulled wine. Hours for Boston Winter are  11:00 AM to 9:00 PM (shopping stalls close at 7:00 PM) Sunday through Thursday and 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM (shopping stalls close at 8:00 PM) on Fridays and Saturdays.

More information on Boston Winter can be found at http://cityhallplazaboston.com/

[Earlier Article]
City Hall Plaza Plans Now Include Beer Garden, But No Restaurant (for Now)

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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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City Hall Plaza Plans Now Include Beer Garden, But No Restaurant (for Now)

Over the past couple of years, plans for an entertainment complex have been in the works for City Hall Plaza in Boston, and earlier this year, we reported that a restaurant and bar could be part of the plans. Now we have learned that this proposal has fallen through--at least temporarily--though a new proposal may be of interest to those looking to have an adult beverage at the plaza.

According to an article in The Boston Globe, Boston Garden Development Corp. now has a "less ambitious" plan in place for a winter garden at the plaza, with the plans initially including a beer garden, though the earlier proposal for a restaurant is on the shelf for now because of a lack of utilities (including electricity and plumbing) at the site. The first phase of the project would also include 40 to 50 holiday market vendor stalls as well as an ice-skating path, and the proposals for the restaurant along with an "observation wheel" could be revisited at some point in the future.

The Globe says that the beer garden, vendor stalls, and skating path hope to open to the public on the Friday after Thanksgiving of this year, with most of the vendors wrapping up at the end of the year and the rest of the winter garden shutting down around the end of February.

[Earlier Article]
Polar Bar/City Bistro Could Open at Boston's City Hall Plaza

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Ten Good Places to Get Beer in the Boston Area]

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Polar Bar/City Bistro Could Open at Boston's City Hall Plaza

In late 2014, we reported that a new restaurant and bar might be on its way to downtown Boston, and that it could be part of a bigger entertainment complex. Now we have learned a bit more about the proposed dining spot as well as the complex.

The Boston Herald mentions that The Anthem Group is looking to open a 20,000-square-foot, 500-person "hospitality venue" that would include a restaurant called The Polar Bar in the winter and City Bistro in the summer, with the glass-enclosed eatery overlooking a skating rink during the colder months. The article says that the dining spot would offer regional, seasonal New England fare including special holiday meals on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Hanukkah, along with clambakes and cookouts during the summer. The venue itself would be called Winter Landing during the colder months and summer landing during the warmer months, according to the Herald.

The Anthem Group was scheduled to meet with the city yesterday to talk about the proposal.

[Earlier Article]
The Polar Bar Planned for Boston's City Hall Plaza


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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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The Polar Bar Planned for Boston's City Hall Plaza

It looks like a new restaurant and bar is on its way to the heart of Boston--and it will also be part of a complex that includes a skating rink.

According to a job post within the Craigslist site, The Polar Bar will be opening at City Hall Plaza as part of what appears to be a temporary attraction called Winter's Landing. The post says that the 20,000-square-foot full-service dining and drinking spot will have two floors of space with high ceilings and 360-degree glass walls, and it will overlook a new Olympic-sized skating rink at the plaza called Frozen Harbor. The Polar Bar will be open for brunch, lunch, and dinner seven days a week, with what is being called a "contemporary" menu.

It is not yet known when The Polar Bar might be opening; as soon as we find out more, we will post an update here.

[December 8 update: BostInno is reporting that The Polar Bar (and Winter's Landing) will not be opening this winter after all, though it appears that it may be opening for the winter of 2015/2016 if all goes well.]

The Facebook page for Winter's Landing can be found at https://www.facebook.com/WintersLanding

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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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