Angelina Plans to Open in Boston's Back Bay/Fenway Area

It looks like a brand new bakery is coming to a busy intersection in Boston.

According to a Bluesky post from @conciergeboston.bsky.social, Angelina is planning to open near where the Back Bay and the Fenway meet, taking over the space at the corner of Boylston Street and Massachusetts Avenue where a branch of Bank of America had been. A Bluesky post from @thedrewstarr.bsky.social mentions that this is part of a chain that got its start in Manhattan and which offers items with both Asian and Italian influences, including bombolones, cakes, gelato, pizza and pasta, sandwiches, and more.

The address for the upcoming Angelina is 133 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115.

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

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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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Cisco Brewers Plans to Open a Beer Hall in Boston's Fenway

A local brewery may be opening a new location in Boston.

According to an article from Universal Hub, Cisco Brewers is looking to open a beer hall in the Fenway, moving into the space on Boylston Street where Tasty Burger had been before moving to nearby Van Ness Street. The post mentions that this would be a year round beer hall, and it would also have a seasonal beer garden with live music during the warmer months. If approved, the new location of Cisco would join others in Nantucket, New Bedford, Boston's Seaport District, and a production facility in Portsmouth, NH, that also included a pub until closing late last year. 

The address for the proposed location of Cisco in the Fenway is 1301 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02215. The website for Cisco can be found at https://www.ciscobrewers.com/

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

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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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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.)

 

Van Leeuwen Ice Cream Opening Shops in Boston's Back Bay and Fenway Along with Wellesley

Earlier this year, it was reported that the people behind a group of ice cream shops with roots in New York City were opening three locations locally--all of which are now open--and now we have learned that three more are on the way.

According to a post from Drew Starr within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream is opening at the Lyrik development in Boston's Back Bay, while a check on the website for the business shows that outlets in the Fenway and in Wellesley are coming as well. Once these stores open, they will join others locally in Boston's Seaport District, Cambridge's Harvard Square, and The Street Chestnut Hill.

The website for Van Leeuwen, which got its start as a truck in NYC in 2008, can be found at https://vanleeuwenicecream.com/

[April 18, 2025 update: According to a source (Gary Goldblatt) and an article from The Swellesley Report, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream is now open in Wellesley.]

[June 24, 2025 update: According to a press release, the Back Bay and Fenway locations of Van Leeuwen Ice Cream are now open.]

[Earlier Article]
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream Is Opening Locations in Boston, Cambridge, and Chestnut Hill

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

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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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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.)

Rockwood Music Hall in Boston's Fenway Has Closed

A small music venue in Boston's Fenway neighborhood has closed after less than a year in operation.

According to an article from Vanyaland, Rockwood Music Hall on Van Ness Street shut down as of May 1, with a note on the website for the place saying the following:

As a business that depends on bar sales to survive, unfortunately we were not generating enough to make operating sustainable. Thank you for all your support. All shows beyond Apr. 30th have been cancelled, tickets will be refunded automatically within 7 business days.

Rockwood first opened in the summer of 2023, having a connection to Rockwood Music Hall in Manhattan; the Boston space had a capacity of 120 and mainly featured local acts.

The address for the now-closed Rockwood Music Hall in the Fenway was 88 Van Ness Street, Boston, MA, 02215.

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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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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.)

  

Mighty Squirrel Brewing Co. to Expand to New Location in Boston's Fenway Neighborhood

A brewery in the western suburbs is going to be expanding into Boston.

Eater Boston is reporting (via the Boston Business Journal) that Mighty Squirrel Brewing Co. in Waltham is planning to open a 13,000-square-foot facility at Bower, a residential development on Beacon Street between Kenmore Square and Audubon Circle that will be part of the new Fenway Center complex. The new space will be used for the production of new beers in smaller batches while also having a kitchen that will be run by an outside food partner.

Bower is planning to debut in October, and the new Mighty Squirrel plans to open later this year as well.

The website for Mighty Squirrel Brewing Co. is at https://www.mightysquirrel.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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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.)

  

Table Caffé Opens Permanent Spot at Time Out Market Boston in the Fenway

A gelato shop in Boston's North End that popped up at a food hall in the Fenway earlier this winter now has a permanent space there.

According to a press release, Table Caffé is now a part of Time Out Market Boston after being set up as a temporary location there for a bit under two months. The new shop joins the original location on Hanover Street, which Jen Royle runs along with Table Restaurant and Table Mercato, both of which are on Hanover Street as well.

Table Caffé first opened its doors in the North End in January of 2022.

The website for Table Caffé can be found at https://tableboston.com/table-caffe/ while its Instagram page is at https://www.instagram.com/tablecaffenorthend/

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

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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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NOTE: Leslie Hurwitz, who is the father of Marc (the founder of this site) is currently dealing with health issues and needs your help. Please donate if you can at https://gofund.me/76d8ba28, thanks!

La Saison Bakery Opens at Time Out Market Boston in the Fenway

A Cambridge bakery with Middle Eastern influences has expanded to a food hall in Boston's Fenway neighborhood.

According to a press release, La Saison Bakery is now open at Time Out Market Boston, offering a variety of baked goods and pastries including breads, cookies, scones, cakes, and more. The original shop first opened on Concord Avenue in Cambridge in late 2020, with owner Soheil Fathi originally being from Tehran, Iran.

Time Out Market Boston can be found at 401 Park Drive while the website for La Saison Bakery is at https://www.lasaison-bakery.com/

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

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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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NOTE: Leslie Hurwitz, who is the father of Marc (the founder of this site) is currently dealing with health issues and needs your help. Please donate if you can at https://gofund.me/76d8ba28, thanks!

Rockwood Music Hall Plans to Open in Boston's Fenway Neighborhood

It looks like a popular music venue in New York may be expanding to Boston.

According to a licensing board hearing page within the city's website, Rockwood Music Hall is seeking a liquor license to operate on Van Ness Street in the Fenway section of the city, with the proposed club having 1,847 square feet of space and including a ground floor and mezzanine floor with both seating and standing options (the seated option would have a total occupancy of 95 persons with 43 seats and the standing option would have a total occupancy of 120 persons with 27 seats). The manager listed for the place is Andrew Kaplan, whose Twitter page shows a link to Rockwood Music Hall on the Lower East Side of Manhattan while also indicating that he is based in Boston.

Rockwood Music Hall, which first started out in New York in 2005, has grown from one to three stages over the years and according to the behindthescenesnyc.com site, has hosted such acts as Mumford & Sons, Lady Gaga, Gary Clark Jr., and Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day while also hosting local bands and singers as well.

The address for Rockwood Music Hall would be 88 Van Ness Street, Boston, MA, 02215. The website for the New York location is at https://rockwoodmusichall.com/

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

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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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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.)

Craft Beer Cellar in Boston's Fenway Neighborhood Is Becoming Fenway Beer Shop

It looks like a local group of specialty beer shops is shrinking once again, with its sole remaining Boston location possibly getting a name change.

According to a licensing board hearing page within the city's website, Craft Beer Cellar in the Fenway is petitioning to change its name to Fenway Beer Shop, with the hearing on the matter being scheduled for Wednesday, August 14. If approved, this would mean that there would be no more Craft Beer Cellar shops within the Boston city limits, as its Fort Point and Roslindale outlets shut down a few months ago. Other locations of Craft Beer Cellar have closed and/or changed over to new places over recent times as well, including locations in Framingham, Sudbury, Swampscott and Winchester.

The first Craft Beer Cellar shop opened in Belmont back in 2010.

The address for the Fenway location of Craft Beer Cellar (and the proposed Fenway Beer Shop) is 98 Van Ness Street, Boston, MA, 02215. The website for all locations of Craft Beer Cellar can be found at https://craftbeercellar.com/

[August 28 update: It appears that Craft Beer Cellar is in the process of transition over to Fenway Beer Shop, based on the new Facebook page for the place.]

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

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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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Owners of Now-Closed Bradley Liquors in Boston's Fenway to Open Upscale Liquor Store by Audubon Circle

The people behind a liquor store in Boston's Fenway that is no longer in operation are hoping to open a new store in the city's Audubon Circle area--and this one would be focusing on specialty items.

According to a post on the Beth Treffeisen Photography site, the owners of the now-shuttered Bradley Liquors on Boylston Street are planning to open an upscale liquor store on Beacon Street in the former Superb Bicycle Shop space, with the proposed shop having the same retro look that the bike shop had while apparently selling higher-end versions of beer, wine, bourbon, and more. If all goes well, the new store--which may end up being called Shippy's--could be opening in April.

The article says that Bradley Liquors closed down because of a lack of foot traffic and rising rents.

The address for this upcoming liquor store is 842 Beacon Street, Boston, MA, 02215.

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

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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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Plans for Wegmans to Open in Boston's Fenway Neighborhood Hit a Snag

A few years ago, we reported that a location of a popular chain of supermarkets was being planned for Boston's Fenway area. Now we have learned that these plans are now in question.

According to an article in the Boston Business Journal, Wegmans Food Markets said today that it is "unlikely" it will be opening in the first phase of development of the Landmark Center, and that while it will continue to be in talks with developer Samuels & Associates, no lease has been signed for the grocery store. The renovation and expansion of the Landmark Center, which was approved in 2013, is expected to include apartments, retail, office space, and parking space, with the original plan being for Wegmans to reside in a 75,000-square-foot space in a "food hall" within the development.

Currently, locations of Wegmans can be found in Burlington, Chestnut Hill, Northborough, and Westwood, with upcoming stores planned for Medford and the Natick Mall. The website for Wegmans can be found at http://www.wegmans.com/

[April 4, 2017 update: The Boston Herald mentions (in an article on a park coming to the Landmark Center property) that Samuels & Associates is modifying the expansion plans for the development, and when asked about the status of Wegmans coming to the complex, principal Peter Sougarides said that "We're still working though that. There are some physical changes to the building that are changing how we do the retail."]

[August 20, 2017 update: A new article in The Boston Globe says that plans for Wegmans to open in the Fenway now appear to be "in doubt," citing issues with parking, as keeping most or all of the existing parking garage could make it difficult to have a large grocery store included in the complex. The article mentions that Wegmans still does not have a lease, though the supermarket chain will apparently continue to be in contact with Samuels & Associates about possibly of opening a store at the site at some point in the future.]

[Earlier Article]
Wegmans Planning to Open a Market in Boston's Fenway Neighborhood

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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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Craft Beer Cellar Is Opening in Boston's Fenway Neighborhood

A local group of specialty beer stores is expanding once again, and this time it will be opening a shop in one of Boston's busiest areas.

According to their social media pages, Craft Beer Cellar is planning to open in the city's Fenway neighborhood, with the store being located on Van Ness Street near where it meets Kilmarnock Street (just east of Brookline Street and across from the outdoor seating area for the Yard House). Based on a blueprint posted onto Facebook, it looks like the shop will have approximately 1,600 square feet of space, with construction being "well underway" as of a few weeks ago. If all goes as planned, the new Craft Beer Cellar is hoping to be open around Labor Day.

[March 29, 2016 update: According to a Facebook event page, the new Craft Beer Cellar in the Fenway is having its grand opening on Saturday. April 2. (Thanks to @alexeweaver for bringing this to our attention.]

[April 1, 2016 update: A Facebook post from the shop indicates that the new Craft Beer Cellar in the Fenway has actually soft-opened ahead of tomorrow's grand opening.]

Currently, existing locations of Craft Beer Cellar in Eastern Massachusetts can be found in Amesbury, Belmont, Braintree, Framingham, Newton, Plymouth, Sudbury, Swampscott, and Winchester, with another shop being planned for Roslindale. [Ed note--another location has also been announced for Fort Point.]

The address for the new Fenway location of Craft Beer Cellar is 98 Van Ness Street, Boston, MA, 02215; the CBC website is at http://www.craftbeercellar.com/ while the Twitter page for the Fenway shop is at https://twitter.com/cbc_fenway

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

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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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Wegmans Planning to Open a Market in Boston's Fenway Neighborhood

Last March we reported that Wegmans Food Markets was looking to open a store somewhere within the Boston city limits. Now we have learned where the first location of the supermarket chain might be.

According to a post in the Boston Hospitality and Tourism Industry Blog (via a Twitter post from Janet Wu of WCVB and a retweet from @HeyRatty), Mayor Menino is announcing that the Rochester, NY-based chain of grocery stores is planning to open a branch in the Fenway section of the city. Currently, Wegmans has a store in Northborough, with other outlets being built in Burlington, Chestnut Hill, and Westwood [ED NOTE: all are now open].

As soon as we have more information on the exact location of the Wegmans in Boston's Fenway area, we will post an update here.

[UPDATE: @BOSFoodTours has sent us a message saying that the new Wegmans will be opening in the Landmark Center at Park Drive and Brookline Avenue.]

[October 7 update: The Boston Business Journal gives a bit more information today on the proposed supermarket coming to Fenway. According to the article, plans are being filed to add a 75,000-square-foot Wegmans to the Landmark Center, which would see the addition of three new buildings (including retail and office space as well as housing), the demolition of its parking garage, and 2.2 acres of open space. (The article also says that the market itself would "have the look and feel of a European, open-air market.")]

[January 17, 2014 update: Wegmans is one step closer to opening its first market within the Boston city limits, as the Boston Hospitality and Tourism Industry Blog mentions (via The Boston Herald) that the Boston Redevelopment Authority has approved the expansion plans for the Landmark Center.]

[December 2, 2015 update: According to an article in the Medford Transcript, the Fenway location of Wegmans will apparently not be opening until 2019 or 2020.]

[Earlier Article]
Wegmans Market Is Planning to Open Somewhere in Boston

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