Update: Game On! in Boston's Fenway Reopens After Being Closed for Much of the Winter

[Ed note: This article was updated on March 30 to reflect the fact that the place is open once again.]

A drinking spot that is particularly popular with Red Sox fans has decided to close down for the time being.

According to a source, Game On! has gone into hibernation, with a note on the website for the Lansdowne Street spot saying that "Unfortunately due to the effects of Covid-19, Game On Fenway is closed for the winter." The note refers customers to The Bleacher Bar and Loretta's Last Call, both of which are affiliated with Game On! and are also located on Lansdowne Street, while also telling patrons to "tip your servers well" no matter where they go because "it's tough times out there for them."

Game On! is one of an increasingly-large number of restaurants and bars in the Boston area to go into winter hibernation, with other Fenway spots closing for the winter including The Lansdowne Pub, Trillium's beer garden, Orfano, and Tiger Mama.

The address for Game On! is 82 Lansdowne Street, Boston, MA, 02215. Its website can be found at https://www.gameonboston.com/

[March 30 update: According to its Facebook page, Game On! is open once again.]

>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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Bar Louie in Boston's Fenway Neighborhood Has Closed

It looks like a Texas-based chain of "gastrobars" has closed its sole Boston location, leaving only one remaining in Eastern Massachusetts.

According to a post from Eater Boston, Bar Louie in the Fenway is no longer in operation, with a check on the website for the chain showing that it has indeed been removed from the locations section. It appears that the Patriot Place location in Foxborough remains open, as it continues to be shown in the locations section of the Bar Louie site.

As reported here earlier, Bar Louie filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection earlier this year, with Eater saying that it closed approximately 40 locations around the time of the filing. The chain started out in Chicago 30 years ago and now has its headquarters in the Dallas area.

The address for the now-closed Bar Louie in the Fenway was 121 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215. The website for the chain can be found at https://www.barlouie.com/

[Earlier Article]
Bar Louie Has Filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection

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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The Baseball Tavern in Boston's Fenway Is Closing; Plans to Reopen within New Development

An iconic sports bar in the Fenway is shutting its doors for good.

According to a source, The Baseball Tavern on Boylston Street is closing down, confirming what we had heard from another source just a few days ago. A Facebook post from the place has put out a statement indicating that it will indeed be shuttering, saying "It is with a heavy heart that we announce the soon closure of The Baseball Tavern....It has been a fantastic journey and wouldn't have been possible without the support of our family, loyal customers, friends, and dedicated employees. We are very grateful to everyone who has supported us over the years," with the note coming from "[owner] Jimmy Rooney and Staff."

The Baseball Tavern first opened back in 1963 and has been a popular pre-game and post-game spot for Red Sox fans over the years.

The address for the Baseball Tavern is 1270 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02215. Its website can be found at https://baseballtavern.com/

[December 17 update: Boston Magazine states that The Baseball Tavern is apparently not gone for good, as it is planning to reopen within the new complex that is being built at the site. No reopening date (or closing date for the current bar) has been given as of yet, but construction could begin in late February so it should be open for awhile longer. In addition, the article mentions that when it does reopen, it will no longer have a roofdeck, but it does plan to have an outdoor patio, and some of the features from the old bar (including the cap awnings and the Budweiser-branded sign) will be brought back to the new space.]

[January 2, 2020 update: Eater Boston reports (via a Facebook post from the place) that the Baseball Tavern is now closed--and that it hopes to reopen in two years.]

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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The Groove to Open at Hojoko in Boston's Fenway Neighborhood

by Marc Hurwitz

A Tokyo-style record bar is on its way to the Fenway, opening within an eclectic hotel restaurant and bar that also focuses on music.

According to an article from Boston Magazine, The Groove at Hojoko is planning to debut this Friday (April 19) in Hojoko's heated front porch space that up until now has been used for dining/drinking and private events. The post says that the lounge will take its cue from vinyl bars found in Japan that offer snacks, drinks, and analog music, and it will include bring-your-own vinyl nights, DJs, live music, and more.

Tim and Nancy Cushman, who are behind both The Groove and Hojoko, also run the award-winning o ya in Boston's Leather District, and they are opening a new spot in Chestnut Hill along with two stalls at the upcoming Time Out Market in the Fenway.

The address for The Groove at Hojoko is 1271 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02215. The website for Hojoko can be found at http://www.hojokoboston.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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Trillium Fenway Is Opening Next to Time Out Market

by Marc Hurwitz

Earlier this week, we reported that one of the most popular brewers in the region was bringing a beer hall to a space by Route 128. Now we have learned that they also have some big plans for Boston as well.

According to a post from the place, Trillium Brewing Company is planning to open Trillium Fenway by the new Time Out Market near where Park Drive and Brookline Avenue meet. The post says that the new spot will be a combination outdoor beer garden and indoor taproom with a total of 1,500 square feet of space, while also having access to the food options at the adjacent food hall which includes stalls from the people behind such restaurants as Craigie on Main, Tico, O Ya, and Tasting Counter.

As mentioned earlier, Trillium is also going to be opening a new facility in the former Reekbok space in Canton that will include a taproom; currently, the company has a facility on the other side of Canton while also having a brewery, brewpub/restaurant, and retail shop in Boston's Fort Point neighborhood.

Thanks to Boston Tweet for initially bringing this to our attention.

[October 7 update: Boston Magazine mentions that the new location of Trillium in the Fenway is now doing can sales as it gets ready for its grand opening.]

[October 24 update: Boston Tweet states that the Fenway location of Trillium opens its taproom today, with hours being 11:00 AM to midnight.]

[Earlier Article]
Trillium Brewing Company May Open Beer Hall at Former Reebok Headquarters in Canton

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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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West End Johnnie's Team to Open Fenway Johnnie's in Former Tilted Kilt Space in Boston's Fenway

by Marc Hurwitz

The people behind a restaurant and bar that is popular with Bruins and Celtics fans are expanding to a space that could become popular with Red Sox fans--and one that will take over the space where a "breastaurant" had been.

According to a source, the West End Johnnie's team plans to open Fenway Johnnie's in the Fenway, taking over the former Tilted Kilt space on Brookline Avenue. Our source sent us a link to a job posting on Monster confirming this, while a Facebook page is now up for the place as well. Based on the menu at West End Johnnie's, the upcoming Fenway Johnnie's may feature a mix of New American and classic American fare in a casual upscale environment, though no specifics on the spot have been given as of yet.

Tilted Kilt shut down in January after being in business for less than a year; the space had previously been home to Copperfield's.

West End Johnnie's debuted on Portland Street near TD Garden/North Station as Johnnie's on the Side approximately 10 years ago; its name change came about a couple of years later.

The address for the upcoming Fenway Johnnie's is 96 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215.

[March 27 update: Eater Boston states that Fenway Johnnie's hopes to open in time for the Boston Marathon (which takes place on Monday, April 16) and that its menu will be slightly different from that of West End Johnnie's, though with some similarities as well.]

[May 28 update: According to a series of social media posts, Fenway Johnnie's is now open, and it includes a downstairs space called Fenway Lounge which apparently opened a few days after the upstairs space, based on a Facebook post from a week and a half ago.]

[Earlier Article]
Tilted Kilt in Boston's Fenway Has Closed

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Tilted Kilt in Boston's Fenway Has Closed

by Marc Hurwitz

A small chain of Celtic-themed sports bars has closed its sole Boston location after less than a year in business.

Eater Boston is reporting that Tilted Kilt in the Fenway is no longer in business, leaving only one left in all of Massachusetts (in Billerica), while another outlet that had tried to open in Quincy a few years ago was ultimately rejected by that city. The Las Vegas-based chain is known in part for its female servers who dress in revealing Scottish-style outfits (it is often called both a "Scottish Hooters" and a "breastaurant"), while offering pub grub and comfort food with Scottish, Irish, and British influences.

Tilted Kilt first opened on Brookline Avenue last February, taking over the space where Copperfield's had been.

The address for this now-closed sports bar in the Fenway was: Tilted Kilt, 96 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215. The website for the chain can be found at http://tiltedkilt.com/

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Cheeky Monkey Brewing Co. to Open in Former Tequila Rain Space in Boston's Fenway Neighborhood

A new brewpub is on its way to Boston, and it will be taking over the space by Fenway Park that had been home to a nightclub.

Eater Boston is reporting that Cheeky Monkey Brewing Co. is opening on Landsdowne Street, moving into the former Tequila Rain space by Loretta's Last Call and the Jillian's/Lucky Strike entertainment complex. It looks like the new spot will feature beer that is brewed on the premises along with fried snacks and sandwiches, and the place is also expected to have shuffleboard and pool tables. If all goes as planned, Cheeky Monkey Brewing Co. could be opening sometime later this summer.

Tequila Rain closed for good over the winter after being in business for more than 12 years.

The address for the upcoming Cheeky Monkey Brewing Co. is 3 Lansdowne Street, Boston, MA, 02215. Its website will be at http://www.cheekymonkeyboston.com/

[July 27 update: An email sent today indicates that Cheeky Monkey plans to have a soft opening in late August with a grand opening following sometime in September.]

[August 21 update: Boston Magazine states that Cheeky Monkey soft-opens tonight with food only, as its beers should start being offered by the end of the week.]

[August 25 Update: According to a new post from Boston Magazine, Cheeky Monkey taps its first beer today--Down Undah pale ale--with a total of six beers ready to be offered within the next two weeks.]

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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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Who's on First in Boston's Fenway May Be Replaced by The Bullpen

Last month, we reported that a troubled Fenway bar was being shut down following a fatal shooting outside its doors on Thanksgiving morning in 2015. Now we have learned that a new spot might be going into the space.

According to a licensing board page within the city of Boston website, Who's on First on Yawkey Way is seeking a change of name tentatively to The Bullpen, though it is not known whether the person behind Who's would also be behind The Bullpen, or whether the Boston Red Sox--which controls the lease on the space and had a hand in shutting down the bar--would somehow be involved (or both). In early February, it was mentioned that Sox officials indicated in a meeting between neighborhood residents and team officials that it had apparently been planning to shut down Who's on First after the shooting death of Jephthe Chery, and even though the Boston Licensing Board had cleared the bar of any blame in that shooting in a December hearing, Red Sox President Sam Kennedy told residents in the February meeting that Who's on First would indeed be shuttered.

[March 2 update: The Boston Herald mentions that former Who's on First owner Robert Paratore is indeed behind the proposed Bullpen, though no specific details have been given on the place as of yet.]

[March 9 update: Universal Hub says that The Bullpen is planning to be a family-friendly restaurant with booths and tables, and that the space would no longer be considered a nightlife spot at all (the post also says the dance floor would be taken out). According to UH, the city will make a decision on the proposal tomorrow, and that the Red Sox have already approved of the plans and are now working out a lease with owner Robert Paratore.]

[March 10 update: CBS Boston states that the licensing board has approved of plans to replace Who's on First with The Bullpen.]

The address for Who's on First (and the proposed Bullpen) is 19 Yawkey Way, Boston, MA, 02215.

[Earlier Articles]
Who's on First in Boston's Fenway to Be Shut Down for Good
Licensing Board Takes Who's On First Action Under Advisement; Security Plan Created

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Who's on First in Boston's Fenway to Be Shut Down for Good

A couple of months ago, we reported that the city of Boston allowed a troubled Fenway bar to stay open for the time being following a fatal shooting outside the place. Now we have learned that the days are now numbered for the drinking spot.

According to an article from Universal Hub (via a tweet from @k2tog_ssk), Boston Red Sox President Sam Kennedy mentioned at a meeting between neighborhood residents and team officials that Who's on First will be shut down and that Sox officials have apparently been planning to remove the bar from its Yawkey Way space after the shooting death of Jephthe Chery outside its doors early on Thanksgiving in 2015. In late December, the Boston Licensing Board cleared Who's on First of any blame in the shooting, and it had also cleared the watering hole of blame in a September shooting as well, though police have indicated that the bar has attracted more than its fair share of trouble in the past.

It is not yet known exactly when Who's will close, according to UH.

The address for Who's on First is 19 Yawkey Way, Boston, MA, 02215.

[Earlier Article]
Licensing Board Takes Who's On First Action Under Advisement; Security Plan Created

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Licensing Board Takes Who's On First Action Under Advisement; Security Plan Created

It looks like a troubled Fenway bar may be allowed to stay open at least for the time being.

According to a Twitter post from Lana Jones of WBZ, the Boston Licensing Board has taken any potential action on Who's on First action under advisement, and the bar and the Boston Police Department have come to an agreement on a security plan for the place. This comes on the heels of the fatal shooting of Jephthe Chery outside of its doors on Yawkey Way early Thanksgiving morning, according to an article in The Boston Globe, which also mentions that the drinking spot has received at least 43 violations since 1991 for a variety of offenses, including the shooting of two women outside Who's in September.

If/when the Boston Licensing Board schedules a new hearing on the status of the bar, we will post an update here.

[December 18 update: According to a post from Universal Hub, the Boston Licensing Board will indeed have a hearing on the status of Who's on First next week.]

[December 30 update: A new article from Universal Hub states that the Boston Licensing Board has cleared Who's on First of any blame in the Thanksgiving shooting and will take no action against the bar.]

The address for Who's on First is 19 Yawkey Way, Boston, MA, 02215.

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Copperfield's in Boston's Fenway Neighborhood Has Closed

A couple of months ago, we reported that a decades-old bar and music club in the Fenway was going to be making way for a location of a small chain of Celtic-themed sports bars. Now we have learned that the place is now officially gone.

According to a Facebook post from the spot, Copperfield's has shut down, saying in the note that "the party...is over after 46 years...thanks to all the customers, musicians, cover bands/original bands/promoters/agents/ sound companies, and staff who made it happen, please continue to support the bars in the fenway area and local live music everywhere." The now-vacant Brookline Avenue space will soon be taken over by the Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery, which the Fenway Civic Association had opposed earlier this month but was subsequently approved of by the Boston Licensing Board. The chain has been described in the past as a "Scottish Hooters."

The address for the now-closed Copperfield's was 98 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215.

[Earlier Article]
Tilted Kilt Plans to Replace Copperfield's in Boston's Fenway Neighborhood

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