Olympia Restaurant in Lowell Has Closed Permanently

A Greek restaurant north of Boston that had been around for nearly 75 years--and whose status has been in question for awhile--has closed for good.

According to a message sent from Scott Whitley of Wicked Bites, the Olympia Restaurant in Lowell is shuttered, with a Facebook post on Sunday from the Market Street spot saying the following:

To the generations of customers and friends who walked through the doors of the Olympia Restaurant, we say thank you. Thank you for your loyalty, your stories, your laughter, your tears, and your unwavering support. Many of you came in as customers and left as lifelong friends. You celebrated milestones with us, and you stood by us through the decades. You became part of our extended family. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for allowing our family to serve yours for more than seven decades. We cherish the memories, friendships, and love shared there that will stay with us forever.

The Olympia Restaurant, which first opened in 1952, shut down in the fall of 2024 though they announced that they planned to reopen early in 2025, but it has remained shuttered with no specifics on whether it might return.. 

The address for the now-closed Olympia Restaurant was 453 Market Street, Lowell, MA, 01854.

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

---

[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.)

Sea Dog Brewing Company to Open New Location in Lowell

A beermaker with roots in Maine will be expanding to a new space in Eastern Massachusetts.

According to an article from What Now Boston, Sea Dog Brewing Company is planning to open a brewpub in Lowell, moving into the space on Cabot Street where El Jefe Taco Bar had been. The article mentions that the new location will have seating for 300 (including outdoor seating) along with space for events, and based on its other locations, expect to see a variety of beers (including lagers and ales) as well as classic American fare and comfort food dishes.

Currently, no locations of Sea Dog can be found in Massachusetts, though there had once been outlets in Hull and Woburn; their headquarters had originally been in Camden, ME, today being in Bangor.

The address for the upcoming location of Sea Dog Brewing Company in Lowell is 203 Cabot Street, Lowell, MA, 01854. The website for the company is at https://www.seadogbrewing.com/

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

---

[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.)

WCP Slice House Opens in Lowell

A new option for pizza has opened north of Boston, and it offers several different styles including one typically found south of the city.

According to its social media pages, WCP Slice House is now open in Lowell, moving into a space on Central Street in the downtown section of the city. A menu for the new restaurant shows that it offers South Shore-style bar pizza along with thin crust, Sicilian, New Haven style, and gluten-free pizza, while also serving salads, appetizers, and desserts. 

South Shore-style bar pizza can be very difficult to find north of Boston, with some of the only places offering it including Epigram Brew Co. in Tyngsboro, For Pizza in Medford, Hot Box in Somerville, Riverview in Ipswich, and Monte's in Lynn.

The address for WCP Slice House is 30 Central Street, Lowell, MA, 01852. Its Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580350555601 while its Instagram page is at https://www.instagram.com/slice.house.lowell/

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

---

[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.)

Sergeant Burgers to Open at the Burlington Mall

A burger spot that recently opened in Lowell will be expanding to a space closer to Boston.

According to posters within a thread on the Merrimack Valley Eats Facebook group page, Sergeant Burgers is planning to open at the Burlington Mall, with a Boston Real Estate Times article confirming this. Once it opens this summer, the new location will join its original on Middlesex Street in Lowell, and based on that location, expect the new outlet to offer burgers, shakes, and possibly other food/drink items with Brazilian influences.

The Instagram page for the Lowell location of Sergeant Burgers can be found at https://www.instagram.com/sergeantburgers/

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

---

[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.)

The Lazy Cat Lounge Opens in Lowell

A new cat cafe has come to the local area.

According to an article from the Lowell Sun, the Lazy Cat Lounge is now open in Lowell, moving into a space on Merrimack Street in the downtown area. The website for the business indicates that the place includes a gift shop, baked goods from Pizzelle Bakes in Lowell, and coffee and tea from Atomic Coffee in Peabody, with guests paying an hourly fee to spend time in the lounge room with adoptable cats. (Guests must be age 8 or older to enter the lounge room.)

Another cat cafe called A Sanctuary Cafe opened in Boston's Beacon Hill neighborhood in 2024.

The address for the Lazy Cat Lounge is 177 Merrimack Street, Lowell, MA, 01852. Its website can be found at https://www.lazycatloungelowell.com/

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

---

[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.)

Pappardelle to Open in Lowell

A brand new Italian dining spot is on its way to Lowell, and it has an ownership connection to a nearby eatery.

According to a source (Aron Levy), Pappardelle is getting ready to open on Middlesex Street, with a Facebook post from the place saying that it will be "an Italian restaurant opening in downtown lowell featuring homemade pasta, artisan pizza and serving beer and wine with a unpretentious North End vibe." We have been told that the people who run Purple Carrot (a bakery-cafe on Merrimack Street) are behind the upcoming restaurant, and the Facebook page indicates that there will be a few dinner testings for Pappardelle at Purple Carrot beginning later this month.

The address for the upcoming Pappardelle is 160 Middlesex Street, Lowell, MA, 01852.

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

---

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

---

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!

Sahel Restaurant and Lounge Is Opening in Lowell

A brand new Afro-Caribbean restaurant is coming to the Merrimack Valley.

According to a source (Aron Levy), Sahel Restaurant and Lounge is planning to open in Lowell, moving into a space on Central Street in the downtown section of the city. The menu for the upcoming eatery includes such items as fish cakes, drunken jerk shrimp, scotch eggs, braised oxtail stew, fried red snapper, grilled pork chops, spicy stewed plantains, peanut stew, curry pasta with tofu, and a cauliflower sandwich.

No opening date has been given for Sahel Restaurant and Lounge as of yet, but a note on its website mentions a guest list for its soft opening and grand opening, so it may debut soon.

The address for Sahel Restaurant and Lounge is 135 Central Street, Lowell, MA, 01852. Its website can be found at https://sahelrestaurantlounge.com/

[October 1 update: According to a Facebook post from the place, Sahel Restaurant and Lounge is now open, with its grand opening being held late last week.]

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

---

[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.)

Payment Options

Option 1 : $1.00 USD - monthly Option 2 : $5.00 USD - monthly Option 3 : $10.00 USD - monthly

BBQ Chicken Is Opening in Lowell

A Korean chain that focuses on all things chicken appears to be opening a new location north of Boston.

According to a source (Aron Levy), BBQ Chicken is expanding to Lowell, with a Facebook post on the Lowell Live Feed Forum group page indicating that it will be taking over the space on Merrimack Street where Lowell Burger Company had been. Based on the menu at the Harvard Avenue location in Allston, expect to see a variety of options for wings and boneless chicken at the new spot, along with whole chicken dishes as well.

The address for the new location of BBQ Chicken in Lowell is 143 Merrimack Street, Lowell, MA, 01852. The website for the Allston location can be found at https://www.bbqchickenallston.com/

[February 3, 2022 update: A message from Aron Levy indicates that the Lowell location of BBQ Chicken is now open (Ed Note--another outlet appears to be on its way to Malden as well).]

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

---

[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.)

Payment Options

Option 1 : $1.00 USD - monthly Option 2 : $5.00 USD - monthly Option 3 : $10.00 USD - monthly

Gormley's Cafe in Lowell Is Losing Its Home; Will Move to a New Location

A decades-old breakfast and lunch spot north of Boston will soon be leaving its longtime space, though it will be reborn in a new storefront nearby.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Gormley's Cafe in Lowell is losing its home, with a Facebook post from the E Merrimack Street eatery saying the following:

As many of you know we are having to leave the location that has been home to Gormley's for 70 years. The building was sold last year and the new owner will not be renewing our lease.  We are very excited to announce that we have found a new and bigger location in downtown Lowell (details coming soon!) We will be closing our doors at 139 E. Merrimack Street on Saturday 2/13.

The note goes on to say that they plan to reopen in their new home sometime in March.

Gormley's, which first opened in 1951, is known in part for its hearty breakfasts and classic diner atmosphere while also offering soups, sandwiches, wings, chili, and more for lunch.

The current address for Gormley's Cafe is 139 E Merrimack Street, Lowell, MA, 01852. Its website can be found at http://www.gormleyscafe.com/

[February 16 update: According to a source within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants page, Gormley's Cafe has now left its space and will be moving to 343 Market Street, with a Facebook post from the place showing that it will be taking over the former La Cucina Tropical space.]

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

---

[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.)

Payment Options

Option 1 : $1.00 USD - monthly Option 2 : $5.00 USD - monthly Option 3 : $10.00 USD - monthly

Bishop's Legacy Restaurant in Lowell Is Closing

It looks like an iconic restaurant name north of Boston is going away.

According to a source, Bishop's Legacy Restaurant in Lowell has announced that it is shutting down for good effective December 24. A Facebook post from the Merrimack Street dining spot confirms this, saying that "Unfortunately family dynamics have changed and we are announcing that we will close....we would like to thank all of our guests for supporting us over this time." Bishop's got its start in Lawrence in 1949, eventually saying goodbye to the city in 2001 and opening in its present location in Lowell in March of 2015, according to an article in the Lowell Sun. The restaurant focused on Eastern Mediterranean fare, with an emphasis on Lebanese dishes.

The address for this soon-to-close dining spot in Lowell is: Bishop's Legacy Restaurant, 143 Merrimack Street, Lowell, MA, 01852. Its website can be found at http://www.bishopslegacyrestaurant.com/

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

---

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

---

Tweet

Delicias Pacias Bakery in Lowell Destroyed in Early-Morning Fire

A Latin American bakery and restaurant in Lowell was gutted in a fire early this morning.

The Lowell Sun is reporting that Delicias Pacias Bakery on Bridge Street was destroyed in a three-alarm blaze that was apparently caused by a deep fryer as a worker was opening the place up sometime around 4:30 AM. The article says that the building is now uninhabitable, with most of its roof collapsing and firefighters not being able to get into the structure to see the exact extent of the damage as of this time. It is not yet known if the owner of the bakery will try to rebuild.

Delicias Pacias Bakery, which first opened in 1996, has been known for its Colombian foods, including such items as cheese bread, empanadas, arepas, chicken and rice, steak with chimichurri sauce, tamales, and chicken pies.

The address for Delicias Pacias Bakery is 392 Bridge Street, Lowell, MA, 01850.

[May 20 update: Eater Boston mentions (via an update from the Lowell Sun) that the building housing Delicias Pacias Bakery has been torn down, and it is still not known whether the owner will reopen.]

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

---

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

---

Tweet

Antonio's Pizza in Amherst to Open Location in Boston

A landmark pizza spot in the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts that is popular with college students is planning to open in Boston.

The Restaurant Hub blog of The Boston Globe is reporting (via the restaurant's Facebook page) that Antonio's Pizza in Amherst is going to be opening somewhere in the city, with locations also planned for Lowell and Worcester as well. Antonio's is seen as a near-legendary pizzeria by many students at nearby UMass Amherst, with unusual topping combinations such as BBQ chicken ranch, potato bacon, beef taco, black bean avocado, breaded chicken with tortellini and pesto, steak burrito, and chicken florentine offered at the place, along with Sicilian pies and basic pizzas.

Other locations of Antonio's Pizza can be found in nearby Easthampton as well as Providence, RI, College Station, TX, and Champaign, IL. The Amherst shop has been in business since 1991.

The website for Antonio's is at http://www.antoniospizza.com/

Tweet

Fifty Warren Is Coming to Lowell

A new restaurant is coming to Lowell, and it will be located within a hotel in the downtown area of the city.

According to a job posting within the Craigslist site, Fifty Warren will be opening inside the UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center on Warren Street (just east of Central Street). The post mentions that the new dining spot looks to be a "fireside gastropub" with a modern look that will be facing the adjacent canal. The inn's website states that Fifty Warren will have living room style seating and will feature small plates of food.

The address for this upcoming gastropub in Lowell will be: Fifty Warren, 50 Warren Street, Lowell, MA, 01852. The website for the hotel can be found at: http://www.acc-umlinnandconferencecenter.com/

Tweet This!

Village Smokehouse Opens in Lowell

The Village Smokehouse, a BBQ joint and Southern-style dining spot in Brookline Village, now has a sister restaurant in Lowell.

A new Village Smokehouse has opened on Middle Street in Lowell, with about three times as much room as the original in Brookline (it has a capacity of about 200). The restaurant features an open kitchen with a barbecue pit and exposed brick walls in both the dining area and the bar.

The address for the Village Smokehouse in Lowell is: Village Smokehouse, 98 Middle Street, Lowell, MA 01852. The phone number is (978) 441-2278.