News Elsewhere: Thompson House Eatery in Jackson, NH, Has Closed

A landmark restaurant in the White Mountains of New Hampshire that resided in an historic space--and which had been taken over by a couple whose husband used to own restaurants in the Greater Boston area--has shut down.

According to an Instagram post, Thompson House Eatery in Jackson, NH, is no longer in business, with the note from owners Kate and Jeffrey Fournier saying the following:

It is with great sadness that we must share that Thompson House Eatery will not be reopening as planned on November 29th. We have made the difficult decision to permanently close our doors and list our property for sale. We are incredibly grateful for all of the love and goodness we have received over the last eight years....We know that you will have questions and concerns that pertain to our closure, but we need a little time before we are ready to connect. Please offer our family and team the grace of time and space as we shutter our business and plan for our futures....With full hearts and teary eyes, thank you.

Thompson House Eatery, whose property included a farmhouse that dates back to the 1700s, was open for more than 35 years until being purchased by Kate and Jeffrey in the latter part of 2016; Jeffrey had previously been behind 51 Lincoln and Waban Kitchen, both of which were located in Newton where the couple lived until moving to Jackson when they reopened Thompson House Eatery.

The address for the now-closed Thompson House Eatery was 193 Main Street, Jackson, NH, 03846.

(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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Markey's Lobster Pool in Seabrook, NH Is for Sale

One of the best-known seafood shacks in New England is on the market.

According to a source, Markey's Lobster Pool in Seabrook, NH, is for sale, with an article from seacoastonline.com confirming this, indicating (via a sales brochure given by the commercial division of Keller-Williams Real Estate) that the owner of the dining spot is looking to retire. Markey's is often mentioned in the same breath as Brown's across the street, with both being landmark seafood restaurants known for their lobster rolls, fried clams, and more.

Markey's first opened its doors back in 1971.

The address for Markey's Lobster Pool is 420 NH-286, Seabrook, NH 03874. Its website is at https://www.markeyslobsterpound.com/

[February 6 update: While there are no updates on any pending sale, it does look like Markey's remains in operation, with its website saying that it plans to reopen for the season on weekends only starting February 13 (weather permitting).]

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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Updates: New Hampshire Allows Beer, Wine Sales with Takeout/Delivery; Maine Joins Other States in Restaurant Closings

More news has come out over the past couple of days, including stories focusing on our neighbors to the north--and one of the news items bring a bit of hope to people locally who would like to enjoy an alcoholic beverage or two with their takeout/delivery orders.

New Hampshire Restaurants Give Restaurants Permission to Offer Alcohol to Go
According to WBZ 1030, residents of New Hampshire can now order cans or bottles of beer and wine with their takeout orders, as long as they are unopened, and spirits and cocktails are not allowed. WBZ also says that a request to do the same in Massachusetts has hit Governor Charlie Baker's desk, though no decision has been made as of yet. (New York is also allowing alcohol to go when ordering food.)

New Ruling for Restaurants/Bars in Maine
As mentioned earlier, every state in New England but Maine has recently ruled that restaurants and bars remain closed for now except for takeout and/or delivery, and now Maine has followed the other states in instituting the same ruling. According to a Twitter post from Governor Janet Mills, the mandate stays in place until March 31, at least for now.

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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Brown's Lobster Pound in Seabrook, NH, Reopens After 2017 Fire

by Marc Hurwitz

A decades-old mainstay for seafood is open once again more than a half year after a fire shut the place down.

According to a Facebook post from the restaurant, Brown's Lobster Pound in Seabrook, NH, has reopened, with the note saying that they were open over the weekend and will also be open this coming Friday, Saturday, and Sunday with regular hours apparently on the way starting Friday, April 13. The post from Brown's goes on to say "Thank you all for well wishes and support during this very difficult time. We ask that you be patient as we are dealing with new equipment and trying to get back into the swing of things. We can't wait to see you all for another great season!!!!"

Last August, Brown's suffered major damage from a fire that destroyed the kitchen and the rear of the building, with the dining room also suffering smoke and water damage. The restaurant--which first opened in 1950--had hoped to open late last month but the opening date was pushed back due to bad weather and delays in the delivery of equipment.

The address for Brown's Lobster Pound is 407 Route 286, Seabrook, NH, 03874. Its website can be found at http://brownslobsterpound.com/

[Earlier Article]
Brown's Lobster Pound in Seabrook, NH Closed After Fire

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Seafood Dishes from Boston-Area and New England Restaurants]

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Brown's Lobster Pound in Seabrook, NH Closed After Fire

A decades-old institution for seafood is closed after being hit by a fire, and it is not known when it could reopen.

According to a post from NBC Boston, Brown's Lobster Pound in Seabrook, NH, suffered major damage from a blaze early this morning, with the kitchen and the rear of the building being destroyed by the fire and the dining room having smoke and water damage. The Facebook page for the seafood shack simply says that it is looking to reopen "as soon as possible" while it also hopes to take part in the Hampton Beach Seafood Festival, which takes place September 8-10.

Brown's, which first opened in 1950, is one of New England's best-known seafood restaurants, and it is often mentioned in the same breath as Markey's, another longtime seafood shack that is located across the street.

The address for Brown's Lobster Pound is 407 Route 286, Seabrook, NH, 03874. Its website can be found at http://brownslobsterpound.com/

[September 1 update: The New Hampshire Union Leader states that Brown's Lobster Pound remains closed after the fire, but it will be able to take part in the Hampton Beach Seafood Festival next weekend. The article also says that the restaurant hopes to reopen in mid-to-late October if all goes well.]

[March 8, 2018 update: WMUR says that Brown's Lobster Pound plans to open on March 23, even after a scare during last weekend's storm when it was hit by flooding.]

[March 22, 2018 update: A new Facebook post from the place mentions that tomorrow's opening date has been pushed back because of the bad weather and delays in the delivery of equipment.]

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Seafood Dishes from Boston-Area and New England Restaurants]

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News Elsewhere: Fire Destroys State Street Saloon in Portsmouth, NH

A five-alarm fire has wiped out a landmark New Hampshire restaurant and bar.

Seacoast Online is reporting that the State Street Saloon in Portsmouth was destroyed in a blaze which was first reported around 12:30 AM this morning, with the fire--which apparently started in the restaurant's kitchen--collapsing the building in which it resided. The article states that the remains of the structure were leveled around 7:00 AM as the remnants of the fire were being put out and that it appears all residents of the apartments on the second and third floors have been accounted for (no injuries were reported).

The State Street Saloon was an iconic spot that first opened 35 years ago in Portsmouth, offering classic American fare, beer, and cocktails. It is not yet known if the people behind the place will try to reopen it.

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Moat Mountain Brewing Co. in North Conway, NH, Bringing Its Beers to Massachusetts

A restaurant and brewery in New Hampshire that is a popular spot with hikers, skiers, and tourists alike has introduced its beers to the Bay State.

According to a Wicked Local article, Moat Mountain Brewing Co. is now selling four of its beers in Massachusetts--Bone Shaker Brown, East Intervale IPA, Hell Yes, and Single Speed IPL--with Kolsch and Hoffman Weiss possibly coming to the state at some point as well. The business, which is located in North Conway, also includes the Moat Mountain Smoke House, a restaurant that is known in part for its BBQ items along with pub grub and classic American fare.

Wicked Local mentions that Moat Mountain had been selling its beers in 24-ounce cans but now 16-ounce cans are being used for distribution.

The website for Moat Mountain Brewing Co. can be found at http://moatmountain.com/

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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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Tuckaway Tavern and Butchery May Be Coming to Hilltop Steak House Space in Saugus

It looks like an award-winning New Hampshire restaurant and meat market could be coming to the Boston area--and it might be moving into an iconic space north of the city.

According to a Facebook post from the dining spot, the Tuckaway Tavern & Butchery in Raymond is eyeing the former Hilltop Steak House space on Route 1 in Saugus, with the post showing a picture of the legendary cactus sign and another of the space itself and saying "Breaking Some Ground on Some Groundbreaking News." It is not yet known whether this would be a second location of the Tuckaway or if it may be have a different name; as soon as we find out more, we will post an update here.

[January 5 update: According to a post from CBS Boston, the people behind the Tuckaway are indeed interested in the former Hilltop space, though it is not a definite deal as of yet. The article says that if the restaurant does open there, they would keep the iconic cactus sign, though the cows have already been auctioned off and might not return to the site. (The restaurant does say "there will have to be a cow" on the property if possible, however.)

The Tuckaway Tavern & Butchery is a restaurant, bar, and meat market known for its rustic atmosphere and high-quality meats; the place has received a number of awards since opening in 2012, including New Hampshire Magazine giving it best steak tips (2012), best new restaurant (2013), best butcher shop (2014 and 2015, and best lobster roll deal (2015), according to a page on the restaurant's site.

The Hilltop Steak House closed in October of 2013 after more than 50 years in business, while its butcher shop in Weymouth closed late last year.

Thanks to @corbs872 for initially bringing this to our attention.

[May 19 update: The Saugus Advertiser reports that the Hilltop property has found a buyer, and while an official announcement on the purchaser will not be given for up to several weeks, a Facebook update from The Tuckaway Tavern & Butchery hints that it may indeed be moving into the space, saying that "We Are (Route) One Step Closer to Some Giant News" and commenting that "We will be in Saugus." (As soon as we get confirmation that the Tuckaway is indeed moving into the former Hilltop space, we will post another update.)]

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The Merrimack Restaurant in Manchester, NH, Has Closed

A local institution in Manchester, NH has closed its doors.

The Merrimack Restaurant, a family-owned diner on Elm Street that has been a stopping point for presidential candidates for years, shut down over the weekend. According to WBZ 1030, the two sisters who owned the downtown Manchester dining spot sold the place, with the Boston Globe mentioning that an upscale restaurant may open in the vacated space.

The Merrimack Restaurant had been in business since 1980.