Boston Restaurant Talk: North Shore bars

Showing posts with label North Shore bars. Show all posts

Friday, April 04, 2025

Tipsy Cowboy Country Dive Opens in Salem

A Nashville-style bar has come to the North Shore.

According to its website, Tipsy Cowboy Country Dive is now open in Salem, replacing Rivalry Sports Lounge & Kitchen within the Hampton Inn on Washington Street in what looks to be a rebrand. The website for the new spot indicates that it offers comfort food, cocktails, live country music, line dancing, and more, with its menu including such options as deep-fried shrimp in chili sauce, fried hot honey Brussels sprouts, pulled pork sandwiches, Nashville hot fried chicken sandwiches, cheesy shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles, cornbread cake, and more.

The address for Tipsy Cowboy Country Dive is 221 Washington Street, Salem, MA, 01970. Its website can be found at https://www.tipsysalem.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]

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Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Update: Ed Sheeran Is Bringing a Pop-up Pub to Ipswich on Friday, March 28

[Ed note: This article was updated on March 28 to reflect new information given.]

One of the biggest names in music has a temporary pub in the works for the North Shore.

According to a message sent from @IrishEyesPhoto1, Ed Sheeran is behind The Old Phone, a pub in Ipswich, with an article from Northshore Magazine mentioning that "Ed Sheeran is rumored to be building a pub in Ipswich, Massachusetts, this spring." The Local News says that the town select board has approved of a one-day wine and malt application for the place on Friday, March 28 at the Old Mill building on the southern edge of Ipswich's downtown area, which indicates that this is just a popup event on Friday, which NBC Boston has since confirmed. (A check on the website for the pub also mentions the March 28 date.)

Sheeran, who has ties to Ipswich, England, was recently in Boston, including making a trip to The Dubliner where he played an acoustic set.

(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.)

Wednesday, March 06, 2024

The Babe Opens in Salem

A new bar has come to the North Shore after being in the works for more than a year, moving into the space where a longtime drinking spot had once been.

According to a post from @berkie1, The Babe is now open in Salem, taking over the former Major Magleashe's space on Washington Street. The website for the place--which is run by local restaurateur Seth Gerber--indicates that it is a "friendly neighborhood bar and sandwich shop" that offers such items as burgers, Italian subs, cheese steaks, meatball sandwiches, wings, and bar nuts, along with beer, wine, and cocktails.

Major Magleashe's first opened in the space in 1978.

The address for The Babe is 268 Washington Street, Salem, MA, 01970. Its website can be found at https://www.thebabesalem.com/

[Earlier Article]
Seth Gerber (MIDA) Purchases Major Magleashe's Space in Salem

[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.)

Monday, November 20, 2023

The Hidden Door Opens in Marblehead

A new cocktail lounge has come to the North Shore.

According to a source, The Hidden Door is now open in Marblehead, confirming what another source told us earlier, that the place would be opening on Washington Street in the center of town. We have been told that the new spot--which is run by Todd and Victoria Horvath--is located next door to The Barrelman restaurant, and it is a speakeasy-style lounge where people enter through a secret door hidden in a bookcase.

The address for The Hidden Door is 259 Washington Street, Marblehead, MA, 01945. Its Instagram page can be found at https://www.instagram.com/thehiddendoormhd

NOTE: We need your help, as Leslie Hurwitz, who is the father of Marc (the founder of this site) is dealing with health issues and some major related expenses. Please donate at https://gofund.me/76d8ba28, thanks!

[More restaurant openings/closings from the Boston's Hidden Restaurants site): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Monday, January 09, 2023

The Riptide Lounge in Marblehead Is for Sale

A decades-old dive bar on the North Shore is on the market.

According to a source, the Riptide Lounge in Marblehead is up for sale, with Sam Gifford of Churchill Properties indicating that the building is priced at $1 million, including the second floor above the watering hole. The listing indicates that the space could continue to be home to a restaurant and/or bar, as it says the seller "is willing to cooperate with new owners on transferring existing Liquor License, if desired and permitted."

The Riptide is mostly a local hangout with pool, darts, and a jukebox along with some bar food.

The address for the Riptide Lounge is 116 Pleasant Street, Marblehead, MA, 01945.

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!

Tuesday, November 15, 2022

Seth Gerber (MIDA) Purchases Major Magleashe's Space in Salem

A local restaurateur has bought the North Shore space where a longtime bar had been until closing recently.

According to Patrick Maguire of Maguire Promotions & Hospitality Consulting, Seth Gerber has purchased the space in Salem that had been home to Major Magleashe's Pub, with an Instagram post from Gerber saying the following:

I love the North Shore. This is my home. So there is no better place to dig in with a new concept besides "Witch City" Salem, MA. This space has been a restaurant since at least the 1960's. Frank's Cafe to Witches Brew to the beloved Major Magleashe's that has been operating since 1978. I am incredibly proud to honor the history here while bringing this venue into its next life.

Gerber is a business partner at Douglass Williams's MIDA, an Italian restaurant in Boston's South End, that also has Brian Lesser as a partner; another location of MIDA can be found in Newtonville while a third is being planned for East Boston as well. (The team also runs APIZZA at Hub Hall by North Station in Boston.)

The address for the upcoming spot from Seth Gerber (and the old Major Magleashe's Pub) is 268 Washington Street, Salem, MA, 01970.

[September 6, 2023 update: According to a source (Kalie Belvin), the new dining and drinking spot taking over the former Major Magleashe's space will be called The Babe, with various online job posts confirming this.]

[Earlier Article]
Major Magleashe's Pub in Salem Has Closed

[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.)

Thursday, November 03, 2022

Major Magleashe's Pub in Salem Has Closed

A popular North Shore bar has shut down, and it is not known what will become of the space.

According to a Facebook post from Zachary Antczak of Behold Brands (and formerly Notch Brewing), Major Magleashe's Pub closed its doors last night, as the owners are apparently retiring. It appears that a new dining/drinking spot may move into the Washington Street space, though no specific details have been given as of yet.

Major Magleashe's Pub, which first opened in 1978, was known in part for its burgers and steak tips.

The address for Major Magleashe's Pub was 268 Washington Street, Salem, MA, 01970.

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]

Tuesday, January 12, 2021

Update: The Lucky Dog in Beverly Is Open Once Again After Pausing Operations for Part of the Winter

A North Shore dive bar whose roots date back nearly 100 years is shutting down for part of the winter.

According to a source, The Lucky Dog is closing for now, with a Facebook post from the Cabot Street watering hole saying the following:

Starting [yesterday] The Lucky Dog will be PAUSING operations, until certain restrictions are lifted and we are past the recent spike in covid cases. On top of wanting to keep everyone safe, current guidelines are causing us to waste too much money that would be better off saved for the early spring. Thank you to everyone that kept us going this far. We WILL be back soon. Stay in touch & stay safe.

Pictures on the post show signs indicating that this is a winter break, though it is not known when exactly the bar might open back up again.

The website for The Lucky Dog says that the place has been "serving since the end of prohibition" (with a note underneath saying "probably during") while also calling itself a "five star dive bar."

The address for The Lucky Dog is 129 Cabot Street, Beverly, MA, 01915. Its website can be found at https://www.fuelthemule.com/

[March 19 update: According to its Facebook page, The Lucky Dog has opened back up.]

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.)

Thursday, July 02, 2020

Pub 49 Is Opening in the Former Osborn Tavern Space in Danvers

A troubled North Shore bar that shut down earlier this year will be replaced by a new dining and drinking spot that would be run by the owner of another North Shore bar that had its share of problems as well.

According to an article from Wicked Local, Pub 49 is looking to open in Danvers, moving into the space on Maple Street that had been home to Osborn Tavern. As reported here earlier, Osborn Tavern had faced several different liquor-related incidents over the past couple of years before shuttering over the winter, while Wicked Local mentions that the owner of the proposed Pub 49 had been behind Sully C's in Saugus--and that owner had also faced a couple of liquor violations as well while also getting into litigation issues with both the building owner and the town after a 2015 fire damaged the building in which Sully C's was housed

The Danvers Board of Selectmen did approve of the license transfer from Osborne Tavern to Pub 49, though not without reservations from Danvers Selectman Gardener Trask, who said, "I'll be frank. I'm familiar with Sully C's....I'm concerned about the reputation of Sully C's and the owner."

[April 6, 2021 update: Wicked Local states that Pub 49 is now open.]

[Earlier Articles]
Osborn Tavern in Danvers Has Closed
Sully C's Sports Bar and Grill in Saugus Hit by Fire
Sully C's in Saugus in Dispute with Landlord Over Repairs; License Now at Stake
Sully C's in Saugus Sells Its Liquor License

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.)

Tuesday, March 03, 2020

Osborn Tavern in Danvers Has Closed

A North Shore bar that has had multiple liquor license violations over the past couple of years appears to have closed for good.

According to an article from Wicked Local, Osborn Tavern in Danvers hinted over the past few days that it would be shutting down, with Facebook posts on February 28 and 29 mentioning a "last hurrah" and "open one last time." A phone call placed by Wicked Local was answered by someone who indicated that the owner "was not available at the time of call and would not be available at any other time" and then hung up. It is not sure exactly why the Maple Street watering hole has closed, so if we get any updates, we will post them here.

Osborn Tavern has faced several different liquor-related incidents over the past couple of years that resulted in meetings with the Board of Selectmen, though punishments against the place were successfully appealed. A Patch article mentions that the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission was slated to hear the latest appeal of a liquor license suspension that was centered around three women being served too much alcohol last August.

The address for Osborn Tavern was 49 Maple Street, Danvers, MA, 01923.

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]