Breaking Grounds Cafe in Peabody Is Closing

A cafe on the North Shore that gives job training to people with disabilities including autism is going to be closing its doors.

According to an Instagram post from Northeast Arc (which operates the place), Breaking Grounds Cafe in Peabody is getting ready to shut down, with the post saying the following:

Northeast Arc has made the difficult decision to close Breaking Grounds Cafe in Peabody after 9 years of operation. This was not an easy choice, but it is the right move for the financial health of our organization as we face rising costs and an uncertain state and federal funding landscape....Closing Breaking Grounds will allow Northeast Arc to direct all of our resources toward our core mission of helping people with disabilities and autism live as fully included members of their communities. Our commitment to job training remains unchanged and we will continue preparing individuals for community employment through our other internship programs. Existing Breaking Grounds employees will have the opportunity to apply for other positions within Northeast Arc. We are so thankful to all of the incredible employees and participants who have contributed to making Breaking Grounds such a vibrant and welcoming place for nine years. We are also grateful for the continued partnership and support of the City of Peabody.

The post mentions that Breaking Grounds Cafe will close after business hours on July 31.

The address for Breaking Grounds Cafe is 67 Main Street, Peabody, MA, 01960. Its website can be found at https://breakinggroundscafe.com/

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Great Marsh Brewing Company in Essex Is Going Up for Auction

It looks like a brewery on the North Shore is ceasing operations.

According to a source, Great Marsh Brewing Company in Essex is going out of business, with a Boston Business Journal article saying that an auction is slated for June 10 from Aaron Posnik & Co. and will include all of its furnishings and equipment. Great Marsh first opened its facility in Essex in 2019, moving into the space where Fortune Palace II had once been and being a brewery, taproom, restaurant, and bar along with a beer garden.

The address for the site of Great Marsh Brewing Company is 99 Main Street, Essex, MA, 01929.

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ShoYu Plans to Open in Peabody

It looks like a trio of Asian restaurants will be opening a fourth location, and this one will be on the North Shore.

According to an article from What Now Boston, ShoYu is planning to open in Peabody, with the city's mayor (Edward A. Bettencourt) making the announcement on social media that the dining spot is planning to open in the downtown area. Once it debuts, the new location will join others in Boston, Saugus, and Andover, and expect it to offer pan-Asian fare including sushi, stir-fry noodle dishes, rice bowls, Chinese items such as chow fun and General Gau's chicken, and more.

The address for the upcoming location of ShoYu is 12 Peabody Square, Peabody, MA, 01960. The website for all locations is at https://www.shoyusushi.com/

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Oregano in Newburyport Has Closed

A North Shore restaurant known for its Italian and Mediterranean fare has shut down.

According to multiple sources, Oregano in Newburyport is no longer in business, with an Instagram post from the Pleasant Street dining spot saying the following:

To our wonderful community - There are no words that feel big enough for this. Due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control, Oregano [has closed] its doors. Your support, your loyalty, and your presence over the years turned Oregano into something so much more than a restaurant. It became a home away from home. A place where memories were made, milestones were celebrated, and people came not just to eat, but to feel like they belonged....Thank you to our friends, family, staff, and most importantly our patrons for being part of something we will never forget.

Oregano first opened 18 years ago, offering such options as pizza, pasta dishes, risotto, kebabs, lamb chops, stuffed grape leaves, salmon patties, and more.

The address for the now-closed Oregano was 16 Pleasant Street, Newburyport, MA, 01950.

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The NexMex Thing in Peabody Is Closing, Moving to Lynn

A Mexican restaurant on the North Shore is going to be leaving its current location and will be reopening in another space not all that far away.

According to a Facebook post from the business, The NexMex Thing in Peabody is closing and will move to a new space in Lynn, with the post saying the following:

After 10 incredible years, we have made the difficult decision to close our doors in Peabody....This decision was not made lightly. The prolonged road work in the area, ongoing for the past two years and expected to continue for 2-3 more years, has significantly impacted accessibility to our restaurant. The resulting detours and street closures ultimately forced us to discontinue lunch service and made it increasingly difficult to operate sustainably. While this chapter is coming to a close, our connection to Peabody remains strong. We will be actively looking for opportunities to return to the city in the near future.  Until then, we will relocate Nexmex to 125 Lynnfield Street in Lynn early June. Our last day in Peabody will be April 30th, 2026.

The post also refers diners to their other dining spot (Pots, a hotpot restaurant at 77 Main Steet in Peabody).

The current address for The NexMex Thing is 5 Central Street, Peabody, MA, 01960. Its website can be found at https://nexmexthing.com/

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Sushi Sang Lee in Gloucester Is Closing

An edomae-style omakase sushi bar on the North Shore that has a Food Network winner behind it is shutting down, though plans appear to be in the works for a new concept from the owner.

According to a source, Sushi Sang Lee is saying goodbye to its space in Gloucester, with an Instagram post from the Prospect Street spot saying the following:

After five wonderful years, Sushi Sang Lee is officially moving on from our current location, but this goodbye is only the beginning of a brand new journey that we're excited to bring to you....We pride ourselves in bringing you the best experience we can, and we're so excited to welcome you into this brand new beginning. With our new location, we plan on serving you an updated concept with the addition of an amazing a la carte menu. Stay tuned for updates of our grand reopening and new concept.

The last day of service at Sushi Sang Lee is May 24.

Sushi Sang Lee owner Sang Hyun Lee was crowned champion on the Food Network's Chopped: Sushi Showdown in 2025.

The address for Sushi Sang Lee is 76 Prospect Street, Gloucester, MA, 01930. Its website can be found at https://www.sushisanglee.com/

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Ray Adea's Mediterranean & Jamaican Cuisine in Salem Has Closed

 A dining spot on the North Shore that offered fusion fare has shut down.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page (via a Salem Food Digest post), Ray Adea's Mediterranean & Jamaican Cuisine in Salem is no longer in business, with a "for lease" sign in the window of the Lafayette Street space. The eatery was known in part for its vegetarian and vegan Mediterranean and Middle Eastern fare including falafel, hummus, and babaganoush, while also offering meat-based Jamaican dishes such as jerk chicken, curry goat, oxtail, and steamed fish.

The address for the now-closed Adea's Mediterranean & Jamaican Cuisine was 90 Lafayette Street (Unit 1B), Salem, MA, 01970.

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Neighborhood Tavern in Northborough to Expand, Opening a New Location in Salem

 A dining and drinking spot in Central Massachusetts is going to be expanding to the North Shore.

According to a Bluesky post from @l1samak.bsky.social, the Neighborhood Tavern in Northborough is going to be joined by another location in Salem, taking over the space on Washington Street that had been home to The Derby Restaurant & Bar. Once it opens, expect to see such items as fried pickles, wings, tenders, nachos, burgers, steak tips, fish and chips, roasted chicken, tacos, macaroni and cheese, and more, along with beer, wine, and cocktails.

The address for the upcoming Neighborhood Tavern in Salem is 189 Washington Street, Salem, MA, 01970. The website for the business is at https://theneighborhoodtavern.com/

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Ba Banh Mi Is Opening in Salem

A Vietnamese sandwich spot will soon be opening on the North Shore.

According to a source, Ba Banh Mi is getting ready to open in Salem, with the website for the Washington Street eatery indicating that it will be a fast casual restaurant offering several types of banh mi while also serving pho, wraps, stir-fried noodle options, rice dishes, spring rolls, egg rolls, smoothies, iced coffee, and more. It appears that the dining spot is very close to debuting, though a specific opening date has not been given as of yet.

The address for Ba Banh Mi is 128 Washington Street, Salem, MA, 01970. Its website can be found at https://babanhmi.com/

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Qué Mas Restaurant in Beverly Has Closed

A restaurant on the North Shore that featured Latin cuisine has shut down.

According to a couple of sources, Qué Mas Restaurant in Beverly is no longer in business, with an Instagram post from the Rantoul Street spot saying the following:

Thank you all for the endless support and love. It was a pleasure to see so many people really enjoy our food and notice all the passion that us and our staff put in. Well this is goodbye for now it isn't goodbye forever!

Qué Mas first opened in 2024, with Alex Pineda being behind it; Pineda is the son of Lydia Shire, who is known in part for her restaurant Scampo (where Pineda also worked) in the Beacon Hill/MGH area of Boston, and he was also a finalist on Alton Brown's "Chopped: Alton's Maniacal Baskets" in 2021.

The address for the now-closed Qué Mas was 114 Rantoul Street, Beverly, MA, 01915.

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Ciao Restaurant & Bar in Lynn Has Closed

An Italian restaurant on the North Shore that was known for its pizza, pasta, and cocktails has shut down.

According to a couple of sources along with an article from What Now Boston, Ciao Restaurant & Bar in Lynn is no longer in business, with an Instagram post from the Sutton Street spot confirming this while also indicating that new owners are taking over the space, saying that "we prepare to pass this business into new hands in the coming months." The restaurant first opened in the spring of 2021, offering such items as pizza, arancini, chicken parmigiana, gnocchi with shredded pork shoulder, rigatoni bolognese, cavatappi con pesto, and fettucine scampi.

The address for the now-closed Ciao Restaurant & Bar was 41 Sutton Street, Lynn, MA, 01904.

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Agave Mexican Bistro in Newburyport Has Closed; Will Open for One Final Service February 13

A Mexican restaurant on the North Shore has shut down, though there will be one more chance to dine at the place.

According to a source, Agave Mexican Bistro in Newburyport is now closed, though both a Facebook post from the Daily News of Newburyport and an Instagram post from the business indicate that the dining spot will reopen on February 13 at 4:00 PM for "an evening of drinks and a small menu" (no reservations, dine-in and cash-only). Agave, which first opened in Newburyport 25 years ago, had been one of a pair of locations including one in Portsmouth which closed around the start of the pandemic in the spring of 2020.

The address for Agave Mexican Bistro in Newburyport is 50 State Street, Newburyport, MA, 01950. Its website is at https://www.agavemexicanbistro.com/

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The Friendly Toast in Danvers Is Closing

An eclectic local group of dining spots known in part for their breakfast dishes will be closing one of their locations.

According to a source, The Friendly Toast in Danvers is getting ready to shut down, with a Patch article saying that the restaurant--which resides on Independence Way by the Liberty Tree Mall--is shuttering as of December 31 due to mechanical issues within the building, according to the business. The company also indicates that it hopes to move into a new space but continues to search for one, saying the following:

While we had previously announced plans to relocate within the Danvers community upon the expiration of our lease, and despite our extensive search, The Friendly Toast has not yet identified a new space in the area that meets our operational needs and maintains the experience our customers expect and deserve....The Friendly Toast remains committed to finding a new space in Massachusetts' North Shore....We plan to keep searching for a space that feels right for our team and for our customers.

The Danvers location of The Friendly Toast first opened in the summer of 2021. (Other locations remain in operation locally in Boston, Burlington, Cambridge, Chestnut Hill, Dedham, and North Andover.)

The address for The Friendly Toast in Danvers is 50 Independence Way, Danvers, MA, 01923. The website for all locations can be found at https://thefriendlytoast.com/

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Rogue Kitchen + Provisions/Flip the Bird at Cummings Center in Beverly Has Closed

A local group of dining spots in the northern suburbs of Boston that focus in part on fried chicken sandwiches has closed one of its locations.

According to an Instagram post, Rogue Kitchen + Provisions/Flip the Bird at Cummings Center in Beverly has shut down, with the post mentioning "suffering through the aftermath of the pandemic and trying to operate a restaurant in an office park" while also saying the following:

I had too much to say in a text box, so I made a story for everyone who's had questions about why we're no longer at our Cummings Center location. It's worn many hats over the year (Marino's Cafe, The Hatchery, Flip The Bird Cafe @ Cummings, and last but not least Rogue Kitchen + Provisions) but myself and Anthony have been the ones behind each concept....We also want to give a HUGE shout out thank you to everyone who helped us in our final days, it was a heavy load to carry and short window to get it done, we couldn't have done this without you and we'll never be able to repay your kindness.

The Cummings Center location of Marino's Cafe/The Hatchery/Flip The Bird Cafe/Rogue Kitchen + Provisions got its start more than 10 years ago, with other locations of Flip the Bird currently in operation in Beverly (Cabot Street), Danvers, and Swampscott.

The address for the now-closed Rogue Kitchen + Provisions/Flip the Bird was 100 Cummings Center Suite 107P, Beverly, MA, 01915. The website for all locations is at https://flipthebirdfriedchicken.com/

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Not Your Average Joe's in Peabody Is Closing

It looks like another location of a local chain of family restaurants is shutting down.

According to a Facebook post from North Shore Eats along with a comment within the OpenTable site, Not Your Average Joe's at Northshore Mall in Peabody is closing its doors, with a photo shown on the North Shore Eats post indicating that it is slated to shutter on December 23. The Peabody location of Not Your Average Joe's is the sole remaining location north of Boston, while others can be found locally in Acton, Bedford, Norwell, Waltham, Watertown, and Westwood. (Locations that have shut down over the past ten years or so include ones in Arlington, Burlington, Medford, Methuen, and Randolph.)

The website for Not Your Average Joe's is at https://www.notyouraveragejoes.com/

[December 26 update: Based on the locations page for the chain, the Peabody location of Not Your Average Joe's is now closed.]

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Hawthorne By-The-Sea in Swampscott Is Closing

A North Shore restaurant that has been around for nearly 60 years is shutting down.

According to a source (Chris Howe) and an article in the Swampscott Tides, Hawthorne By-The-Sea on Humphrey Street in Swampscott is closing its doors, as the Athanas family has told the town that it has decided to no longer continue operating the dining spot beyond its current agreement. It appears that the restaurant will close sometime this month, as Stanley J. Paine Auctioneers is hosting an online-only auction at paineauctioneers.com with the auction closing on November 18. At this point in time, it isn't known exactly what might become of the space, which was purchased by the town in 2022 (ongoing discussions since 2022 haven't yet resulted in a definitive plan for the restaurant space or the property).

An earlier Swampscott Tides article mentions that Hawthorne-by-the-Sea was built in 1967.

The address for Hawthorne-by-the-Sea is 153 Humphrey Street, Swampscott, MA, 01907.

[November 18 update: According to its social media, Hawthorne-by-the-Sea is now closed.]

(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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Daniella's on Cabot to Open in the Former Ellis Square Social Space in Beverly

The group behind several dining and drinking spots on the North Shore will be opening another restaurant north of Boston.

According to a Facebook post from North Shore Eats, Daniella's on Cabot is going to be opening in Beverly, taking over the space on Cabot Street where Ellis Square Social had been. Once it opens, the new place will join Daniella's Ristorante in Peabody, Daniella's Cafe in Peabody, and Pellana Prime Steakhouse in Peabody, all of which are part of the North Shore Hospitality Group. Very little information has been given as of yet on the new spot, though based on the offerings at Daniella's Ristorante and Daniella's Cafe, it could be focusing at least in part on Italian food.

Ellis Square Social closed this summer after being in business since 2018.

The address for Daniella's on Cabot is 252 Cabot Street, Beverly, MA, 01915. The website for the North Shore Hospitality Group can be found at https://northshorehospitality.com/

[Earlier Article]
Ellis Square Social in Beverly Has Closed

(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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Pressed Cafe Plans to Open in Beverly

It looks like a local group of dining spots that focus on healthy, freshly-made options may be expanding to the North Shore.

According to an article from What Now Boston, Pressed Cafe is planning to open in Beverly, with  leasing documents indicating that it would move into the former Acapulcos Mexican Family Restaurant & Cantina space at Cummings Center in 2026. If all goes as planned and it does open there, the new location of Pressed would join others in Boston's Back Bay and Seaport District, Burlington, Chelmsford, Lawrence, and Newton, along with four in New Hampshire (Bedford, North Nashua, Salem, and South Nashua), and based on those restaurants, expect to see breakfast dishes, soups, panini, bowls, fresh-pressed juices, coffee, and more.

The address for the proposed location of Pressed Cafe in Beverly is 900 Cummings Center Beverly, MA, 01915. The website for all locations is at https://www.pressedcafe.com/

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Ellis Square Social in Beverly Has Closed

A casual upscale restaurant and cocktail bar on the North Shore has shut down.

According to a source, Ellis Square Social in Beverly is no longer in business, with a note on the website for the Cabot Street spot saying that "Ellis Square Social has officially closed its doors. We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude for the wonderful years and memories!" The dining and drinking spot first opened in the summer of 2018, replacing Barrel House American Bar and focusing on small plates while also offering a variety of craft cocktails.

The address for the now-closed Ellis Square Social was 252 Cabot Street, Beverly, MA, 01915.

(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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The Goat to Open in Salem

A group of country bars with four locations north of Boston will be opening a fifth, and this will be its closest one to the city.

According to a source (Gary Goldblatt), The Goat is planning to open in Salem, moving into the space on Derby Street that had been home to a location of American Flatbread. Once it debuts, the new outlet will join others in Newburyport along with Manchester, Hampton, and Portsmouth, NH, and based on those spots, it will be a burger and whiskey bar featuring live country music.

The address for the upcoming location of The Goat in Salem is 311 Derby Street, Salem, MA, 01970. The website for all locations is at https://goatbarnation.com/

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