Boston Restaurant Talk: North Station bars

Showing posts with label North Station bars. Show all posts

Monday, March 29, 2021

Update: The Greatest Bar in Boston's North Station Area Reopens After Being Closed for Much of the Winter

[Ed note: This article was updated on March 30, 2021 to reflect the fact that the place is now open once again.]

A sports bar and entertainment venue near North Station and TD Garden is shuttered for at least awhile.

According to a source, The Greatest Bar on Friend Street is closed until further notice, with a Facebook post from the place saying that it has shut down temporarily because "trying to stay open under the challenges created by tightening Covid-19 restrictions was financially impossible. The fact is, it's in the best interest of The Greatest Bar's long term survival that we shut down - TEMPORARILY - and open up when the heightened pandemic recedes, butts are back in the TD Garden seats, and life is somewhat back to normal."

A number of restaurants and bars in the Boston area have gone into hibernation this week alone as the pandemic continues to surge and the Baker administration rolled back restrictions to Phase 3, Step 1.

The address for The Greatest Bar is 262 Friend Street, Boston, MA, 02114. Its website is at https://thegreatestbar.com/

[March 30, 2021 update: According to its Facebook page, The Greatest Bar has reopened.]

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.)

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

The Harp by North Station in Boston Is Reopening March 25

A longtime Boston bar that is particularly popular with sports fans is opening back up after being shuttered for more than a year.

According to a press release, The Harp on Causeway Street across from North Station and TD Garden plans to reopen tomorrow (Thursday, March 25), though that date is dependent upon whether the Bruins game actually takes place that night. It looks like for at least the time being, the bar will be open for home game watches and on weekends, and its updated menu will include such options as flatbread pizza, wings, buffalo chicken dip, beer towers, and pitchers of cocktails. When The Harp reopens, it will have indoor dining only at first, with patio seating coming soon.

The Harp, which has been in operation for nearly 30 years, has been closed since last March due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The address for The Harp is 85 Causeway Street, Boston, MA, 02114. Its website can be found at https://harpboston.com/

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.)

Friday, November 06, 2020

The Fours in Boston Will Not Be Reopening

A bit more than two months ago, it was reported that one of the most popular sports bars in Boston had shut down, but we subsequently learned that there were talks of it returning under new ownership. Now it looks like that won't be happening.

According to an article from The Boston Globe, The Fours on Canal Street near North Station and TD Garden has decided to close permanently, with its memorabilia being auctioned off starting imminently and running through December 2 and 3. The longtime watering hole announced its closure at the end of August, but ten days later owner Peter Colton stated that local investors had been in touch with his brother Tim (who was the bar's original owner) about reopening the place, possibly with little in the way of changes made. Those plans didn't work out, however, as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc in the restaurant industry this fall, with Colton saying "I get it. It just looks like there's no end to it. The [COVID] numbers are only going up. It gets bleaker and bleaker."

The Fours, which first opened in 1976, was a particularly popular spot for sports fans, with meals being named after a number of legendary local sports figures. Locations of the place remain open in Quincy and Norwell.

The address for The Fours in Boston was 166 Canal Street, Boston, MA, 02114. The website for the other locations is at https://www.thefours.com/

[Earlier Article]
The Four's in Boston Has Closed, But Could It Reopen?

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.)

Monday, August 31, 2020

Update: The Four's in Boston Has Closed, But Could It Reopen?

[Ed note: This article was updated on September 9 to reflect the possibility that the bar could be returning if all goes well.]

One of the most popular sports bars in Boston has shut down.

According to a note on its website, The Four's on Canal Street near North Station and TD Garden is no longer in operation, with the post saying the following:

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the permanent closure of The Fours Boston as of Monday, August 31st. We extend our sincerest thanks to all of you, our loyal customers, who have supported us for so many years.....In the coming weeks we will be creating a photo gallery on our website that features a collection of some of our favorite Fours Boston memories over the years.

The note also says that the Quincy and Norwell locations of The Four's will remain in operation.

The Boston location of The Four's, which first opened in 1976, was a popular spot for Bruins and Celtics fans alike, featuring meals named after local sports figures including Bobby Orr, Larry Bird, Doug Flutie, Ray Bourque, Carl Yastrzemski, and others.

The address for The Four's in Boston was 166 Canal Street, Boston, MA, 02114. The website for the other locations can be found at https://www.thefours.com/

[September 9 update: The Boston Globe mentions that The Four's owner Peter Colton says local investors have been in touch with his brother Tim (who was the bar's original owner) about saving the place and that they would apparently want the bar to remain as is. Although talks are in their early stages right now, Colton says that they are optimistic about its return, and if the plans do work out, The Four's could possibly reopen before the end of 2020.]

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.)

Monday, December 31, 2018

The Tam, Sullivan's Tap to Reopen Today; No Major Changes Expected to Either Bar

by Marc Hurwitz

Early this month, we reported that two dive bars in Boston whose buildings had been sold to an investor group had closed down, and it wasn't known at the time what might be in store for either place. Now we have learned that they are reopening and that neither one will apparently have big changes made.

The Boston Globe is reporting that The Tam in the Theatre District and Sullivan's Tap near North Station are expected to open back up today at 5:00 PM, with spokesperson Sean Martin of the Greater Boston Bar Co. saying that "They will retain the same exact character that people have grown to love and respect." The Tam had shut down December 1, while Sullivan's Tap had closed a day or two later, and while much of the chatter surrounding the two bars centered around their reopening soon with little or no changes, it was not known for sure what might happen until this weekend.

One other bar whose building had been sold to Greater Boston Bar Co.--the Beacon Hill Pub on Charles Street-- remains closed while the exact status of Mary Ann's on Beacon Street in Brighton's Cleveland Circle (whose building had also been sold) is not yet known.

The address for The Tam is 222 Tremont Street while the address for Sullivan's Tap is 168 Canal Street.

[Earlier Articles]
The Tam in Boston's Theatre District Has Closed; Exact Status Unknown
Changes May Be Coming to Sullivan's Tap in Boston's North Station Area
Beacon Hill Pub in Boston Closes Temporarily, Will Reopen Soon
Is Mary Ann's in Brighton's Cleveland Circle Being Replaced By a Dispensary?

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Ten Good Places to Get Beer in the Boston Area]

Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Changes May Be Coming to Sullivan's Tap in Boston's North Station Area

by Marc Hurwitz

It looks like a dive bar near North Station that has been around for a long time could be undergoing some changes.

A tweet from yesterday from Sullivan's Tap on Canal Street says "You've all been great, thanks for everything....." while a Facebook post says "Change happens fast...." leading to speculation that something is happening to the place. The drinking spot has not yet responded to viewers asking about the Twitter post (nor has it responded to a message sent by us), though a Facebook thread from several days ago hints that Sullivan's Tap may be closing for renovations shortly and that it is changing ownership. An earlier licensing board hearing page confirms this last bit of information, and that the name of the parent company taking over Sullivan's Tap is Sullivan's Saloon, LLC; an Open Corporates page for that company lists the same people who have purchased the Beacon Hill Pub, The Tam in the Theatre District, and Mary Ann's in Cleveland Circle, confirming what an earlier boston.com article had said. (The Beacon Hill Pub closed in September and has yet to reopen, though it appears that it will do so at some point.)

Sullivan's Tap first opened in 1933, according to the about section of its Facebook page.

The address for Sullivan's Tap is 168 Canal Street, Boston, MA, 02114.

[December 3 update: Eater Boston mentions (via a Facebook post from the place) that Sullivan's Tap is now closed, but "only for a few days," according to the bar, with the note saying that "we are going to reopen asap, not sure what day but hopefully it will be sooner rather than later."]

[December 30 update: The Boston Globe reports that Sullivan's Tap will reopen tomorrow, with no real changes expected to the place. (The Tam in the Theatre District will be reopening today as well, and will apparently have no major changes.)]

[Earlier Article]
Beacon Hill Pub in Boston Closes Temporarily, Will Reopen Soon

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Ten Good Places to Get Beer in the Boston Area]

Monday, June 12, 2017

Shelter Opens in Back Room of Hurricane O’Reilly's Near Boston's North Station

A speakeasy-style bar with Caribbean-influenced cocktails has opened in the back room of a West End drinking spot, and it should be popular with both commuters and sports fans.

Eater Boston is reporting that Shelter is now open on Friend Street in the former spillover room for Hurricane O’Reilly's (which is on Canal Street), a short distance from both North Station and TD Garden. The article mentions that the bar, which opened this past Thursday, features drinks that are inspired by those found on islands such as Cuba and Puerto Rico, including daiquiris, mojitos and smoked cocktails. Food will be available from the North East of the Border food truck, which is popping up in the Hurricane O’Reilly's kitchen this summer (expect a variety of tacos), while live jazz will also be featured.

Shelter is open Wednesday through Saturday nights from 6:00 PM to 2:00 AM.

The address for Shelter is 237 Friend Street while the address for Hurricane O'Reilly's is 150 Canal Street.

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]