Tall Order Plans to Open in the Former Thirsty Scholar Space in Somerville

Last week, it was reported that a popular Irish pub in Somerville had shut down, and that its space was sold. Now we have learned what is moving into the space.

An email sent to us indicates that a new cocktail bar and restaurant called Tall Order will be opening in the former Thirsty Scholar space on Beacon Street, with the note saying that Daren Swisher and Joe Cammarata of the Daiquiris & Daisies cocktail bar at High Street Place in downtown Boston are behind it. The note mentions that the upcoming place will feature "classic and contemporary cocktails alongside modern American cuisine, New England-centric craft beer, and a thoughtfully curated, value driven wine list." If all goes as planned, Tall Order will open this fall.

The Thirsty Scholar first opened in the 1990s, closing temporarily in the summer of 2021 before reopening under new ownership in early 2022.

The address for the upcoming Tall Order is 70 Beacon Street, Somerville, MA, 02143. Its Instagram page is at https://www.instagram.com/tallorderbar

[March 3, 2025 update: According to a couple of Instagram stories from the place, Tall Order appears to be going through a soft opening. (Thanks to two sources for bringing this to our attention.)]

[Earlier Article]
The Thirsty Scholar in Somerville Has Closed, Space Sold

(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 Cornerstone Is Opening in the Former R.F. O'Sullivan & Son Space in Somerville

A new dining and drinking spot is on its way to Somerville, and it looks like it will be replacing a pub that has been closed for a little while now.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, The Cornerstone is looking to open on Beacon Street, taking over the space where R.F. O'Sullivan & Son has been. The website and social media for the upcoming spot indicate that it will be a restaurant and sports bar and that it plans to open soon, though little other information has been given as of yet.

R.F. O'Sullivan & Son opened last year, replacing R.F. O'Sullivan's (which had been in the space for more than 30 years) and having different owners; another R.F. O'Sullivan's which was run by the same family as the original in Somerville had been in Lynn, but that is no longer in business.

The address for Cornerstone is 282 Beacon Street, Somerville, MA, 02143. Its website will be at https://www.thecornerstonesomerville.com/

[December 6 update: A poster within Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants mentions that Cornerstone has soft-opened, while the website for the place indicates that the head chef is David Toraji Oshima, who comes from Yume Ga Arukara and Yume Wo Katare in Cambridge. (A menu for the restaurant is not yet up on their website.)]

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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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Sligo Pub in Somerville's Davis Square Is Closing

A beloved Somerville bar that has been in business for a long time is shutting down.

According to a source (Karin Turer), the Sligo Pub in Davis Square is closing, with a Facebook post from the Elm Street spot saying the following:

Dear Friends, It is with a heavy heart that we announce the upcoming closure of the Sligo Pub. It has been a difficult decision, but after careful consideration, we have come to the conclusion that it is time to close our family business, which has been a part of this community for several decades....Our memories of the good times, the countless friendships, relationships, and connections that we have made will be cherished forever. We also want to express our sincere gratitude to our amazing hardworking staff who have stuck with us through thick & thin....We will always remember this community fondly and wish you all the best in the future.

The post mentions that the bar is slated to close in early June.

The Sligo Pub has around for more than 75 years, with both the previous owners and the current owner (who took it over in 1989) coming from Ireland. It is one of only a few remaining dive bars left in the city along with such places as Casey's, The Pub, and Michael's.

The address for the Sligo Pub is 237 Elm Street, Somerville, MA, 02144. Its website can be found at https://sligopubdavissq.com/

[June 1 update: A Facebook post from the place indicates that the last day for the Sligo Pub is June 4.]

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

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

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

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Lehrhaus to Open in the Former Kirkland Tap & Trotter Space in Somerville

A rather unique dining and drinking spot is on its way to Somerville.

According to a source, Lehrhaus is planning to open on Washington Street, taking over the space where Kirkland Tap & Trotter had been before closing in 2019. The website for the upcoming place simply says it will be a "Jewish Tavern and House of Learning," though its source code mentions the following:

Lehrhaus is a new kind of gathering space for 21st century Jews and people interested in Judaism: part Jewish tavern, part house of learning, it's a welcoming, smart, sociable neighborhood watering hole that brings people together to tap into the ancient, profound, and transformative practice of learning through Jewish texts--all while cultivating community and savoring great food and drinks.

No opening date has been given as of yet for Lehrhaus, though the website does say it is coming "soon."

The address for the upcoming Lehrhaus is 425 Washington Street, Somerville, MA, 02143. Its website is at https://www.lehr.haus/

[March 6, 2023 update: According to a press release, Lehrhaus plans to open on March 13, and it will have a pescatarian menu while celebrating "the global diversity of Jewish cuisine" with Noah Clickstein (a Juliet alum) heading up the kitchen and James Beard award finalist Michael Leviton advising, while award-winning bartender Naomi Levy has designed the beverage program. The release also mentions that Lehrhaus--which is said to be "the world's first Jewish tavern and house of learning"--includes a library with more than 3,000 volumes.]

[March 14, 2023 update: A poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page confirms that Lehrhaus has soft-opened, though its full opening may not be happening until mid-April as a note from the place says that "a key member of our staff has had to deal with some serious medical issues, and while they are recovering and will be back with us soon, we've decided to open quietly...from now until Passover."]

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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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!

Rowhouse Bar May Be Opening in Former Bull McCabe's Space in Somerville's Union Square

A new dining/drinking place may be coming to a space in Somerville that had been home to a popular pub and music spot.

According to a tweet from @CheeksMcGee9 (via a post from u/PapaJack2008 on Reddit), a public notice is up at the former Bull McCabe's space on Somerville Avenue in Union Square, with both the applicant and business name being listed as Rowhouse Bar, LLC. The registered agent for the LLC is listed as Stephen F. Barrett, who is apparently the landlord of the building as well and is seeking a new liquor license for the proposed spot, though very little is currently known about it, including its food and drink offerings, whether it will have live music, and when it might open. (Stay tuned for updates as they come in.)

Bull McCabe's, which closed in 2020 after being in business since 2008, was known in part for its live music and trivia nights, while offering such options as clam chowder, wings, burgers, and steak tips.

The address for the proposed Rowhouse Bar is 366A Somerville Avenue, Somerville, MA, 02143.

[Earlier Article]
Bull McCabe's in Somerville's Union Square Has Closed

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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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!

Create Gallery + Cocktail Lounge Is Saying Farewell to Bow Market in Somerville

An eclectic Somerville spot that focused on cocktails and art is leaving its space.

According to a source, Create Gallery + Cocktail Lounge is saying goodbye to its home at Bow Market, with a Facebook post from owner Louis DiBiccari saying the following:

We're disappointed to announce that March 22nd will be our final service at Bow Market. I'm very grateful to the store owners here for embracing us as a part of their community for the last three years. CREATE Gallery & Cocktail will undergo some brand restructuring & relocate soon....Not 100% ready to say much more right now but the evolution of CREATE will get me back in a kitchen & I'm stoked to start cooking again....Thanks again for supporting our little nook on the second floor. Forever grateful

Create Gallery + Cocktail Lounge, which first opened in the summer of 2019, has been known in part for its draft cocktails along with its works from local artists. DiBiccari had formerly been involved with Tavern Road in Boston's Fort Point.

As soon as we find out more about the new concept from DiBiccari, including where it will be located, we will post an update here.

[March 29 update: A check on its Facebook page confirms that Create Gallery + Cocktail Lounge is now closed.]

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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The Thirsty Scholar in Somerville Has Reopened

Last summer, it was reported that a popular Irish pub in Somerville had closed down, though it was subsequently learned that it would be opening back up under new ownership. Now we have learned that it is indeed open once again.

According to a source, The Thirsty Scholar on Beacon Street has reopened, with the website for the place confirming this, saying that it is open starting at 4:00 PM every day. The dining and drinking spot--which dates back to the 1990s--shuttered sometime in late June or early July of 2021, with a note out front saying "temporarily closed until further notice," though in September we discovered that Stephen Whalen and Fred Starikov of the Greater Boston Bar Co. (which is behind such spots as the Beacon Hill Pub and The Tam) were planning to reopen it along with Alan Sharaf.

The address for The Thirsty Scholar is 70 Beacon Street, Somerville, MA, 02143. Its website is at https://www.thirstyscholarpub.com/

[Earlier Article]
The Thirsty Scholar in Somerville Is Closed for Now; Plans to Reopen in the Fall

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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R.F. O'Sullivan & Son Is Opening in the Former R.F. O'Sullivan's Space in Somerville

A new restaurant and bar is replacing a now-closed spot in Somerville known for its burgers, and it has a slightly different name and new owners.

According to a source, R.F. O'Sullivan & Son is planning to open in the former R.F. O'Sullivan's space on Beacon Street, with an email sent to us indicating that Greatest Boston Bar Company (whose other restaurants/bars include The Tam and Beacon Hill Pub) is the owner. A City of Somerville Licensing Commission page mentions that Brianna Michelle Classen is slated to be the manager, and we have confirmed that this is the same Brianna Classen who is a local standup comic. It appears that R.F. O'Sullivan & Son will be focusing on burgers, though a specific menu has not been seen as of yet.

The original R.F. O'Sullivan's, which first opened in Somerville a bit more than 30 years ago, featured a variety of char-grilled meatball-shaped burgers; another location can be found in Lynn, and it is run by Rich Sullivan II, whose father Richard owned the Somerville location (and recently retired). 

The address for R.F. O'Sullivan & Son is 282 Beacon Street, Somerville, MA, 02143.

[April 6 update: A message sent to us indicates that R.F. O'Sullivan & Son hopes to soft-open in Somerville around the middle of next week.]

[April 15 update: A tweet from @CheeksMcGee9 states that R.F. O'Sullivan & Son opens on Saturday, April 16, with a check on their social media indicating that it will be open for dinner only for the time being.]

[Earlier Article]
The R.F. O'Sullivan's Space in Somerville Is Changing Ownership

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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The Thirsty Scholar in Somerville Is Closed for Now; Plans to Reopen in the Fall

A popular Irish pub in Somerville has very quietly shuttered, and its exact status isn't known at this point in time.

According to several sources, The Thirsty Scholar on Beacon Street is locked up and dark, with phone calls going unanswered and no updates posted on its website or social media. One person in the local restaurant industry told us that it has indeed shut down for now while another source sent us a picture showing a sign out front that says "sorry, temporarily closed until further notice." We have reached out to The Thirsty Scholar along with others in the restaurant industry who might know more; as soon as we find out more information, we will post an update here.

The Thirsty Scholar, which first opened in the mid-1990s, has been a popular place for Irish immigrants, students from Harvard and other nearby colleges and universities, and locals in Somerville and Cambridge.

The address for The Thirsty Scholar is 70 Beacon Street, Somerville, MA, 02143. Its website can be found at https://www.thirstyscholarpub.com/

[July 23 update: According to a source, The Thirsty Scholar is now planning to open back up sometime in September, with a Twitter post from @lukwam confirming this.]

[September 8 update: A source tells us that The Thirsty Scholar is apparently coming under new ownership, with a Bizapedia page showing that Stephen Whalen and Fred Starikov are involved, indicating that there may be at least an indirect connection to Greater Boston Bar Co., an investment group that owns such spots as the Beacon Hill Pub and The Tam. (Alan Sharaf is also shown as one of the three principals on record.)]

[February 7, 2022 update: According to a source, The Thirsty Scholar is open once again.]

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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Update: Highland Kitchen in Somerville Reopens After Being Closed Since December

[Ed note: This article was updated on June 15 to reflect the fact that the restaurant is open once again.]

An award-winning Somerville bar known in part for its comfort food and cocktails is closing for the time being.

According to an Instagram post from the place, Highland Kitchen shuts down after business hours on Sunday, December 13, with the note from the Highland Avenue spot saying the following:

This was not an easy decision to make and we have tried to hold on as long as possible. We have been unable to get any rent relief and we all know @mass.gov is not helping restaurants. Hibernation is the only way Highland Kitchen can get through this winter with the hope of reopening in the spring....If you are looking for ways to support is this winter here are a few: Head to @highlandfriedandtiki for takeout this winter. We are a Mom & Pop team and we will still have one restaurant going, right down the hill in Inman Sq. Cambridge. You can still buy gift certificates to Highland Kitchen.

Highland Kitchen first opened in 2007, with the place featuring dishes with Southern influences including chili, buffalo fried brussels sprouts, pulled pork sandwiches, fried chicken, ribs, and macaroni and cheese; the bar has been mentioned over the years by Food and Wine and Esquire, along with local media outlets such as The Boston Globe and Boston Magazine.

The address for Highland Kitchen is 150 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA, 02143. Its website can be found at http://highlandkitchen.com/

[May 27, 2021 update: According to a post within the jobs section of bostonchefs.com, Highland Kitchen is now making plans to get up and running "for the summer and beyond." This comes after several months of silence from the place, including our reaching out to Highland Fried for an update awhile back but not receiving a response.]

[June 15, 2021 update: Eater Boston states that Highland Kitchen is now open with a limited menu and limited seating.]

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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The R.F. O'Sullivan's Space in Somerville Is Changing Ownership

A Somerville pub that some consider to have the best burgers in the Greater Boston area is being replaced by a new spot under new ownership.

Based on information from a source and a phone call to the place, R.F. O'Sullivan's in Somerville is closing this week and is changing hands, though we have been told by two sources that the new owners plan to continue serving burgers and keep the existing staff while it will have a similar name. We have also been told that Rich Sullivan II will continue to run O'Sullivan's in Lynn while his father Richard is planning to retire.

R.F. O'Sullivan's first opened in Somerville 30 years ago, with our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants) featuring it as a place to go for its wide variety of char-grilled meatball-shaped burgers. The review can be found at the following link:

https://hiddenboston.com/Osullivan.html

The address for R.F. O'Sullivan's in Somerville is 282 Beacon Street, Somerville, MA, 02143. The website for O'Sullivan's (including the Lynn location at 151 Central Avenue) is at http://www.rfosullivans.com/

[May 25 update: A Facebook post from the place indicates that as of today, O'Sullivan's will be moving on from its Somerville location, though the note does say to "keep an eye open for a new location that could be in a town near you."]

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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The Dark Horse Public House in Somerville's Magoun Square Is Closing

A Somerville bar that replaced another drinking spot a few years ago is shutting down.

According to multiple sources, including a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, The Dark Horse Public House in Magoun Square is closing its doors and is currently selling off various items based on its Facebook page. A comment within the page of the Broadway bar tells a poster that "We are [shuttering], unfortunately" while going on to say that "A raised rent sinks all ships."

The Dark Horse Public House replaced On the Hill Tavern back in 2017.

The address for The Dark Horse Public House is 499 Broadway, Somerville, MA, 02145.

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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The Balloon Factory by FAB Beer Plans to Open in Somerville

The people behind a brand new gastropub in Somerville are also working on opening a brewery within the city as well.

Eater Boston is reporting that The Balloon Factory by FAB Beer is looking to open on Broadway just east of Teele Square, with a fundraising page saying that the facility would focus on beer, wine, and liquor sales on-site along with regional distribution of its contract-brewed beer. The fundraising page also says that the space would include a bar and a large outdoor area, with both large and small events being part of the plans including weddings, parties, wine and cheese flight nights, cocktail-making classes, and more. The business is looking for a total of $100,000 in funds over the next two months or so and is about a quarter of the way to that goal.

The FAB team has also collaborated with the people behind the now-closed Bergamot restaurant on Washington Street to open the brand new FAB gastropub in that space, which is a combination restaurant/art gallery.

The address for the upcoming Balloon Factory by FAB Beer is 1060 Broadway, Somerville, MA, 02144. The website for FAB (which stands for Food Art Beer) is http://food.art.beer/

[Earlier Article]
FAB Gastropub Is Replacing Bergamot in Somerville

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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Bull McCabe's in Somerville's Union Square Has Closed

A popular pub and music spot in the Union Square section of Somerville has shut down permanently.

According to a Facebook post from the place, Bull McCabe's on Somerville Avenue is no longer in business, with the post from owner Brian Manning saying the following:

It is with a very heavy heart that I am writing to let you know that, after twelve years in Union Square, Bull McCabe's will not be reopening. The last six months have taken an incredible toll on all of us, and while the restaurant/bar/music venue industry as a whole has been decimated, Mom-and-Pop shops like ours, especially, have been crushed. We're a 780 sq.-ft music venue, not easily-aligned with social distancing, and we have been struggling to stay afloat for a long time. Legal battles, construction, an ever-changing neighborhood, and many other causes have made it increasingly difficult for us over the past few years. We've incurred a large amount of debt, and it is continuing to rise with no income to help knock it down. So, as much as I want to hang on and hope things will bounce back, I can’t afford to, financially or emotionally.

Bull McCabe's first opened in 2008, with the pub featuring a variety of live music along with trivia nights, while offering such food items as clam chowder, wings, burgers, fish and chips, steak tips, and sausage as well as beer, wine, and cocktails.

The address for Bull McCabe's was 366 Somerville Avenue, Somerville, MA, 02143.

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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Sligo Pub, Dragon Pizza in Somerville's Davis Square Team Up with an Outdoor Patio

An old-school Somerville bar has found a way to stay open rather than having to wait for Phase 4 of the reopening of the Massachusetts economy, and a nearby pizzeria is involved.

According to Rich O'Rourke, Sligo Pub in Davis Square is collaborating with Dragon Pizza with the two businesses (which are a few storefronts apart from each other on Elm Street) having an outdoor patio set up out back. The Facebook page for the bar shows the setup of the collaboration while saying that the patio is open Tuesday through Saturday starting at 6:00 PM for now, though it is probably best to check with Sligo Pub and/or Dragon Pizza before going to see if the days/hours have changed.

Sligo Pub is a bar that does not have a kitchen, which presumably would have kept it from opening until Phase 4 if not for this collaboration; some other bars with no food in the region seem to be doing similar setups, while others that are not doing such collaborations or finding other ways to serve food remain closed for at least the time being--possibly until a therapeutic or vaccine for the coronavirus is found.

Sligo Pub is at 237 Elm Street and Dragon Pizza is at 233 Elm Street in Davis Square, while the patio is in the Grove Street lot (around the corner up Grove Street and behind the two businesses).

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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Somerville Brewing Company Is Going Up for Auction

Last fall, it was reported that a local brewing company had declared bankruptcy and was looking to reorganize. Now we have learned that the business is slated to go on the auction block.

According to the "Notices of Sale" section of the United States Bankruptcy Court website, Somerville Brewing company is looking to sell its property and equipment and is planning to hold an internet auction, with a hearing on this scheduled for August 11. (A check on the Ward Street space confirms this, showing an auction notice in one of the windows out front.) Back in September of 2019, the business filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, with a U.S. Bankruptcy judge subsequently giving approval for the company to use its cash collateral and pay the workers' wages, allowing both the brewery and taproom on Ward Street and American Fresh Brewhouse & Beer Garden at Assembly Row to remain open through November 4, at which point it was awarded ongoing Chapter 11 protection, which allowed both locations to keep operating as usual. American Fresh Brewhouse & Beer Garden shut down temporarily in March of this year as the COVID-19 pandemic started to take hold, and it has remained closed while the brewery had been open for curbside beer pickup until recently.

Somerville Brewing company first opened its brewery and taproom in 2014, with its brewhouse at Assembly Row opening in 2017; the company also operated a seasonal beer garden at Assembly Row and is known for its Slumbrew brand of beers.

[Earlier Article]
Somerville Brewing Company Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

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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MidiCi in Somerville's Assembly Row Is Reopening

A Somerville pizza spot that closed just as the COVID-19 pandemic was taking hold is opening back up.

According to a source, MidiCi at Assembly Row is reopening as early as today, with a page within the Assembly Row site indicating that the dining spot is indeed returning, while the website for the California-based chain also shows that it is coming back to its former space. Back in March, MidiCi closed down a few days after Governor Baker began the restaurant shutdown that only allowed for takeout/delivery, though it appeared at the time that its closure had been in the works before the coronavirus outbreak, and that some sort of remodeling and/or rebranding might be taking place. A Facebook post from MacLeod & Sons Painting Co. does seem to show that the space was indeed being worked on of late, though it is not known to what extent, nor is it known if any menu changes might be coming.

MidiCi first opened at Assembly Row in early 2018, offering Neapolitan-style pizza as well as salads, small plates, beer, wine, and cocktails.

The address for MidiCi is 463 Assembly Row, Somerville, MA,02145. The website for the chain is at https://mymidici.com/

[July 16 update: A press release indicates that MidiCi is officially reopens at Assembly Row today with a brand new outdoor patio in place, and that for today only, it is "Pay Whatever You Can" in which 100% of proceeds from dine-in or takeout goes to The Somerville Cares Fund to help those affected by COVID-19.]

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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MidiCi in Somerville's Assembly Row Has Closed for Good

[Ed note: This article was updated to reflect new information given concerning the reason for the closure of the restaurant.]

A Somerville restaurant appears to among the first--if not the first--of the Boston-area dining spots to permanently close in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak and the subsequent restaurant shutdown other than takeout/delivery services, although it now appears that its closure is not the direct result of the virus or the ruling.

According to a source, MidiCi at Assembly Row has shut down for good, with its Facebook page seeming to confirm this with a "Permanently Closed" label shown where its operating hours had been. A new note indicates that the closure had actually been in the works before the Coronavirus crisis, and that a rebranding of the space is actually being planned--and given the new restrictions, they decided to take the time to get a head start on remodeling.

MidiCi , which is part of a California-based "fast-fine" pizza chain, first opened in early 2018, offering Neapolitan-style pizza along with salads, small plates, beer, wine, and cocktails.

The address for MidiCi was 463 Assembly Row, Somerville, MA,02145. The website for the chain can be found at https://mymidici.com/

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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Barra Opens in Somerville's Union Square

A new cocktail bar that offers Mexican street food has come to a particularly hot section of Somerville.

According to an article from Eater Boston, Barra is now open in Union Square, moving into the space  on Bow Street where Juice Union had been. As mentioned in an article here earlier, the new spot--which has seating along a counter as well as by the bar--is a sort of "cousin" to the award-winning Peruvian restaurant Celeste which is two doors down, and it offers a handful of dishes influenced by the Mexico City street scene while also serving spirits from Latin America and cocktails made with fresh juices, with craft beers and natural wines also being offered.

The address for Barra is 21 Bow Street, Somerville, MA, 02143. Its Instagram page can be found at https://www.instagram.com/barra.unionsquare/

[Earlier Article]
Barra to Open in Former Juice Union Space in Somerville's Union Square

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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Barra Plans to Open in Former Juice Union Space in Somerville's Union Square

A new cocktail bar is on its way to Somerville, and it will have a connection to an award-winning restaurant within the same block.

According to an article from Eater Boston, Barra is opening in the Union Square section of the city, moving into the former Juice Union space on Bow Street. (A source told us a few weeks ago that Juice Union had indeed closed down.) The post mentions that the new bar will be kind of a "cousin" to Celeste, a Peruvian dining spot two doors down, with Paola Ibarra--who helped open Celeste last year and still tends bar there--being behind the new spot. Eater says that Barra's menu will have Mexican street food influences, while drink offerings will include spirits from Latin America and cocktails made with fresh juices, with craft beers and natural wines also being served. If all goes as planned, Barra could be opening in August or September.

 Celeste has received many accolades during its brief existence, including Esquire picking it as one of the top new restaurants in the United States for 2018, while Eater Boston awarded it "restaurant of the year."

The address for this new cocktail bar in Union square is: Barra, 21 Bow Street, Somerville, MA, 02143.

[February 20, 2020 update: An article from boston.com indicates that Barra may be opening around the end of this week.]

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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