Stats Bar & Grille in South Boston Is Closing, Hopes to Return at Some Point

A neighborhood bar in South Boston is going to be closing--for now--after being in business for more than 15 years.

According to an article from Caught in Southie, Stats Bar & Grille on Dorchester Street is getting ready to shut down, with an Instagram post from the place saying the following:

As we turned the page to March this weekend, we wanted to officially share the news that at the end of this month, we will be closing our doors here at Stats. With the help of everyone that has danced on a chair, dropped a shot glass, or stumbled up the stairs, we've run this building into the ground over the past 16 years. The time has finally come to start over. Stats as you know it will be knocked down this spring to make way for a bigger and better version coming sometime in the future (week 1 of the 2027 NFL season perhaps?!).....We'll be back. We promise. 27 days left.

Stats first opened in 2010, initially joining J. A. Stats Restaurant and Bar, a dining and drinking spot on Broad Street in downtown Boston that closed down in 2012.

The address for Stats Bar & Grille is 77 Dorchester Street, South Boston, MA, 02127. Its website can be found at https://www.statsboston.com/

[March 30 update: According to social media posts from the place, Stats Bar & Grille is now closed, though they reiterate that "we will see you again soon."]

(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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Mother's East Tavern Is Opening in South Boston

It looks like a new dining and drinking spot is on its way to South Boston.

According to a licensing board hearing page within the City of Boston website, Mother's East Tavern is planning to open in Southie, moving into a space on Dorchester Street in the old Telegraph Hill space. The notice mentions that the place looks to have a single dining room with two banquettes and a bar that has 15 stools, and the manager listed is Alec Barber, who had been a bar manager and bartender at several restaurants and bars in California and the New Orleans area, according to his LinkedIn page. (Laura Fryer is also behind the spot.)

The address for Mother's East Tavern is 289 Dorchester Street, South Boston, MA, 02127. Its Instagram page can be found at https://www.instagram.com/motherseasttavern/

[May 6, 2026 update: Caught in Southie mentions that Mother's East Tavern is now open, with the place featuring classic tavern fare with Irish and British influences, including such items as scotch eggs, pub cheese, shepherd's pie, and burgers. (The space also has a snug.)]

(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 Essex Restaurant and Rooftop Bar in South Boston Has Closed for the Foreseeable Future

A dining and drinking spot within a South Boston hotel has shut down operations, and its future appears to be in question.

According to an article from MassLive (via an Instagram post from the business), The Essex Restaurant and Rooftop Bar at the Cambria Hotel by the intersection of W Broadway and Dorchester Avenue has closed, with the Instagram post saying the following:

Thank you for a great summer at The Essex Rooftop! Unfortunately, we have been unable to obtain an entertainment license from the City due to ongoing opposition from the neighbors. Therefore we have decided to close all operations at The Cambria Hotel for the foreseeable future. We truly appreciate those who supported us.

The Essex debuted this spring, taking over the space where Six / West had previously been, and like that spot, The Essex included a 14th-floor rooftop bar with views of the city.

(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 Essex (Restaurant and Rooftop Bar) Opens at the Cambria Hotel in South Boston

A new dining and drinking spot has come to a hotel in South Boston, and it includes a roofdeck.

According to its website along with an Instagram post from Caught in Southie, The Essex is now open at the Cambria Hotel, which is located by the intersection of W Broadway and Dorchester Avenue. The new place takes over the space where Six / West had previously been, and like that spot, The Essex has a 14th-floor rooftop bar with views of the city--and the bar opened late last week while the restaurant debuted earlier this spring.

The website for The Essex can be found at https://essexboston.com/

(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 Connection in South Boston Is Going Up for Sale

It looks like another dive bar could be going away.

According to an article from Caught in Southie, The Connection in the Andrew Square section of South Boston is going to be put up for sale, with an Instagram post from Joyce Lebedew Real Estate saying that the listing for the Dorchester Avenue will include "the real estate offering excellent development opportunity, the business which includes a full kitchen and a 2 AM fully transferable liquor license!" 

A number of dive bars in South Boston have shut down over recent times, including Aces High, the Cornerstone Pub, the Quencher Tavern, Williams Tavern, and Kiley's.

The address for The Connection is 560 Dorchester Avenue, South Boston, MA, 02127.

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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Layla's American Tavern Is Replacing Shenannigans in South Boston

It looks like the space where a South Boston bar currently resides could become home to a new dining and drinking spot.

According to a licensing hearing page within the City of Boston website, Shenannigans seeking to transfer its liquor license to a new spot tentatively called The Quays, with the manager listing being Seth Delury. Based on Delury being involved and a Google search of parent company Magnificent Seven Inc. showing Julian Bolger being behind the new place, it appears that The Quays could have at least an indirect connection to such spots as The Bowery and Lucy's in Dorchester as well as Cityside in Brighton.\

The address for Shenannigans (and the proposed new spot) is 332 W Broadway, South Boston, MA, 02127.

[May 24 update: Caught in Southie mentions that Shenannigans is now closed.]

[July 17 update: A new licensing hearing page indicates that the place moving into the former Shenannigans space is going to be called Layla's American Tavern rather than The Quays, as the people behind it are seeking a DBA change.]

[August 15 update: Caught in Southie states that Layla's American Tavern is now open, and Maverick Restaurant Group (Bowery Bar, Lucy's American Tavern) is indeed behind it. The new dining and drinking spot offers modern takes on comfort food along with local beers and craft cocktails, with its menu including such options as fried pickles, nachos, burgers, wings, lobster rolls, fish and chips, Southern fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, steak tips, and more. (Its website is at https://www.laylasamericantavern.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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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!

Coppersmith in South Boston to Close January 16

Back in 2019, it was looking like a South Boston restaurant, bar, and events space was facing an uncertain future due to new development. Now we have learned that the end is drawing near for the place.

According to a press release, Coppersmith on 3rd Street is shutting down on Sunday, January 16 after six years in business, with a statement from General Manager Sheila Senat saying the following:

We've been fortunate to remain open for much of these past two years, which was unexpected and a blessing....It gave us the opportunity to spend a couple more trips around the sun with our amazing guests, who have become like family, and for our beloved team to retain employment during an incredibly difficult time in the hospitality industry. It is bittersweet to finally say goodbye, but the happy memories of Coppersmith will live on for so many.

In January of 2019, it was announced that Coppersmith could see its warehouse building demolished to make way for a life sciences building, and while it looked like the dining spot might have to shut down in early 2020, that was extended to late 2020, and then it was able to remain open in 2021 due to delays in the transition.

The address for Coppersmith is 40 West 3rd street, South Boston, MA, 02127. Its website is at https://www.coppersmithboston.com/

[Earlier Articles]
Coppersmith in South Boston May Lose Its Home; Biotech Building Could Replace It
Coppersmith in South Boston Is Closing in Late 2020; Life Sciences Complex to Move into Space

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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Telegraph Hill Kitchen and Bar in South Boston Is Returning

It looks like a South Boston dining and drinking spot that shut down during the pandemic is reopening under new ownership.

According to a licensing hearing board page within the City of Boston website, a license transfer appears to be in the works for Telegraph Hill Kitchen and Bar on Dorchester Street near Andrew Square, with the new manager being Stephen Whalen; this could indicate that the new incarnation of the place could have at least an indirect connection to investment group Greater Boston Bar Co., which is behind such spots as the Beacon Hill Pub and The Tam.

Telegraph Hill Kitchen and Bar, which first opened in 2010, closed its doors during the early months of the coronavirus outbreak last year, with the space appearing to be boarded up around late June or early July.

The address for the Telegraph Hill space is 289 Dorchester Street, Boston, MA, 02127. Their website can be found at: http://www.telegraphhillboston.com/

[May 25, 2022 update: According to a press release, Telegraph Hill opens back up on May 26 under new ownership, with executive chef Jaime Suarez (Common Ground; Grafton Street; Fireplace), heading up the kitchen.]

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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Castle Island Brewing Co. Is Opening in South Boston, Will Be Serving Bar Pizza

About a year and a half ago, it was reported that a brewery in Norwood was going to be expanding to South Boston, and now we have learned that it is only a few months away from opening--and it will apparently be serving a very popular regional food item.

According to a Facebook post from Castle Island founder/president Adam Romanow along with a Boston Business Journal article, Castle Island Brewing Co. is planning to open its new facility on Old Colony Avenue in the Andrew Square section of Southie in July, and they will be partnering with Lombardo's, a function/events venue in Randolph that will be running Castle Island's kitchen. In his post, Romanow also drops some interesting news, saying that this will allow them to "bring some much needed South Shore-style bar pie to Southie."

The new facility, which will be located at the site of the old Cole Hersee factory, will include a indoor dining area with 240 seats, an outdoor patio with additional 50 seats, a tasting area with 20 beers on tap, a stage, and a small retail shop along with a brewery area in the back.

Castle Island Brewing Co. opened in Norwood in late 2015 after a search for a space that originally included the Andrew Square area; the name of the business comes from the Castle Island section of South Boston.

The website for Castle Island Brewing Co. is at https://castleislandbeer.com/

[May 25 update: According to a post within the jobs section of bostonchefs.com, the dining spot within Castle Island's new location in South Boston will be called Bardo's.]

[September 20 update: A Facebook post from the place indicates that Castle Island Brewing Co. opens in South Boston on Thursday, September 23.]

[Earlier Article]
Castle Island Brewing Co. Plans to Open Brewery and Pub in South Boston

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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Castle Island Brewing Co. Plans to Open Brewery and Pub in South Boston

A local brewery that gets its name from an historic part of South Boston may expand to a part of Southie that it had originally been considering.

A tweet from @mjvulch says (via a Facebook post from the West Broadway Neighborhood Association) that Castle Island Brewing Co. is planning to open a brewery and pub on Old Colony Avenue in the Andrew Square area, apparently coming to the site of the old Cole Hersee factory which is where Tatte is also planning to open a production facility, test kitchen, and cafe. An events page for a recent Andrew Square Civic Association meeting confirms this, showing that the agenda included an item titled "Castle Island Brewing Company/South Boston Expansion." It is not yet known if this would be an actual expansion to a second location for the brewery or a move from its current facility in Norwood, so stay tuned for updates.

Castle Island Brewing Co. opened in Norwood in late 2015 after a search for a space that included the Andrew Square area; the name of the business comes from the Castle Island section of Southie, which is a popular recreation area--and home to Fort Independence, which has been the site of various military fortifications since the 1600s.

The website for Castle Island Brewing Co. can be found at https://castleislandbeer.com/

[April 6, 2021 update: According to a Facebook post from Castle Island founder/president Adam Romanow and a Boston Business Journal article, Castle Island Brewing Co. plans to open its South Boston facility in July, and they will be partnering with Lombardo's in Randolph which will be running its kitchen--and Romanow says that this will allow them to "bring some much needed South Shore-style bar pie to Southie."]

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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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.)

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The Punk & Poet in South Boston Is Going to Become The Playwright Once Again

by Marc Hurwitz

A restaurant and bar that is inspired by punk rockers and writers is bringing its old name back--and it appears that the concept will be changing as well.

A few posts on its Facebook page indicate that The Punk & Poet in South Boston is looking to change its name back to The Playwright, with confirmation of this coming from @maureencaught this morning. It appears that other changes will be coming to the E Broadway spot as well, though it is not yet known whether its concept will be similar to that of the original Playwright, which shut down last summer to make way for the new place. (We have reached out to the spot, so if/when we get any updates, we will post them here.)

The original Playwright, which first opened in 2000, was known in part for its pub grub and comfort food along with draft beer, wine, and cocktails, while The Punk & Poet also offered classic American fare and pub food as well as a full bar, while also being (according to its website) "an energetic celebration of wordsmiths" that pays "tribute to words well said by the outspoken artists of our time."

The address for The Punk & Poet (and upcoming Playwright) is 658 E Broadway, South Boston, MA, 02127. The website for The Punk & Poet can be found at http://thepunkandpoet.com/

[August 19 update: An update from Caught in Southie indicates that The Punk & Poet closes tomorrow (Monday, August 20) and that The Playwright could open on Monday, August 27.]

[August 24 update: A new update within the Caught in Southie post indicates that The Playwright opens at 4:00 PM today.]

[Earlier Article]
The Playwright in South Boston Is Being Replaced by The Punk & Poet

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Thirst in South Boston Has Closed

by Marc Hurwitz

It looks like a little-known bar in South Boston has very quietly closed its doors.

According to a message from @chipsy231, Thirst on E 2nd Street is shuttered, with a call to the place this morning indicating that its phone is no longer in service, a check on its Facebook page showing that the page is gone, and the Yelp page for the place saying that it has indeed closed. More confirmation of Thirst's closure appears to come from a post from Caught In Southie as well, which mentions that the bar may be selling its liquor license to the upcoming Backyard Betty's on W Broadway.

As soon as we hear more about the closing of Thirst, we will post an update here.

The address for Thirst was 645 E 2nd Street, South Boston, MA, 02127.

[February 14 update: An email sent to us indicates that Thirst shut down for good in late January and that its license has indeed been transferred to Backyard Betty's.]

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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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Croke Park/Whitey's in South Boston to Start Serving Food

by Marc Hurwitz

A classic Boston dive that was once picked as one of the best bars in America will soon be offering food to go with its cheap beer and liquor.

Universal Hub is reporting that Croke Park in South Boston (which is also known as Whitey's) will have to start serving food because it has a food-serving license but it currently does not have a kitchen or a food-prep area. The article says that the owner of the bar has told the Boston Licensing Board that he will have a kitchen installed and "simple sandwiches" will be offered, including BLTs. In the past, Croke Park has been only offering such items as potato chips and pickles, while customers have been allowed to bring in food from a couple of pizza spots nearby as well as a location of Burger King, which is next door.

An earlier article here mentioned that in 2016, Esquire Magazine included Croke Park/Whitey's in its list of best bars in the United States, with the magazine's drinks editor David Wondrich saying that "I do my best to exercise good—okay, goodish—judgment when I'm touring barrooms, but every once in a while, a gear slips a tooth and dosages get miscalculated. Whitey's is a slipped tooth."

The address for Croke Park/Whitey's is 268 W Broadway, South Boston, MA, 02127. Its website can be found at http://crokeparkwhiteys.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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Update: The Playwright in South Boston Is Being Replaced by The Punk & Poet

[Ed note: This article was updated to reflect a name change.]

A neighborhood bar in South Boston is shutting down, and it will be replaced by a new spot.

According to a Twitter post from @chipsy231, The Playwright on E Broadway is closing on Sunday, August 6, with a sign out front saying "All of us would like to thank you all for your patronage over the past 17 years!" It is not known for sure what will be going into the space, though @chipsy231 says that a place with a new name may be opening there in a couple of weeks.

The Playwright, which first opened in 2000, has offered pub grub and comfort food over the years along with draft beer and cocktails; its menu includes such items as French onion soup, wings, burgers, steak tips, baked cod, tacos, cheesesteak, Cubanos, and more.

The address for The Playwright is 658 E Broadway, South Boston, MA, 02127.

[August 7 update: Caught in Southie states that the new spot replacing The Playwright will tentatively be called "Boomtown," and that it hopes to be opening in early September. (Little other information on the new place has been given at this point in time.)]

[August 30 update: It looks like the new restaurant moving into the Playwright space may end up being called "The Punk & Poet," based on a new Instagram page.]

[September 13 update: Universal Hub confirms that the Playwright will indeed be replaced by The Punk & Poet, and that it will remain under the same ownership with no changes other than "cosmetic fixes."]

[September 13 update #2: According to a tweet (as well as a post from Caught in Southie), The Punk & Poet is now open.]

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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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The Broadway to Open in Former Boston Beer Garden Space in South Boston

A new spot is replacing a restaurant and bar in South Boston that had been around for more than 20 years--and it appears to have at least an indirect connection to a local group of dining and drinking places.

A licensing board hearing page within the City of Boston website indicates that a spot tentatively called "The Broadway" is looking to open in the space where the Boston Beer Garden had been until closing in Feburary, with the manager listed being Guiseppe Acari. This appears to be the same Guiseppe Acari who is a stakeholder in the Tavern in the Square restaurants along with Tavitas at South Station, though it is not known what other connections (if any) there might be between this new place and those spots.

No other information has been given on The Broadway other than a description of the space, so stay tuned for updates.

The address for this upcoming restaurant and bar in South Boston is 734 E Broadway, South Boston, MA, 02127.

[August 8 update: Caught in Southie mentions that The Broadway plans to open sometime in October, with an Instagram page indicating that it indeed has a connection to Tavern in the Square.]

[September 17 update: A Craigslist job post says that The Broadway will feature "craft beer, scratch cooking, inspired service, live music," and more.]

[November 14 update: An update from Caught in Southie indicates that The Broadway opens its doors tomorrow (Wednesday, November 15).]

[Earlier Article]
Boston Beer Garden in South Boston Is Closing

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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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D's Keys Dueling Pianos Is Opening at Element Boston Seaport in South Boston

It looks like a piano bar is on its way to a hotel in South Boston.

According to a post in the Fort Point Boston blog, a meeting with the Fort Point Neighborhood Association is coming up on Tuesday, May 23 that will look into plans for a proposed spot tentatively called D Street Dueling Pianos, which would be opening at the Element Boston Seaport (across from the Lawn on D and the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center). No other information about the place has been given, other than the fact that it is seeking liquor and entertainment licenses.

Currently, the only other dueling piano bar in Boston is Howl at the Moon in the Financial District; another piano spot called Jake Ivory's closed its doors in the Fenway area about eight years ago.

The Element Boston Seaport is located at 391-395 D Street in Southie.

Thanks to a source for initially bringing this to our attention.

[June 7 update: A tipster tells us that D Street Dueling Pianos is looking to get its liquor license from the now-closed Ames Plow in Boston's Faneuil Hall, with the hearing taking place on June 14; we also hear that the bar would include an outdoor patio during the warmer months, though little other information on the place itself has been given.]

[June 13 update: Universal Hub confirms that this place is planning to open at the Element Boston Seaport, and states that the name of the place will be D's Keys Dueling Pianos and that it will be headed up by dueling pianist Matt Nichols, who has been at Howl at the Moon in Boston along with in Providence and other locations around the United States.]

[July 17 update: An email sent over the weekend gives more information on the place, whose official name is "D's Keys Dueling Pianos and Singalong Bar." The spot will be on the first floor of the Element Boston Seaport and will be more of a traditional dueling pianos and singalong bar in the vein of the old Jake Ivories, with the setup including a stage, a bar in the back with beer, wine, and liquor, and a "minimal" food menu. The people behind D's Keys Dueling Pianos--which could open in the late fall or early winter--are owners/partners Robert Morse, Ron Shelton, and Matt Nichols. who have run Point Street Dueling Pianos in Providence together for the past five years.]

[August 7, 2018 update: A message from D's Keys Dueling Pianos indicates that they soft-open tomorrow night (Wednesday, August 8) and that all are welcome for the soft opening. (The note also mentions that they will be open through Sunday this week.)]

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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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Boston Beer Garden in South Boston Is Closing

A restaurant and sports bar in South Boston that has been around for more than 20 years is shutting down.

Eater Boston is reporting (via a Facebook post from the place and a tweet from @chipsy231) that the Boston Beer Garden on E Broadway is closing for good at the end of business hours on Sunday, February 19, with ticketed charity events taking place there on the Friday and Saturday before it shutters. It is not yet known why the dining and drinking spot is closing, nor is it known what might happen to the space; as soon as we find out more, we will post an update here.

The Boston Beer Garden, which first opened in 1995, is known for its pub grub and variety of beers, wines, and cocktails. Another Boston Beer Garden can be found in Naples, FL.

The address for this soon-to-close spot in Southie is: Boston Beer Garden, 732 E Broadway, South Boston, MA, 02127. Its website is at http://www.bostonbeergarden.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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Williams Tavern in South Boston Has Closed; Will Be Torn Down to Make Way for Condos

A decades-old bar in South Boston has closed in order to make way for a new condo development.

According to a note from My Diner (which is located next door and is closing this weekend), Williams Tavern has shut down, as the building that has housed both businesses is slated to be torn down this summer and replaced by a residential building. The future of the A Street bar and its neighbor had been in question since last year when it was announced that a developer was purchasing the site.

Williams Tavern first started out in the 1940s, according to a source.

The address for the now-closed Williams Tavern was 92 A Street, Boston, MA, 02127.

[June 17 update: A licensing board hearing notice that was sent by a source indicates that the now-closed Williams Tavern is petitioning to transfer its liquor license to the new development, but it is not known how that license may be used at this point in time. (As mentioned in an earlier article, the proposed retail space for the upcoming residential building is listed as only 536 square feet.)]

[March 3, 2017 update: According to a source, the building in which Williams Tavern and My Diner (which has since reopened in Melrose) resided is in the process of being torn down this week.]

[Earlier Articles]
My Diner in South Boston Closes This Weekend; Will Be Replaced by Condo Development
Williams Tavern and My Diner in South Boston Face Uncertain Future Due to Development

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Esquire's 2016 Best Bars in America List Includes Croke Park/Whitey's in South Boston

A popular men's magazine has come out with its annual picks for best bars in America, and one of the few remaining dive bars in South Boston has made the list.

According to an article in Boston Magazine, Esquire Magazine has included Croke Park/Whitey's on W Broadway in its list of best bars, with the magazine's drinks editor David Wondrich saying that "I do my best to exercise good—okay, goodish—judgment when I'm touring barrooms, but every once in a while, a gear slips a tooth and dosages get miscalculated. Whitey's is a slipped tooth," and stating that he has "dim memories of having an excellent time" there. This year's Boston pick is quite a bit different from the two picks from last year's Esquire list, which included the eclectic watering hole State Park in Cambridge's Kendall Square and the iconic Irish pub J.J. Foley's in Boston's South End.

To see Esquire's complete list of best bars in America for 2016, please go to the following link:

http://www.esquire.com/food-drink/bars/a44780/best-bars-in-america/

[Related Article]
Esquire's 2015 Best Bars in America List Includes State Park in Cambridge, J.J. Foley's in Boston's South End

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Williams Tavern and My Diner in South Boston Face Uncertain Future Due to Development

It looks like the future of both a decades-old bar and a popular diner in South Boston could be in jeopardy.

According to a Facebook update from The Saint Vincent's Lower End Neighborhood Association (SVLENA), the building at A Street and West 2nd Street that houses Williams Tavern and My Diner has been purchased by a developer, who is proposing a new building at that site. A Twitter post from @planetsouthie shows a blueprint of the plans, with the post saying "Bye bye Williams Tavern. 7 story building is being proposed right now." It is not known at this point in time what this means for the two places, but a Facebook thread on the Southie Community Bulletin Board group page has some people saying that both will be closing. As soon as we confirm exactly what will become of Williams Tavern and My Diner, we will post an update here.

[October 27 update: The Fort Point Boston blog shows that a neighborhood meeting is taking place this evening, with one of the items on the agenda being a look at development plans for the space where Williams Tavern and My Diner currently reside.]

[January 6, 2016 update: According to a Boston Herald article, a proposal for a new six-story condo development at the Williams Tavern/My Diner site has been submitted to the Boston Redevelopment Authority, with a Dropbox file included in a Caught in Southie post showing that the plan would be to demolish the structure where the bar and diner currently reside and replace it with the new residential building. (The proposal notes that there would be one commercial/retail space available, with the hopes being to fill it with a coffee shop/snack bar.)]

[February 12, 2016 update: A Twitter post from the Boston Redevelopment Authority indicates that it has approved of plans for the condo development at the Williams Tavern/My Diner site.]

[April 10, 2016 update: Universal Hub states that the Zoning Board of Appeals has approved of plans to build a condo development in the space where Williams Tavern and My Diner currently reside, and while this appears to be the end of the line for the bar, the developer will apparently offer space on the first floor to the diner, though the eatery may be looking to move to another space nearby.]

Williams Tavern first started out in the 1940s, while My Diner has been in business for approximately a decade.

The address for Williams Tavern is 92 A Street, while the address for My Diner is 98 A Street.

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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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