Pavement Coffeehouse to Open at Tufts University in Medford

A local group of coffee places will soon be opening a new location at a college campus.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Pavement Coffeehouse is planning to open at Tufts University in Medford, with a Tufts Daily article stating that it will move into the former Starbucks space within the Joyce Cummings Center on College Avenue. The article mentions that the new location of Pavement hopes to open sometime in November, joining a nine others in the Greater Boston area, including other college locations at Boston University, Lesley University and Harvard University.

The website for all locations of Pavement Coffeehouse is at https://pavementcoffeehouse.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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Picante Taqueria Opening in Former Pranzi's Space in Medford

by Marc Hurwitz

It looks like a brand new Mexican restaurant is on its way to Medford, and this place--which may have a connection to a highly-rated Somerville spot--should be a popular option for college students.

According to a poster on the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Picante Taqueria is planning to open in the former Pranzi's space on Boston Avenue by the Winthrop Street intersection, just down the hill from Tufts University. The post indicates that the people behind Taco Loco on Broadway in East Somerville are also behind this eatery, with a page within the opencorporates.com site seeming to confirm this, saying that Jessica Morales and Edgardo Morales are the managers. (Jessica Morales is mentioned in an old Tufts University article about Taco Loco). A page on the wcribma.org site confirms the address for Picante Taqueria while the Facebook post states that the restaurant could be opening in the next month or so.

The address for this upcoming Mexican restaurant in Medford is: Picante Taqueria, 352 Boston Avenue, Medford, MA, 02155

[June 2 update: Eater Boston mentions (via a Facebook page for the place) that Picante Taqueria will feature house-made Mexican and Tex-Mex dishes including flautas, tortas, burritos, quesadillas, tacos, and more.]

[July 19 update: A new post from Eater Boston indicates that Picante Taqueria is now open.]

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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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Brown and Brew Coffee House at Tufts University in Medford Is Closing

A popular cafe located in an historic building at Tufts University's Medford campus is shutting down.

Eater Boston is reporting (via The Tufts Daily) that Brown and Brew Coffee House at Curtis Hall on Boston Avenue will be closing for good at the end of business hours on August 11 after 20 years in operation, with the decision apparently being made as a result of a spot called Kindlevan Cafe opening in Tufts' new Science and Engineering Complex across the street. It is not yet known what might go into the Brown and Brew space, though talks are currently taking place about the site.

Brown and Brew Coffee House is located on the ground floor of Curtis Hall, a 19th-century structure that is also home to the freeform radio station WMFO.

The address for Brown and Brew Coffee House is 474 Boston Avenue, Medford, MA, 02155.

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Ten Items from Bakeries and Pastry Shops in the Boston Area and Beyond]

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Tasty Gourmet in Medford Is Closing

It looks like a deli that is frequented by college students is closing its doors.

According to one of our readers, Tasty Gourmet in Medford is closing within the week, with a Yelp poster also saying last week that the Boston Avenue shop was on the verge of shutting down. A phone call placed to the store confirms the closure, with its last day of business possibly being this Thursday. Both the emailer and the Yelp poster say that Tasty Gourmet is being sold, though it is not yet known who is purchasing it and what might go into the space.

Tasty Gourmet, which first opened approximately 15 years ago, has been a popular spot among Tufts University students who have relatively few options for sandwiches and other quick meals in the immediate area.

The address for Tasty Gourmet is 321 Boston Avenue # B, Medford, MA, 02155.

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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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Dave's Fresh Pasta to Open Second Location by Tufts University in Medford

A popular food store in Somerville that features pasta is going to be opening a second spot, and this one should be a big hit with college students.

The Medford Transcript is reporting that Dave's Fresh Pasta in Davis Square is planning to open a new location by Tufts University in Medford, with the Boston Avenue shop actually being connected to Tufts University's new Collaborative Learning and Innovation Complex. The article says that the upcoming store will include a restaurant with a tentative capacity of 60 along with a small market, and it will also have "a significant takeout aspect," much as the original shop has (it may serve beer and wine as well). If all goes as planned, the new location of Dave's Fresh Pasta could be opening in eight to twelve months.

The original Dave's Fresh Pasta first opened on Holland Street approximately 15 years ago.

The address for this upcoming food shop and restaurant in Medford is 572 Boston Avenue, Medford, MA, 02155. The website for Dave's Fresh Pasta can be found at http://www.davesfreshpasta.com/

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Pasta Dishes from Restaurants in the Boston Area and Beyond]

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