The Chicken & Rice Guys to Open Commissary and Warehouse in Woburn, Will Include Takeout Service

A restaurant, food truck, and catering business known for their halal street cuisine will be opening a hub in the northern suburbs of Boston.

According to a press release, the Chicken & Rice Guys will be opening a commissary and warehouse in Woburn, moving into a space at West Cummings Park just south of where Washington Street and Route 128/95 intersect. The new facility will have nearly 5,000 square feet of space and is slated to open in October--and the plan is for it to offer takeout service at some point after its debut. Co-founder and Operating Manager Jaemin Lee indicates that this is a relocation of its current warehouse and commissary in Everett, saying that "After 10 years operating out of Everett, we needed a base built for where we're headed next....Woburn broadens the boundaries of where we can operate and opens up markets we haven't been able to reach from inside the city. It gives our trucks, catering team, and kitchen the room to grow into that."

The Chicken & Rice Guys first started out as a single food truck in 2012, and today has locations in Boston's Downtown Crossing, Financial District, and Seaport District as well as Everett, along with food trucks that can be found throughout the Greater Boston area. 

The address for the upcoming Chicken & Rice Guys hub in Woburn is 218 W Cummings Park, Woburn, MA, 01801. The website for the business is at https://cnrguys.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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First Watch Is Opening in the Former On the Border Space in Woburn

It looks like a Florida-based chain of breakfast and lunch spots will be expanding further into the local area, with one on its way to a space in the northern suburbs of Boston that had been home to a Tex-Mex restaurant.

According to a source, work is currently being done to the former On the Border space in Woburn, with a check online indicating that First Watch is opening in the Commerce Way space. the new location will join others in the Back Bay of Boston and in Hanover, with others coming to the local area as well (another outlet can be found in Nashua, NH).

On The Border was founded in Dallas back in 1982 and had its sole Boston-area outlet in Woburn, while First Watch was established in Pacific Grove, CA, in 1983, moving its headquarters to Bradenton, FL, three years later.

The address for the new First Watch in Woburn is 19 Commerce Way, Woburn, MA, 01801. The website for the chain is at https://firstwatch.com/

[October 8 update: According to a source, First Watch in Woburn is now open.]

(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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Petit Play Café to Open in Woburn

A new cafe with a rather unique concept is coming to the northern suburbs of Boston.

According to a press release, Petit Play Café is going to be opening in Woburn, moving into a Cummings Property space on Washington Street a short distance south of Route 128/95. The upcoming spot is going to be a French-inspired cafe that includes an indoor play zone for children and which will have staff monitoring the play space to help foster a safe environment. Petit Play Café will offer pastries, light bites, and child-friendly snacks and drinks, and drop-in play sessions, flexible memberships, play passes, and private event bookings will all be offered (fees/prices for all are given on the cafe's website).

Petit Play Café is slated to have its grand opening on March 28.

The address for Petit Play Café is 299-N Washington Street, Woburn, MA, 01801. Its website can be found at https://petitplaycafe.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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Pressed Cafe Opens in Woburn

A local group of dining spots that focus on healthy, freshly-made options has expanded to another space in the Boston suburbs.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Pressed Cafe is now open in Woburn, moving into a space on Washington Street just south of the Route 128 intersection. The new location offer such options as soups, panini, bowls, fresh-pressed juices, coffee, and more, and it joins others in Boston's Back Bay and Seaport District, Burlington, Chelmsford, Lawrence, and Newton, along with four in New Hampshire (another new one is in the works for Beverly as well).

The address for the new location of Pressed Cafe in Woburn is 369 Washington Street, Woburn, MA, 01801. The website for all locations is at https://www.pressedcafe.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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Mad Matt's Pizza and Roast Beef to Open in the Former Flip the Bird Space in North Woburn

Last month, it was reported that a local group of dining spots in the northern suburbs of Boston that focus on fried chicken sandwiches had closed one of its locations, and now we have learned what will be going into the space.

According to a source (Beckie Hunter), Mad Matt's Pizza and Roast Beef is planning to open in North Woburn, moving into the former Flip the Bird Space on Main Street. A Daily Times Chronicle article indicates that Nicholas Houvardas of Nick's Place in Lexington and Burlington is involved (and presumably Matthew Houvardas as well), with the upcoming spot apparently not having any renovations being done to the space.

Other locations of Flip the Bird remain open in Beverly, Danvers, and Swampscott, along with an upcoming outlet in North Andover.

The address for the upcoming Mad Matt's Pizza and Roast Beef in North Woburn is 880 Main Street (Route 38), Woburn, MA, 01801.

[Earlier Article]
Flip the Bird in North Woburn 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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Flip the Bird in North Woburn Has Closed

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

According to several sources, including posters within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Flip The Bird in North Woburn is no longer in business, with an Instagram post from the business saying the following:

Running a small but growing business comes with extreme highs and lows. Unfortunately this is a low. We have come to the decision to close the Woburn location of Flip the Bird. If any of our fans are entrepreneurs like us you know this decision did not come lightly. We have done all we can think of to get this location to where it needed to be. Unfortunately not everything always works out. We had a meeting with our staff over 2 weeks ago and told them we were closing the doors August 30th. We wanted to give them the courtesy of finding a new job while still having one with us. All our team members have also been offered jobs at other locations of Flip The Bird and some of them are already in the process of transferring to Beverly and Danvers! Our last week in business was supposed to be a way to give back to our regulars and thank them for the their support. Unfortunately circumstances beyond our control did not allow for us to do that. Thank you to the Woburn community for your support over the last few years!

Flip the Bird first opened in the former WuBurger space on Main Street in September of 2023; currently, locations can be found in Beverly, Danvers, and Swampscott, along with an upcoming outlet in North Andover.

The address for the now-closed location of Flip The Bird in North Woburn was 880 Main Street (Route 38), Woburn, MA, 01801. The website for all locations can be found at https://flipthebirdfriedchicken.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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Kaapi & Co. Is Opening in Woburn

A new Indian coffee shop is on its way to the northern suburbs of Boston.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Kaapi & Co. is planning to open in Woburn, taking over a space at West Cummings Park just off Route 128. The social media pages for the business mention that it will be "Boston's home for local Indian coffee" and "the first Indian cafe in Boston," though few other details have been given as of yet.

The address for Kaapi & Co. is 204 W Cummings Park, Woburn, MA, 01801. Its Instagram page can be found at https://www.instagram.com/kaapicowoburn/ while its Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572908152920

[September 16 update: A poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page mentions that Kaapi & Co. is now open in Woburn.]

(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 Smoke Shop BBQ Is Opening in Woburn

A new location of a local group of barbecue restaurants that has been in the works for at least a year and a half is just about ready to open.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, The Smoke Shop BBQ is planning to soft-open its new location in Woburn March 17-20, with the website for the business confirming these dates while also mentioning that the dates are subject to change. Once it does open, the new outlet will join others in Boston's Fort Point, East Boston, Somerville's Assembly Row, and Harvard Square in Cambridge, and Methuen.

Chef/restaurateur Andy Husbands is behind the group of Smoke Shop restaurants.

The address for the new location of The Smoke Shop BBQ in Woburn (which had once been home to a location of Applebee's) is 2 Elm Street, Woburn, MA, 01801. The website for all locations is at https://thesmokeshopbbq.com/

[March 21 update: According to its website, The Smoke Shop BBQ officially opens in Woburn today.]

[Earlier Article]
The Smoke Shop BBQ May Be Opening in the Former Applebee's Space in Woburn

(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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On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina in Woburn Has Closed

The sole Boston-area location of a chain of Tex-Mex restaurants has shut down.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina in Woburn is no longer in business, with a post from The Connecticut Scoop indicating that it shut down in February along with a location in West Springfield. An article from thestreet.com also mentions that parent company OTB Holding LLC has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, saying that "40 non-performing stores" were "closed or vacated" on February 24.

On The Border was founded in Dallas back in 1982

The address for the now-closed On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina in Woburn was 19 Commerce Way, Woburn, MA, 01801.

(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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Everbowl Opens in Woburn

A chain of dining spots featuring acai bowls and juices has opened its first New England location, and it is located a few miles north of Boston.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Everbowl is now open in Woburn, moving into a space in the Woburn Village development just north of Route 128. The chain, which was established in Southern California in 2016, currently has few others anywhere near the local area other than Woburn, with its next closest being in Garwood, NJ.

The address for the new location of Everbowl in Woburn is 300 Mishawum Road (Suite 510), Woburn, MA, 01801. The website for the chain can be found at https://www.everbowl.com/

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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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Anna's Taqueria Is Opening in Woburn

A local group of Mexican eateries is opening a new location in the northern suburbs of Boston.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Anna's Taqueria is going to be opening in Woburn, with the post indicating that it will be taking over the former b.good location at Cummings Park along Washington Street just south of the Route 128 intersection. An Instagram post from the business confirms that it will indeed be coming to the city, and based on other locations, expect to see such items as burritos, tacos, quesadillas, Mexican bowls, and salads at the new spot.

Once it opens, the new location of Anna's will join others in Boston (three), Cambridge, Somerville, Brookline, and Newton.

The address for Anna's Taqueria in Woburn 4 Cummings Park Drive, Woburn, MA, 01801. The website for all locations is at https://annas.com/

[October 8 update: According to its website, Anna's Taqueria is now open in Woburn.]

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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 Smoke Shop BBQ to Close Locations in Kendall Square and North Station; Will Open New Outlets in Woburn, Methuen

Changes are coming to a local group of barbecue restaurants, including the closing of two locations and the opening of two others.

According to the Tables section of The Boston Globe, The Smoke Shop BBQ is shutting down outlets in Cambridge's Kendall Square on July 28 and at Hub Hall by North Station in Boston on July 29, while new locations will be coming to Woburn (as first mentioned in an earlier article here) and Methuen in the fall. Locations in Boston's Fort Point, East Boston, Somerville's Assembly Row, and Harvard Square in Cambridge will remain in operation.

The website for all locations of The Smoke Shop BBQ--which chef/restaurateur Andy Husbands first established in 2016 with the opening of its Kendall Square restaurant--can be found at https://thesmokeshopbbq.com/

[Earlier Article]
The Smoke Shop BBQ May Be Opening in the Former Applebee's Space in Woburn

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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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Tandoor & Curry Opens a Brick and Mortar Restaurant in Woburn

The people behind a pair of food trucks that feature Indian food have opened a permanent restaurant in the northern suburbs of Boston.

According to Kiat Cormier who posted within the ChewOnThis Facebook group page, Tandoor & Curry now has a brick-and-mortar dining spot in Woburn, moving into a space on Main Street in North Woburn, a short distance north of Route 128. The Facebook page for the business mentions that for now, the eatery is takeout-only, though they may add tables at some point in the future, and that the food trucks will continues to be in operation in and around Boston.

The address for the brick-and-mortar location of Tandoor & Curry in Woburn is 902 Main Street (Route 38), Woburn, MA, 01801. Its website can be found at https://tandoorcurry.com/

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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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Bickford's in Woburn Has Apparently Closed for Good

It looks like a restaurant chain that used to have a number of locations in Massachusetts is now down to just one remaining in the state (and in total).

Based on the website for the business, Bickford's appears to have closed its outlet in Woburn, as the link to the Woburn location has been removed from the locations section of the site. This means that the only location of the chain remaining is in Burlington, as a third one in Acton has closed in 2020.

Bickford's first started out in New York approximately 100 years ago.

The address for the Woburn location of Bickford's was 325 Montvale Avenue, Woburn, MA, 01801. The website for the one remaining location in Burlington is at https://www.bickfords.com/

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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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All Locations of Grainmaker Have Apparently Closed

A trio of dining spots featuring Southeast Asian street food appear to have shut down permanently.

According to a source, locations of Grainmaker in Boston's Downtown Crossing, Somerville's Davis Square, and Woburn Village are no longer in business, with a check on their website and social media pages indicating that they have all been taken down. The three restaurants were known in part for their focus on gluten-free and dairy-free items, offering such options as poke bowls, dumplings, grain bowls, street tacos, smoothies, and more.

The first location of Grainmaker debuted in Downtown Crossing in 2017, with the Somerville outlet opening in 2019 and the Woburn location opening in 2022.

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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.)

  

Sally's Apizza Opens in Woburn December 14

A legendary Connecticut pizzeria is slated to arrive in the Greater Boston area next week.

According to an article in The Boston Globe, Sally's Apizza is opening in Woburn on Thursday, December 14, moving into a space within the Woburn Village mixed-use development. Plans for the new location of Sally's were first announced back in the summer of 2021, and it was learned this summer that another outlet is being planned for Boston's Seaport District as well.

Sally's Apizza, which first opened in 1938 and has been under new ownership for a few years, is one of several New Haven spots--including Pepe's and Modern--that have gained national recognition for their pizza, with Sally's and Pepe's using coal-fired brick ovens for their pizzas which help give a char to the crust. (Other Connecticut locations of Sally's are in Fairfield and Stamford, and outlets in Newington, Norwalk, and Wethersfield are in the works as well.)

The website for Sally's Apizza is at https://sallysapizza.com/

[Earlier Articles]
Sally's Apizza Is Planning to Expand to the Greater Boston Area
Sally's Apizza to Open in Boston's Seaport District

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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.)

The Smoke Shop BBQ May Be Opening in the Former Applebee's Space in Woburn

It looks like a local group of barbecue restaurants is further expanding into the Greater Boston area, as a new one is being proposed for the northern suburbs.

According to a source, The Smoke Shop BBQ is looking to open in Woburn, moving into the space on Elm Street that had been home to a location of Applebee's until closing this spring. A meeting agenda page within the city's website confirms this, saying "Woburn BBQ Co. LLC, dba The Smoke Shop BBQ, 2 Elm St., application for a new all alcohol restaurant license at 2 Elm St." If approved, the new outlet of The Smoke Shop BBQ would join others in Boston's Fort Point, East Boston, Somerville's Assembly Row, Harvard Square and Kendall Square in Cambridge, and a food stand at Hub Hall by Boston's North Station.

The address for the proposed location of The Smoke Shop BBQ in Woburn is 2 Elm Street, Woburn, MA, 01801. The website for all locations can be found at https://thesmokeshopbbq.com/

[Earlier Article]
Applebee's in Woburn Has Closed

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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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Gong Cha Opens in Somerville's Davis Square, Woburn Center

A Taiwan-based chain of bubble tea shops has opened two more outlets in the Greater Boston area.

According to a source, Gong Cha is now open in the Davis Square section of Somerville, while a Facebook post from the business mentions that another location is now open in Woburn Center as well. The two new outlets of Gong Cha join a number of others in and around Boston, and offer such options as bubble tea, slush, and other tea beverages.

The address for the Somerville location of Gong Cha is 414 Highland Avenue while the address for the Woburn location is 486 Main Street. The website for the chain can be found at https://www.gongchausa.com/

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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Applebee's in Woburn Has Closed

A casual dining chain continues to disappear from the local landscape as it has closed yet another Boston-area location and now only has three outlets left inside/along Route 128.

According to a source, Applebee's in Woburn is no longer in operation, with a Daily Time Chronicle article indicating that the Elm Street restaurant shut down around the end of April. This is one of a number of locations of the chain to have closed over the years, including ones in Boston's Back Bay, Braintree, Brighton, Danvers, Dedham, Malden, and Newton; currently, the only ones remaining in the immediate Boston area are in South Bay, Quincy, and Saugus.

The address for the now-closed Applebee's in Woburn was 2 Elm Street, Woburn, MA, 01801. The website for the chain can be found at https://www.applebees.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!

Flip The Bird Is Opening in North Woburn

A local group of dining spots in the northern suburbs of Boston that focus on fried chicken sandwiches is looking to open a new location north of the city, and this one will take over the space that had been home to a restaurant known for its hamburgers.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Flip The Bird is planning to open in North Woburn, moving into the former WuBurger space on Main Street. Once it opens, the new outlet will join others in Beverly (two), Danvers, and Swampscott, and it will presumably offer such items as chicken sandwiches, ribs, biscuits, frappes, and more.

In addition to its North Woburn location, WuBurger also had an outlet in Cambridge's Inman Square; both are now closed, though it appears that the business continues on as a ghost kitchen in Braintree.

The address for the new location of Flip The Bird in North Woburn is 880 Main Street (Route 38), Woburn, MA, 01801. The website for all locations can be found at https://flipthebirdfriedchicken.com/

[September 26 update: A poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page states that Flip the Bird is now open in Woburn.]

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!