Pound House Is Opening in Somerville's Ball Square

A new coffee shop is on its way to a Somerville neighborhood.

Based on information from a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants along with the website for the business, Pound House is planning to open in Ball Square, moving into a space on Broadway. A sign out front says that it will be a Vietnamese coffee shop while its website mentions that it will be serving banh mi, a Vietnamese sandwich made with meat, veggies, herbs, sauce, all in a baguette.

No opening date has been given for Pound House as of yet (the website and sign out front both say "coming soon").

The address for Pound House in Ball Square is 703 Broadway, Somerville, MA, 02144. Its website can be found at https://www.poundhouseboston.com/

[May 19 update: According to an Instagram post from the place, Pound House has soft-opened.]

(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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Pavement Coffeehouse Is Opening in the Former Dudley Cafe Space in Cambridge

Last fall, it was reported that the Cambridge location of a pair of cafes had shut down, and now we have learned that a local group of coffee places plan to expand into the space.

According to a Bluesky post from troysch1.bsky.social, Pavement Coffeehouse is planning to open in the former Dudley Cafe space on Massachusetts Avenue between Porter Square and Harvard Square, with a sign out front saying "coming this winter." Once it opens, the new location of Pavement will join eight others in Boston and Cambridge, while the location of Dudley Cafe in Roxbury's Nubian Square remains in operation.

The address for the new location of Pavement Coffeehouse in Cambridge is 1663 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02138. The website for all locations is at https://pavementcoffeehouse.com/

[Earlier Article]
Dudley Cafe in Cambridge 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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Central Perk Coffeehouse Opens in Boston's Back Bay November 14

Several months ago, it was reported that a new coffeehouse whose name will be familiar to fans of a sitcom from the 1990s and early 2000s would be coming to Boston, and now we have learned that it is debuting this week.

A message sent to us indicates that Central Perk Coffeehouse is slated to open tomorrow (Tuesday, November 14) on Newbury Street in the Back Bay, and it is based on the fictional Central Perk Coffeehouse from the show Friends. As mentioned in an earlier article, Warner Bros. Themed Entertainment and CenPer Holdings, LLC (which includes restaurateur/celebrity chef Tom Colicchio as a partner) are behind the spot, which will be open for breakfast, lunch, and an early dinner, and it will offer food and drink including beer and wine.

The address for Central Perk Coffeehouse is 205 Newbury Street, Boston, MA, 02116. The website for Central Perk is at https://centralperk.com/

[Earlier Article]
Central Perk Coffeehouse Plans to Open in Boston's Back Bay

NOTE: We need your help, as Leslie Hurwitz, who is the father of Marc (the founder of this site) is dealing with health issues and some major related expenses. 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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Life Is Good Coffee House Plans to Open in Boston's Fort Point Neighborhood

A Boston-based company known for its apparel and accessories may be opening a coffee shop within the city.

According to a tweet from @FortPointer, Life Is Good Coffee House is looking to open by the corner of Summer Street and Melcher Street in the Fort Point area, with a post from Fort Point Boston mentioning that it is requesting a Common Victualler License while a page within http://fortpointneighborhood.org/ shows the following note from Life Is Good:

Our brand has been headquartered in Fort Point for several years .We recently moved from Melcher Street up the block to Summer Street. We inherited a Retail space previously occupied by Café Metro, and feel strongly that a Coffee House concept is more suitable to the area than a Life is Good Retail store.

If all goes as planned, Life Is Good Coffee House--which would have 20 seats inside the space--could be opening in October.

The address for the proposed Life Is Good Coffee House is 253 Summer Street, Boston, MA, 02210. The website for the company can be found at https://www.lifeisgood.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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Central Perk Coffeehouse Plans to Open in Boston's Back Bay

A brand new coffeehouse is on its way to the Back Bay of Boston, and its name will be familiar to fans of a sitcom that ran from the 1990s to the early 2000s. 

According to an article from People, Central Perk Coffeehouse is planning to open on Newbury Street, with Warner Bros. Themed Entertainment and CenPer Holdings, LLC (which includes restaurateur/celebrity chef Tom Colicchio as a partner) being behind it. The upcoming spot is based on the fictional Central Perk Coffeehouse from the show Friends, with the article saying that "the Boston iteration seeks to take inspiration from the original set all while operating a modern, fully-functional coffeehouse."

If all goes as planned, Central Perk Coffeehouse will open later this year.

The website for Central Perk--whose coffees can currently be purchased online--can be found at https://centralperk.com/

[September 21 update: According to a press release, Central Perk Coffeehouse is slated to open in the Back Bay in October.]

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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The Well Coffee House Is Opening in East Boston

After being in the works for nearly three years, a third location of a coffee place with a connection to a Christian ministry is finally opening its doors.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, The Well Coffee House has its grand opening in East Boston on Saturday, June 18, with the Border Street spot being open from noon to 3:00 PM that day. The new outlet joins two others in downtown Boston and Everett, and when it first announced its plans back in the fall of 2019, the Everett location had not yet opened, though there was a location at South Station which is now closed, at least temporarily.

The website for The Well Coffee House is at http://www.thewellcoffeehouse.com/

[Earlier Article]
The Well Coffee House Plans to Open in East 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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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!

Fuel America to Open by Boston University and in Weymouth

Last week, it was reported that a local group of coffeehouse-cafes that also sell their products in local supermarkets have expanded to a new location in Allston. Now we have learned that two more outlets will be coming to the Greater Boston area as well.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Fuel America is opening in the former Dunkin' location at 1020 Commonwealth Avenue by Boston University, while the website for the company also mentions that a new location is coming to 143 Washington Street in Weymouth as well. Once the two new cafes open, they will join existing locations in Brighton, Waltham, and Worcester, along with a brand new outlet in Allston.

The website for Fuel American can be found at https://fuelamericacoffee.com/

[January 14, 2022 update: According to a Facebook post, the Weymouth location of Fuel America is now open.]

[Earlier Article]
Fuel America Opens in Allston

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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Fuel America Opens in Allston

 A local group of coffeehouse-cafes has expanded to a new location in Boston.

A message sent by Leah Klein of City Living Boston indicates that Fuel America is now open in Allston, moving into a space on Western Avenue that is part of Harvard University. The new coffee shop joins other locations in Brighton, Waltham, and Worcester.

In addition to its coffeehouses, Fuel America is also a wholesaler whose products can be found in local supermarkets.

The address for the new location of Fuel America in Allston is 114 Western Avenue, Allston, MA, 02134. The website for the company can be found at https://fuelamericacoffee.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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Mystic Coffee Roaster in Medford to Close Its Cafe; Wholesale Business to Remain in Operation

A neighborhood coffeehouse in the northern suburbs of Boston is getting ready to shut down, though the business itself will remain in operation.

According to several sources, including posters on the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Mystic Coffee Roaster in Medford is planning to close its retail shop, with a Facebook post from the Riverside Avenue spot saying the following:

I have a bittersweet announcement to make. First, the bitter: Unfortunately, Mystic Coffee Roaster will cease to exist as a café by December 24. This has been extremely difficult due to the pandemic. All restaurants are suffering, and for us, the decrease in foot traffic and sales has been unsurmountable....Now for the sweet: Mystic Coffee Roaster as a coffee roastery will continue. I’m going to focus on my true passion of coffee roasting and will continue to service our wholesale customers, contract roasting customers, mail order customers, and other avenues yet to be discovered....For the short term, I plan to be open for a few days/week to sell retail bags of coffee (hours to be determined), but the long term plan is to line up some other local businesses that would sell and/or serve our coffee. I may have an exciting announcement on that front very soon.

Mystic Coffee Roaster, which first opened approximately 10 years ago, offers such items as coffee, tea, hot chocolate, smoothies, croissants, bagels, scones, cookies, and sandwiches at its shop, which has only been open for takeout during the pandemic.

The address for Mystic Coffee Roaster is 30 Riverside Avenue, Medford, MA, 02155. Its website can be found at https://mystic-coffee-online.square.site/

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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Dedham Square Coffeehouse Space Is for Lease

It looks like the future of a suburban spot known in part for its live music is in doubt.

According to a source who sent a photo of the place, a "For Lease" sign is now up out front at the Dedham Square Coffeehouse on High Street, with a Facebook post from the Dedham Transcript indicating that it has apparently shut down permanently. We have reached out to the place to find out its exact status and will post any updates here if we hear back from them.

The Dedham Square Coffeehouse offered soups, salads, panini, pastries, and beer and wine while also featuring trivia nights, open mic nights, and live music including everything from blues and jazz to country, folk, and rock.

The address for the Dedham Square Coffeehouse is 565 High Street, Dedham, MA, 02026.

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.)

Caffe Nero Opens in Newtonville

A rapidly-growing chain of European coffee places has very quietly opened a brand new location in the western suburbs of Boston.

According to a Facebook post from the company, Caffe Nero now has a new shop in Newtonville, with the post mentioning that it is serving free coffee at the Austin Street store until 3:00 PM today. The Caffe Nero chain had temporarily closed all locations in March as the pandemic took hold, but started reopening shops in late June, including a number of outlets in the Greater Boston area.

Plans for the Newtonville location of Caffe Nero--which resides in a new mixed-use development called 28 Austin--had first been mentioned by Village 14 last year.

The address for the new location of Caffe Nero in Newtonville is 28 Austin Street, Newtonville, MA, 02460. The website for the company is at https://caffenero.com/us/

[Earlier Article]
Caffe Nero Temporarily Closes All of Its Locations

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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Stoughton House of Brews Is Closing for Good

An eclectic suburban spot that is part coffeehouse, part tavern, and part music venue is shutting down permanently.

According to a Twitter post from @JeremyKrantz, Stoughton House of Brews is closing for good, with a screenshot of a post from a community Facebook group mentioning that the owners decided to shutter permanently after being temporarily closed since mid-March around the time the Baker administration put restaurant restrictions in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Porter Street spot, which first opened in 2013, has been known for its cafe vibe early in the day and its gastropub feel late in the day, featuring small plates and bar bites along with a variety of beers and cocktails, and live music.

The address for the Stoughton House of Brews is 28 Porter Street, Stoughton, MA, 02072.

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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Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea Is Opening in Natick

A Michigan-based chain of cafes is expanding to the local region, and its first New England location will reside in the western suburbs of Boston.

According to an article from Wicked Local, Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea is planning to open in Natick, with the 57-seat South Main Street spot being different from other outlets of the chain in that it will be more of a coffeehouse than a restaurant, focusing on coffee and tea while foregoing such items as salads, sandwiches, and pastries that other locations of Sweetwaters offer. If all goes as planned, the new location of Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea could be opening sometime this spring.

Sweetwaters first started out in Ann Arbor in 1993 where it is still headquartered today; currently, the chain has 40 locations in 12 states, with the closest outlets to New England being in New York (two) and New Jersey (one).

The address for this new coffeehouse in Natick is: Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea, 19 South Main Street, Natick, MA, 01760. The website for the chain can be found at https://www.sweetwaterscafe.com/

[October 19 update: According to a source, Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea is now open in Natick, with its Facebook page confirming this.]

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 Well Coffee House Plans to Open in East Boston

A pair of coffee places with a connection to a Christian ministry may be joined by a third, and this one wouldn't be very far away from its church.

According to an article from Universal Hub, the people behind Church @ The Well in East Boston's Jeffries Point neighborhood plan to open a new location of The Well Coffee House in the Central Square section of Eastie. If it gets approval to open--including the licenses needed to serve food and feature live entertainment--the shop would join others on State Street in downtown Boston and at South Station.

The address for this proposed coffee spot in East Boston would be: The Well Coffee House, 62 William C. Kelly Square, East Boston, MA, 02128. The website for The Well can be found at http://www.thewellcoffeehouse.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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Caffe Nero to Open in Melrose

A rapidly-growing chain of European coffee places is expanding yet again, with a new location coming to the northern suburbs of Boston.

According to an article from the Melrose Free Press and Wicked Local, Caffe Nero is going to be opening within an upcoming mixed-use development in Melrose, with the address indicating that it will open on Main Street where Moynihan Plaza had been. This is the second recent announcement of a new Caffe Nero coming to the Boston area, with another one being planned for Copley Place in the city's Back Bay area. A specific opening date has not yet been given for the new location of the coffee chain, though construction of the building is slated to be finished sometime this fall.

The address for the building in which the new Caffe Nero will reside is 530 Main Street, Melrose, MA, 02176. The website for the chain can be found at https://caffenero.com/us/

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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Caffe Nero Is Opening at Copley Place

A rapidly-growing chain of European coffee places is opening yet another shop in the Boston area, and this one will be coming to a high-end shopping area in one of the busiest parts of the city.

According to a press release, Caffe Nero is opening at Copley Place in the Back Bay, moving into a space  next to Neiman Marcus on the main level. Since arriving in Boston in 2014 with a Downtown Crossing shop, the chain has opened a number of outlets in and around the city, with its latest coming to the Porter Square Hotel in Cambridge a couple of months ago.

If all goes as planned, the new location of Caffe Nero could open at Copley Place in September.

The website for Caffe Nero can be found at https://caffenero.com/us/

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 Well Coffee House Is Opening in Former Pret A Manger Space on State Street in Downtown Boston

by Marc Hurwitz

A coffee place that has a connection to a Christian ministry is on its way to downtown Boston, moving into the space where a sandwich shop had been.

According to a Twitter post from @GlennWhidden, The Well Coffee House is planning to open on State Street in the former Pret A Manger space, joining its original location in South Station which opened in early 2014. The website for the business says that it is a non-profit organization while an earlier press release on prweb.com says it is staffed by volunteers from Church @ The Well on Sumner Street in East Boston.

Pret A Manger closed earlier this year after being in business for a bit more than three years; several other locations in the Boston area remain in operation, including outlets in the Financial District, South Station, the Back Bay, and the Longwood medical area.

The address for this new coffee spot in downtown Boston is: The Well Coffee House, 1 State Street, Boston, MA, 02109. The website for the original location at South Station can be found at http://www.thewellcoffeehouse.com/

[June 20 update: Eater Boston states that The Well could open on State Street in the next two to three weeks, and that it will offer baked goods from the Haley House Bakery Cafe in Roxbury.]

[October 25 update: A new article from Eater Boston says that The Well Coffee House is now open on State Street.]

[Earlier Article]
Pret A Manger on State Street in Downtown Boston 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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Caffe Nero Is Opening in Boston's Fenway/Symphony Area

by Marc Hurwitz

A rapidly-growing chain of European coffee places is planning to open yet another shop in Boston, and this one will be opening not too far from another new outlet.

According to a post from Universal Hub, Caffe Nero is opening on New Edgerly Road, just off Mass. Ave. in the Fenway/Symphony section of the city, moving into the space where a location of Unleashed By Petco had been. Once it opens, the new shop will join a number of other locations in and around Boston, including one that opened on Boylston Street in the Fenway in late February. No opening date has been given as of yet, so stay tuned for updates.

The address for this upcoming coffee spot in the Fenway/Symphony area is: Caffe Nero, 114 New Edgerly Road, Boston, MA, 02115. The website for Caffe Nero can be found at http://www.caffenero.com/

[May 25 update: A tweet from the chain indicates that the new location of Caffe Nero in the Fenway/Symphony area soft-opens today.]

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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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Pavement Coffeehouse Opening New Location in Allston-Brighton

by Marc Hurwitz

It looks like a local group of coffeehouses is opening a new location, with this one being very close to the Charles River.

According to a source, Pavement Coffeehouse is planning to open on Western Avenue near where Lower Allston and Brighton meet, with the address given indicating that it would be a short distance east of Soldiers Field Road near where Article 24 resides. A hearing notice for the proposed spot shows that it would have a seasonal patio with seating for 12, though no specifics on the amount of indoor seating have been given as of yet. The hearing on the new Pavement Coffeehouse is slated to take place on March 7, so there should be more information coming out later next week.

Currently, locations of Pavement Coffeehouse can be found in Boston's Back Bay, the Fenway (2), the Symphony Hall area, by BU, and in Allston Village. (Another location is being planned for Harvard University's Smith Campus Center in Cambridge as well.)

The address for this new coffee spot in Allston-Brighton is: Pavement Coffeehouse, 415 Western Avenue, Brighton, MA, 02135. The website for all locations is at https://pavementcoffeehouse.com/

[June 1 update: An update from Boston Magazine states that the new Pavement Coffeehouse in Allston-Brighton is now open.]

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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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BeanTowne Coffee House in Boston Has Closed; APM Coffee Opening in Space

by Marc Hurwitz

A trio of coffee shops is now down to two, as it has closed its Boston location--though a new coffee shop is getting ready to open in its space.

According to an email, BeanTowne Coffee House on Kneeland Street (near the border of Chinatown and the Leather District) has shut down, with a message from the company confirming that it has indeed closed for good. The message indicates that a new spot called APM Coffee is planning to open in the space on Monday, and that it will apparently be offering Intelligentsia coffee as well as artisan sandwiches.

BeanTowne Coffee House first opened its Boston location in early 2017; its other shops in Cambridge's Kendall Square and Hampstead, NH remain in operation, according to the message that was sent to us.

The address for the now-closed BeanTowne Coffee House (and the new APM Coffee) in Boston is 99 Kneeland Street, Boston, MA, 02111.

[February 19 update: Eater Boston confirms (via a Facebook post) that APM Coffee is now open.]

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

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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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