The Star Drive-In in Taunton Is Closing

A retro-style restaurant south of Boston is planning to shut down.

According to a Facebook post from the business, The Star Drive-In in Taunton is going to be closing its doors, with the note saying the following:

I have a Lease with South Coast Development until March of 2026. The same entity that purchased the property across the street and built the Storage Facility, also purchased The Star Drive-In property a few years ago when I had just signed another 5 year lease for The Star Drive-In with St.Ives. I will not get into the specifics of those issues, but many, within the city government and various departments know what has transpired over the last 4 years, they know what is going on and they have not offered any help or assistance even after my repeated pleas for help. Due to those issues, I have had to make the very difficult decision to close at the end of the terms of my lease-March 2026....I'm very proud of everything I’ve been able to accomplish and give back over the last 10 years. I am closing on my terms. I will do my best to find my next best thing.

Current owner Erica Madden took over the restaurant in 2016, which has been in operation since the mid-1960s; the dining spot has been known for its comfort food including clam chowder, burgers, hot dogs, tuna melts, chow mein sandwiches, pizza, calzones, lobster rolls, fish and chips, ice cream, and more.

The address for The Star Drive-In is 205 Myricks Street, East Taunton, MA, 02718. Its website can be found at https://thestardrivein.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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Checkers Drive-In to Open Up to 50 Restaurants in the Boston Area and Elsewhere in Massachusetts

Four years ago, we reported that a Florida-based chain of drive-thru burger spots was looking to expand into the Northeast. Now we have learned that they will indeed be coming, with a number of restaurants on the way to the region--including Boston.

The Boston Business Journal states that Checkers Drive-In Restaurants is planning to open between 5 and 10 outlets in the Greater Boston area in 2016, with a total of 40 to 50 locations in Massachusetts over what looks to be the next several years (they will open at a rate of 5 to 10 a year). Back in 2011, we had mentioned that the chain--which is headquartered in Tampa--was eyeing Brooklyn, Manhattan, Boston, and Providence, and at the time had only one shop in New England that has since closed (in Bristol, CT).

The BBJ says that Checkers also has a sister brand called Rally's, which has more than 50 locations in New York State, but none in New England.

The website for Checkers Drive-In Restaurants can be found at https://www.checkers.com/

[Earlier Article]
Checkers Drive-In Restaurants May Be Coming to the Boston Area

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Ten More Burgers from Restaurants in the Boston Area]

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Sonic Drive-In Eyes Major Expansion in the Boston Area

A chain of drive-ins that currently has four locations in the Boston area could increase that number tenfold over the next several years, with a major expansion being planned for the region.

The Boston Business Journal is reporting that Sonic Drive-In is looking to open a total of 40 locations in and around Boston over the course of the next five years, with the article also mentioning that the expansion may include 25 to 30 additional outlets across New England during that time period as well. Currently, only three shops can be found in Eastern Massachusetts, including ones in Lawrence, Peabody, and Wilmington.

The Oklahoma-based Sonic, which first started out in the 1950s, is the largest chain of drive-in restaurants in the United States. Its website can be found at https://www.sonicdrivein.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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The Nest Has Opened on Route 1 in Peabody

A new restaurant has come to an well-known stretch of road on the North Shore, and while it has a drive-thru, it isn't exactly a typical fast-food spot.

According to Cappy in Boston, The Nest is now open on Route 1 in Peabody, with its website saying that it is a "country style restaurant" that focuses on healthy "farm-fresh-food" where customers can either dine in or do takeout via their drive-thru. The restaurant's menu includes such items as house-made granola, quiche, breakfast burritos, Greek salads, falafel wraps, grilled cheese, turkey sandwiches, and an array of gluten-free baked goods.

The address for this new dining spot in Peabody is: The Nest, 108 Newbury Street (Route 1) Peabody, MA, 01960. Its website can be found at http://www.thenestdrivethru.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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Checkers Drive-In Restaurants May Be Coming to the Boston Area

It looks like a chain of double drive-thru restaurants known for its burgers, hot dogs, wings, and fries may be coming to the Boston area.

According to the Brooklyn Eagle (Note: Article no longer appear to be on the site), Checkers Drive-In Restaurants is currently looking to add development agreements to a number of cities, including Brooklyn, Manhattan, Boston, and Providence. The restaurant chain, which has more than more than 800 locations across the country, has relatively few in the Northeast at this time, with only one in New England (in Bristol, CT) and some others in New York State.

[April 2, 2013 update: An article in the Boston Business Journal indicates that Checkers is indeed looking to open outlets in the Boston area, with the vice president of franchise development saying that they are looking at potential sites in the Back Bay, the Fenway area, Brookline, Somerville, and other spots in the region. (Thanks to Eater Boston for bringing this to our attention.)]

The website for Checkers Drive-In Restaurants can be found at http://www.checkers.com/

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Vittorio's Italian Kitchen (An Italian Drive-Thru) Opens in Revere

A new Italian restaurant has opened just north of Boston, and it has a feature that few, if any, Boston-area Italian dining spots have--a drive-up window.

According to The Boston Herald, Vittorio's Italian Kitchen opened on Route 60 in Revere in November, moving into the space where a KFC branch was until burning down this past winter. The article mentions that the new restaurant, which is co-owned by a former Executive Chef from Il Panino in Boston (the other owner used to own the KFC), features Italian classics that are made to order yet served quickly. In addition to the drive-thru option, diners can also order at the counter inside, choosing from such dishes as lasagna, chicken marsala, eggplant sandwiches, and more. Vittorio's Italian Kitchen has just received a beer and wine license, so it is likely that alcohol will start being offered at the restaurant later this month.

The address for this new Italian restaurant and drive-thru in Revere is: Vittorio's Italian Kitchen, 169 Squire Road, Revere, MA, 02151.

For more information on the opening of Vittorio's Italian Kitchen, please go to the Boston Herald link below.

Mangia makeover cooked up for Revere drive-thru

Thanks to Dave Andelman of the Phantom Gourmet for initially bringing this to our attention.

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