Boston Restaurant Talk: fires

Showing posts with label fires. Show all posts

Thursday, May 14, 2026

Moozy's Ice Cream in Belmont Heavily Damaged in Fire

An ice cream shop in the western suburbs of Boston has been hit by a fire.

According to an article from NBC10 Boston, a fire broke out at Moozy's Ice Cream in Belmont overnight, with smoke first being reported at the Trapelo Road storefront around 4:30 AM. The article mentions that firefighters discovered a heavy fire coming from the basement of the building when they arrived, and they had to be pulled back from the structure when the first floor started to collapse. No injuries were reported, and the exact extent of the damage is unknown as of this writing, though damage does appear to be extensive.

The address for Moozy's Ice Cream is 2 Trapelo Road, Belmont, MA, 02478.

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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.)

Wednesday, June 26, 2024

Fire Rips Through The Squealing Pig in Boston's Mission Hill Neighborhood

A restaurant and bar in Boston that is popular with nearby college students and medical workers has sustained severe damage in an overnight fire.

According to an article from NECN, The Squealing Pig in the city's Mission Hill area was hit by an intense blaze around midnight, with firefighters being able to quickly extinguish the flames but not before causing the interior of the Smith Street spot to be "completely charred." No injuries were reported in the fire, which is currently under investigation.

The Mission Hill location of The Squealing Pig resides near several colleges and universities (including Northeastern) while being a few blocks south of the Longwood medical area; another location of the place can be found in Provincetown.

This is the second fire to hit a restaurant space in two days, as the building housing the soon-to-reopen Jacob Wirth in the Theater District was heavily damaged in a four-alarm blaze late Monday night.

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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.)

Tuesday, June 25, 2024

Four-Alarm Fire Heavily Damages Jacob Wirth Building in Boston's Theater District

An overnight fire caused major damage to a structure that had once been home to a landmark Boston restaurant--and one which was in the process of returning.

According to multiple sources, a four-alarm blaze ripped through the Jacob Wirth building on Stuart Street in the Theater District late last night, with NBC Boston saying that the cause and origin of the fire is unknown at this point in time while various sources indicate that there were no injuries in the blaze. As mentioned in an earlier article, City Realty Group and other business partners were working on opening Jacob Wirth back up with few changes made to the place; the restaurant has actually been closed since being hit a fire back in 2018.

Jacob Wirth first opened in 1868, being known in part for its German food and extensive beer list along with its piano singalongs.

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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.)

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Jacob Wirth Plans an Early 2024 Reopening in Boston's Theater District

A couple of years ago, it was reported that a landmark Boston restaurant that has been closed since a 2018 fire might be coming back, and now we have learned that it could be reborn this winter.

According to an article in the Boston Business Journal, the space that has been home to Jacob Wirth is currently undergoing extensive renovations, with City Realty Group and other business partners planning to open the place back up much like it was before, including German food (and presumably German beers), a mahogany bar, and piano singalongs, while also making some tweaks such as a more accessible bar area, additional women's bathrooms, and updated lighting. If all goes well, Jacob Wirth could be opening back up in February of 2024.

The address for Jacob Wirth is 31-37 Stuart Street, Boston, MA, 02116.

[Earlier Article]
Jacob Wirth May Be Returning to Boston's Theater District

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!

[More restaurant openings/closings from the Boston's Hidden Restaurants site): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Tuesday, September 13, 2022

Fire Hits Wang's Chinese Cuisine Space in Somerville's Magoun Square

A three-alarm fire ripped through a restaurant space in Somerville yesterday.

According to a source (and confirmed by The Somerville Times), a blaze broke out on Broadway in Magoun Square Monday evening, causing damage to the space that has been home to Wang's Chinese Cuisine. As of this morning, the cause of the fire is unknown while the space was vacant at the time with no injuries reported.

Multiple sources have told us over the past several weeks that Wang's had closed permanently, though we were unable to get confirmation on this. The restaurant has been known in part for its housemade dumplings.

The address of the Wang's space is 509 Broadway, Somerville, MA, 02145.

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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!

Wednesday, June 22, 2022

Pasta Beach Is Returning to Rowes Wharf in Boston Three Years After Being Hit By a Fire

An Italian restaurant on the Boston waterfront known in part for its pizza is reopening after having to close due to a fire three years ago.

According to an article from Eater Boston and a Twitter post from Boston Tweet, Pasta Beach at Rowes Wharf opens back up on Saturday, June 25, with an Instagram post from the place saying that "After three long years, we can't wait to see your smiling faces again....we will be open Wednesday through Sunday beginning at 4:30pm bringing you some of the most authentic Italian cuisine in the region." Pasta Beach, which first opened in Boston in 2010, suffered major damage in a fire back in September of 2019 and has been closed ever since.

The website for Pasta Beach, which can can also be found in Newport and Providence. is at https://www.pastabeach.com/

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Thursday, November 04, 2021

Oliveira's in Everett Heavily Damaged in Fire; Reopening in New Location

A popular Brazilian steakhouse north of Boston has been hit by a fire, and it is not know when it might reopen again.

According to a post from NBC Boston, the building in Everett that houses Oliveira's Steak Bar & Grill suffered major damage in a fire early yesterday, with firefighters from a number of nearby communities helping put the blaze out. No injuries were reported, though a number of residents who live in the Broadway structure have been displaced.

In a video within the post, Oliveira's owner Wilton Rangel says, "That's my life here. I worked for 13 years to get this and it's burned down....I know insurance is going to pay, but my restaurant is going to stay closed for a while and I don't know when it will reopen."

The cause of the fire remains unknown.

[December 9 update: The website for Oliveira's mentions that it will be moving to a new space at 158 School Street, which is in the downtown area of Everett a short distance south of its old location. The site has also posted a video stating that donations are being accepted for those displaced by the fire, including new clothes, food, gift cards, and financial contributions, all of which can be dropped off at City Hall.]

[January 25, 2022 update: A poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page states (via a post on Boston’s Wicked North Shore Facebook page) that Oliveira's is now open on School Street, with an Instagram post from the restaurant confirming this.]

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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.)

Wednesday, September 29, 2021

Jacob Wirth May Be Returning to Boston's Theater District

A landmark Boston restaurant that has been closed since 2018 could be coming back.

According to a licensing board hearing page within the city's website, Jacob Wirth is seeking to acquire a liquor license to operate in its old space on Stuart Street in the Theater District, with the notice indicating that Julius Sokol of the Greater Boston Bar Co. is the manager listed. Since its closing due to a fire a few years back, there have been multiple proposals for the space, including talk of a sports bar moving in, then a recreational cannabis establishment.

Jacob Wirth first opened in 1868, with the place being known in part for its German food and extensive beer list along with its piano singalongs.

The address for the Jacob Wirth space is 31-37 Stuart Street, Boston, MA, 02116.

[October 8 update: Universal Hub reports that the plan is to reopen Jacob Wirth with "no changes," restoring the restaurant to the way it was before it sustained water damage in the fire. It appears that the licensing board won't take any action until at least November, as Sokol will apparently be having neighborhood meetings between now and then to discuss the plans.]

[Earlier Articles]
Jacob Wirth in Boston's Theater District May Become JW's Sports Bar and Restaurant
Recreational Cannabis Establishment Being Proposed for Jacob Wirth Space in Boston's Theater District

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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.)

Monday, May 31, 2021

Essex Seafood Reopens After Being Hit by Fire Last Spring

A beloved North Shore seafood shack that was destroyed in a fire last year is back in business.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Essex Seafood on Route 133 in Essex has reopened, with a Facebook post from the place saying the following:

We just had a 2 day soft open to appreciate the firefighters who responded to our fire last year, contractors and others who helped rebuild our new restaurant. Thank you again to all! WE ARE NOW OFFICIALLY OPEN FOR CUSTOMERS! We can't wait for everyone to see the new restaurant and enjoy some great food!

Essex Seafood sustained major damage in a two-alarm blaze that started after they closed for the night last Mother's Day, with the damage being so extensive that the structure had to be torn down. It is one of several iconic clam shacks along Route 133 in Essex and Ipswich, including such spots as J. T. Farnham's, Woodman's, and the Clam Box.

The address for Essex Seafood is 143 Eastern Avenue (Route 133), Essex, MA, 01929.

[Earlier Article]
Essex Seafood Heavily Damaged in Two-Alarm Fire

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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.)

Thursday, April 29, 2021

Two-Alarm Fire Hits Thai Moon in Arlington

A longtime Thai restaurant in the northwest suburbs is closed for now after suffering damage in a fire.

According to a source, Thai Moon in Arlington was hit by a two-alarm fire this morning, with a check on the Mass. Ave. space showing smoke in the air and firefighters walking in and out of the space. The fire has been knocked down, with our source mentioning that it may have gone up into the second floor of the building, though we are still waiting on an official report so keep checking back for updates.

The address for Thai Moon is 663 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA, 02476. Its website can be found at https://www.thaimoonarlington.com/

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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.)

Saturday, February 13, 2021

Update: Two Alarm Fire Destroys The Tradesman in Milford

A popular music club southwest of Boston has been hit by a fire.

According to a message sent to us on Facebook, The Tradesman in Milford caught fire today, with the West Street spot appearing to sustain major damage in the blaze. Sources tell us that the building turned out to be a total loss and has been razed, and while there is chatter that it may be rebuilt, it doesn't appear that anything has been decided for sure as of yet.

The Tradesman has been a place to go for local music while also offering food such as burgers, clam chowder, wings, hot dogs, and subs along with beer, wine, and spirits.

The address for The Tradesman is 284 West Street (Route 140), Milford, MA, 01757. Its Facebook page can be found at https://www.facebook.com/tradesmanbar/

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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.)

Thursday, February 11, 2021

Border Cafe in Cambridge's Harvard Square Will Not Be Reopening

A bit more than a year ago, one of the most popular restaurants in Cambridge's Harvard Square was hit by a fire and has remained closed ever since. Now we are hearing that it is gone for good.

According to an article from Cambridge Day, Border Cafe on Church Street will not be reopening, with a general manager at the Burlington location of the small chain of Tex-Mex restaurants saying that "We decided not [to] reopen that location" and that the decision was reportedly made "at the end of the year." The manager--who Cambridge Day says had previously been a manager at the Harvard Square restaurant--describes the closing as "amicable" while not getting into further details. An update from Cambridge Day this morning further confirms this, saying that Denise Jillson of the Harvard Square Business Association heard about its permanent closure late last week.

The Cambridge location of Border Cafe, which first opened in 1987, suffered damaged in a two-alarm blaze in December of 2019, with the fire starting inside the kitchen's exhaust system. The Burlington location remains open for business, as does the outlet in Saugus.

[Earlier Article]
Two-Alarm Fire Hits Border Cafe in Cambridge's Harvard Square

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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.)

Monday, August 10, 2020

Stazione di Federal in Waltham Closed for Now Due to Kitchen Fire; Fundraiser Set Up for Hourly Workers

A new Italian restaurant in Waltham that briefly debuted in March before the coronavirus outbreak then reopened last month is closed once again, this time because of a fire.

According to several sources, Stazione di Federal on Moody Street was hit by a kitchen fire on August 5 and is now closed indefinitely as they work through damage estimates and try to figure out a timeline for reopening. The people behind the restaurant have set up a GoFundMe page to help out its hourly staff while the place is closed, with a fundraising goal of $50,000 in which 100% of the funds will be distributed to the workers.

Stazione di Federal, which resides in the old Biagio Ristorante & Bar space just north of the Charles River, has an ownership connection with The Federal, a steakhouse located within the 1265 Main development just off Route 128 in Waltham.

The address for Stazione di Federal is 123 Moody Street, Waltham, MA, 02453. Its website is at https://stazionedifederal.com/

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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.)

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Newcomb's Breakfast And Lunch in Weymouth Hit by Fire

A beloved dining spot on the South Shore is closed for now after sustaining serious damage in a fire.

According to an article from Boston 25 News, Newcomb's Breakfast And Lunch in the Jackson Square section of East Weymouth was hit by a blaze yesterday afternoon, with a Facebook post from photographer Brian Doherty showing smoke pouring out of the Broad Street eatery and fire erupting from the back. A Facebook post from the people behind Newcomb's says that "We came out of this horrible situation healthy and safe. We would like to thank the community for the love and out pour of concern and well wishes. The numerous messages that we have received today are overwhelming. We want to thank Weymouth, Hingham, Braintree and Quincy Fire Department for all that they did today." As of this writing, little other information has come out about the fire, including the exact extent of the damage, but for now, the restaurant is shuttered due to the extensive damage from the blaze.

Newcomb's is a popular neighborhood spot that is known in part for its classic breakfast plates along with its variety of sandwiches offered at lunchtime. The restaurant space dates all the way back to 1926, according to its website.

The address for Newcomb's Breakfast And Lunch is 924 Broad Street, Weymouth, MA, 02189. Its website can be found at https://www.newcombsbreakfast.com/

[May 15 update: Wicked Local states that the building housing Newcomb's is apparently a total loss and will need to be torn down. It looks like owner Rick Newcomb does hope to reopen, though it might not be in that space, as the article mentions that he would "ideally" like to keep the restaurant in Weymouth.]

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Monday, May 11, 2020

Essex Seafood Heavily Damaged in Two-Alarm Fire

An iconic North Shore seafood shack is closed for the foreseeable future after being hit by a fire overnight.

According to an article from CBS Boston, Essex Seafood on Route 133 in Essex sustained major damage in a two-alarm blaze that apparently broke out around 11:00 Sunday night. The post mentions that the fire started only hours after it wrapped up a busy Mother's Day for the restaurant, but fortunately no injuries were reported. The fire, which caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages to Essex Seafood, is currently under investigation.

Essex Seafood is one of several iconic clam shacks along Route 133 in Essex and Ipswich, including such places as Woodman's, J. T. Farnham's, and the Clam Box.

[May 22 update: The Gloucester Times mentions that Essex Seafood owner Howie Lane plans to tear the structure down and rebuild, saying that "We want to rebuild just like it was, with the wood inside just like we had....I have a lot of friends that do construction and cement work -- they've all reached out to me. We'll make it company friendly, handicap-friendly and put a sprinkler system in so nothing like this will happen again." In addition, Lane is planning to have a grand reopening celebration in which the firefighters who extinguished the fire will be recognized for their work, with Lane stating that "I can't believe they saved the house....They more than did their job. They're the real heroes. Everything will be on the house -- no charge." (Thanks to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page for bringing this to our attention.)]

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Friday, May 08, 2020

2 Jerks Kitchen & Bar in Raynham Hit By Fire

A barbecue spot south of Boston is closed for the time being after sustaining damage in a fire.

According to an article from 7 News Boston, 2 Jerks Kitchen & Bar in Raynham was hit by a blaze early Thursday morning, with firefighters being able to quickly extinguish the fire. It appears that the blaze started due to excess grease in a smoker, and fortunately the place was empty at the time and there were no injuries. The Facebook page for 2 Jerks says that "there is quite a bit of damage to clean up. At this time, we are unsure of the impact this will have on our operation but will keep you all posted as soon as we have an idea of how long we will need to be closed."

The address for 2 Jerks Kitchen & Bar is 701 Broadway, Raynham, MA, 02767. Its website can be found at http://2jerksbbq.com/

Thanks to Universal Hub for initially bringing this to our attention.

[July 8 update: A Facebook comment from 2 Jerks Kitchen & Bar indicates that the restaurant could be reopening later this month or early next month, while its Facebook page shows that it has popped up at the Easton Country Club for indoor/outdoor dining and takeout in the meantime.]

[November 18 update: Wicked Local states that 2 Jerks hopes to reopen its Raynham location in a few weeks, and it will also continue to operate out of the Easton Country Club as well. (The post also says that the back dining room in Raynham will become a Texas roadside-style market.)]

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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.)

Tuesday, March 10, 2020

Tasty Burger Building in South Boston Torn Down; Exact Status of Space Unknown

A walk-up location of a local group of burger spots that was hit by a fire a couple of years ago has been demolished, and it is not known right now what might become of the space.

According to a tweet from @chipsy231, the structure housing the now-closed Tasty Burger in South Boston has been torn down, with a note sent to us by @maureencaught of Caught in Southie indicating that the eatery will not be coming back to the L Street space. An earlier article from Caught in Southie mentioned that a new restaurant was possibly being planned for the space, but it is not known if this is still the case. We have reached out to Tasty Burger and will post an update if/when we hear back.

The South Boston location of Tasty Burger sustained damage in a blaze back in May of 2018, with the building subsequently being boarded up. Locations of the group of burger spots in Boston's Fenway, Back Bay, North Station, and Cambridge's Harvard Square remain in operation. (The website for all locations can be found at https://www.tastyburger.com/)

[Earlier Article]
Tasty Burger in South Boston Closed for the Foreseeable Future After Fire

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Monday, December 02, 2019

Two-Alarm Fire Hits Border Cafe in Cambridge's Harvard Square

One of the most popular restaurants in the Harvard Square section of Cambridge is closed for now after a two-alarm fire caused damage to the place.

The Boston Globe is reporting that a blaze broke out at Border Cafe on Church Street at approximately 1:00 PM Sunday afternoon, with the fire being contained a bit more than one hour later. The article says that it looks like the fire started inside the kitchen's exhaust system, and that flames could be seen shooting through the roof of the building. No injuries were reported, while an exact damage estimate has not been given as of yet--nor is it known how long the restaurant might be closed.

The Harvard Square location of Border Square first opened in 1987, with the restaurant being known for its Tex-Mex food along with its margaritas. (Other locations of the restaurant in the local area can be found in Burlington and Saugus.)

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Monday, October 28, 2019

Tropical Diner in Belmont Closed Until Further Notice After Overnight Fire

A suburban diner that opened its doors earlier this year is closed for the foreseeable future after sustaining serious damage in a fire.

According to a couple of sources within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Tropical Diner in Belmont was hit by a blaze late last night that the Belmontonian says caused extensive water, heat, and smoke damage. A Facebook post from the Trapelo Street eatery indicates that the place is shuttered for at least the time being, saying that "We are working with authorities to find out what happened. We will be closed until further notice."

Tropical Diner first opened in March, replacing the Phinix Grill; the space had also been home to Sweet Peach Diner as well, and before that, Andros Diner, which had been in business for more than 30 years.

The address for Tropical Diner is 628 Trapelo Road (Route 60), Belmont, MA, 02478.

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Bagel Bin Deli in Revere Destroyed in Fire; Owner Plans to Rebuild

A popular restaurant and bagel shop for beachgoers and locals has been destroyed in a fire, though the hope is that the place will return.

According to a post from CBS Boston, a fire began at Bagel Bin Deli in Revere just before midnight on Monday night, with the blaze ultimately causing so much damage that it is believed to be a total loss. Owner George Valladsi does say that he will rebuild the shop, which has been in business for approximately 20 years.

CBS Boston says that the blaze remained under investigation as of early this afternoon.

The address for Bagel Bin Deli is 207 Shirley Avenue, Revere, MA, 02151.

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]