Jazz Urbane Cafe Still Planning to Open in Roxbury

A few years ago, it was reported that a cafe featuring live music could be coming to an historic building in Roxbury. Now we have learned that the plans are still on the table and appear to be moving forward.

According to an article from Universal Hub, Jazz Urbane Cafe continues to look at opening within the Ferdinand storefront section of the Bolling Building in Nubian Square. The people behind the proposed spot--Nia Grace of Darryl's Corner Kitchen & Bar, Berkeley Professor Bill Banfield, and entrepreneur Turahn Dorsey--will need to get approval for a variance by the Zoning Board of Appeal due to a lack of parking, as well as licenses to serve food and drink. If they get the green light to open, the new spot would feature live jazz music from both local and national performers (including acts from Banfield's Jazz Urbane record label) while the space may also be used for community events.

As mentioned earlier, the Bolling Building dates back to the 1880s.

The website for Jazz Urbane Cafe can be found at jazzurbanecafe.com

[Earlier Article]
Jazz Urbane Cafe Could Be Opening in Roxbury's Dudley Square

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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All Souls Lounge Is Taking Over the Former Cilantro Space in Salem

It looks like a music club is on its way to the North Shore, taking over the space where a Mexican restaurant currently resides.

According to a source, All Souls Lounge is planning to open in Salem in the Cilantro space on Derby Street, with a Facebook post within the Downtown Neighborhood Association (Salem, MA) group page mentioning that Cilantro has been sold and that All Souls would be a "small, retro jazz themed club" whose owners are "local and very experienced on the local hospitality scene." A notice within the City of Salem site confirms that the lounge is indeed seeking the liquor license from Cilantro, while a more detailed notice within mypublicnotices.com says that the space would include a dining room and bar along with a full kitchen.

In addition to All Souls Lounge, the Facebook post also mentions that a new restaurant is coming to the former Fresh Taste/Bistro 118 space on Washington Street, a Latino place is opening in the former Stella's/Strega/Smokin' Bettys space on Lafayette Street, and Sweet Boba Tea shop is planning to open in a former Dunkins space in the same building as Cilantro.

The address for All Souls Lounge (and Cilantro) is 282 Derby Street, Salem, MA, 01970. Its website can be found at https://allsoulssalem.com/

[July 5 update: According to its social media posts, All Souls Lounge is now open, with its menu showing hot dogs, grilled cheese sandwiches, and cocktails.]

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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Jazz Urbane Cafe Could Be Opening in Roxbury's Dudley Square

by Marc Hurwitz

About a year ago, we reported that a new restaurant featuring live music could be coming to an increasingly-hot section of Roxbury. Now we have learned a bit more about the upcoming place.

According to an article from Universal Hub, musician and Berklee College of Music professor William Banfield is planning to open JazzUrbane Cafe within the historic Bolling Building in Dudley Square, with the place featuring food and live entertainment at night while being a space for arts organizations and community groups during the day. Banfield mentions in a statement that "I am excited for the opportunity to create a truly unique experience in Roxbury, to bring back jazz to Dudley Square, and build an establishment that will become a destination for all residents and visitors," while a Boston Magazine article says that Banfield also states the place will be "designed to bring neighbors together and celebrate through the shared love of food, art, and community in a warm and inviting venue." No opening date has been given for JazzUrbane Cafe, so stay tuned for updates.

The Bolling Building is currently home to Soleil restaurant and Dudley Cafe, though two other dining spots--Dudley Dough and Tasty Burger--no longer reside in the structure, which dates back to the 1880s.

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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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Ryles Jazz Club in Cambridge's Inman Square Is Closing

by Marc Hurwitz

It looks like another music club is calling it a day, and this one has been around for a very long time.

According to an article in The Boston Globe, Ryles Jazz Club in Cambridge's Inman Square is closing, with owner Gary Mitchell (who runs the place with his sister Aimee Baum) saying that the Hampshire Street spot is being sold so that his family can focus on the S&S Restaurant, a deli on the same block that his great-grandmother opened nearly 100 years ago. No specific closing date has been given as of yet, but the Globe mentions a Facebook post from the Soul City Band that indicates it could be shutting down at the end of June.

Ryles Jazz Club, which first opened in the late 1970s, is an institution of sorts that has seen the likes of Grover Washington Jr., Pat Metheny, Maynard Ferguson and others play over the years; while the original owner was Jack Reilly, Mitchell and his family have run the place for the past 25 years.

The address for Ryles Jazz Club is 212 Hampshire Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139. Its website can be found at http://www.rylesjazz.com/

[June 28 update: The Boston Globe mentions that Ryles closes this weekend, with its last official night open to the public being tomorrow (Friday, June 29) and its last day in operation being Saturday when it will host an invitation-only party.]

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Darryl's Corner Bar and Kitchen Included in OpenTable's Awards for Late Night Dining Hotspots

An online restaurant reservations provider has come out with its Diners' Choice awards for best late-night dining hotspots, and a Southern restaurant and jazz bar in the South End of Boston has made the list.

According to PR Newswire, Darryl's Corner Bar and Kitchen on Columbus Avenue was one of 50 dining spots that made OpenTable's Diners' Choice Awards for best late night dining. The list, which did not include any other restaurants in New England, comes from more than ten million reviews from OpenTable diners for more than 12,000 restaurants across the United States. A few dining spots in New York City made the list as well, including Dizzy's Club Coca Cola, Macao Trading Company, Negril Village, and Smoke Jazz and Supper Club.

Darryl's Corner Bar and Kitchen, which first opened almost exactly a year ago today, features a mix of comfort food and Southern-influenced dishes, along with a variety of cocktails. The spot also has live jazz, including a Sunday morning all-you-can-eat Jazz Buffet brunch.

The address for Darryl's is: Darryl's Corner Bar and Kitchen, 604 Columbus Avenue, Boston, MA, 02118. The phone number is (617) 536-1100. And the website is at http://www.darrylscornerbarboston.com/

For a complete list of the restaurants chosen by OpenTable's diners, please go to the PR Newswire link below.

OpenTable Diners Reveal Top 50 Late Night Dining Hotspots

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The Stork Club in Boston Is Closed

It looks like a restaurant and jazz lounge in the South End of Boston has closed its doors.
According to posters on Yelp and Chowhound, as well as one of our readers who emailed us, The Stork Club on Columbus Avenue shut down a few days ago, with a Chowhound poster mentioning that a sign is on the door stating that the place is closed until further notice. The Stork Club, which opened last summer in the space where Bob's Southern Bistro and Bob the Chef used to reside, has offered comfort food to diners and has featured live jazz and blues.

[June 11 update: According to the Boston Herald, The Stork Club closed because of a contract dispute between the owner and the group that holds the space's licenses (and which was behind the short-lived Circle, a French restaurant that briefly resided in the spot in late 2008). It is not know for sure at this time whether The Stork Club will reopen, though the general manager of the place indicates that the closure is only temporary, according to the Herald.] [August 16 update: A new restaurant called Darryl's Bar and Kitchen will be moving into the spot where The Stork Club was.]

The address for the now-closed Stork Club was: The Stork Club, 604 Columbus Avenue, Boston, MA, 02118.

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The Stork Club Opens in the South End

A new jazz lounge and restaurant opens in Boston today. The Stork Club is looking to open its doors at 3:30 this afternoon on Columbus Avenue in the South End of the city, in the spot where Bob's Southern Bistro and Bob the Chef used to be. According to their Web site, The Stork Club will feature comfort food as well as live jazz and blues nightly, and will be open seven days a week from 3:30 PM to 2:00 AM (the kitchen will be open from 5:30 PM to 1:00 AM).

The menu at The Stork Club will features such items as sweet potato crab cakes, blackened catfish sliders, smoked chicken tacos, roasted turkey sandwiches, meatloaf, macaroni and cheese, steak frites, and herbed truffle fries.

The address for this new jazz lounge and restaurant in the South End is: The Stork Club, 604 Columbus Avenue, Boston, MA, 02118. The phone number is (617) 391-0256. And the Web site is at: http://www.storkclubboston.com/

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