Life Alive Opens in Burlington

Last fall, it was reported that a local group of cafes featuring healthy, organic food was bringing a new location to the northern suburbs of Boston, and now we have learned that it is open.

According to a press release, Life Alive is now open in Burlington, and as mentioned in an earlier article, it has moved into the space where a location of Blaze Pizza had been (in Burlington Square, formerly the Vinebrook Plaza where Mall Road meets Middlesex Turnpike). The new location of Life Alive joins a number of others locally, including in Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Dedham, Jamaica Plain, Lowell, Salem, and Somerville.

The address for the new location of Life Alive is 91 Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, MA, 01803. The website for all locations can be found at https://www.lifealive.com/

[Earlier Article]
Life Alive Plans to Open in the Former Blaze Pizza Space in Burlington

(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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Life Alive Opens in Union Square November 5

Last summer, it was reported that a local group of organic cafes was planning to open another location in Somerville, and now we have learned that it is on the verge of debuting.

According to a press release, Life Alive is slated to open in Union Square on November 5, moving into a space on Prospect Street. This will be its 12 location, with others being found in Boston (3), Brookline, Cambridge (3), Dedham, Lowell, Salem, and Somerville's Davis Square.

The address for the new location of  Life Alive in Union Square is 20-50 Prospect Street, Somerville, MA, 02143. The website for all locations of Life Alive is at https://www.lifealive.com/

[Earlier Article]
Life Alive Plans to Open in Somerville's Union Square

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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.)

  

Life Alive Plans to Open in the Former Blaze Pizza Space in Burlington

A local group of cafes that feature healthy, organic food is further expanding through the Greater Boston area, with a new location on its way to the northern suburbs.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Life Alive is planning to open in Burlington, moving into the former Blaze Pizza space in the Vinebrook Plaza on Middlesex Turnpike. A Daily Times Chronicle article mentions that the upcoming eatery will have seating for 92 and like the other outlets, it will focus on scratch-made organic foods.

Once the new location of Life Alive opens, it will join others in Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Dedham, Lowell, Salem, and Somerville, along with soon-to-open outlets in Somerville's Union Square and Jamaica Plain. (Locations of Blaze Pizza remain in operation in Boston's Fenway and One Canal Park in East Cambridge.)

The address for the upcoming location of Life Alive is 91 Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, MA, 01803. The website for all locations can be found at https://www.lifealive.com/

[July 27, 2025 update: A poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page indicates that Life Alive plans to open in Burlington on August 5.]

(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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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.)

Life Alive Is Opening in Jamaica Plain

A local group of cafes that feature healthy, organic food is once again looking to open a location in Jamaica Plain, nearly 10 years after we first reported its plans to come to the Boston neighborhood.

According to an article from boston.com, Life Alive is planning to open in the former Canary Square space on S Huntington Avenue this summer, with the upcoming eatery having seating for 75 along with a seasonal outdoor patio out front. Once it opens, the new outlet will join others locally in Boston's Back Bay and South End, Brookline, Cambridge, Dedham, Lowell, Salem, and Somerville [ed note--another opened in Burlington after this writing], and it will focus mainly on vegan, organic foods along with coffee, tea, and smoothies.

The address for the new location of Life Alive in JP is 435 S Huntington Ave, Jamaica Plain, MA, 02130. The website for all locations can be found at https://www.lifealive.com/

[October 8 update: According to a press release, the Jamaica Plain location of Life Alive has opened.]

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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.)

 

Life Alive Plans to Open in Somerville's Union Square

It looks like a local group of organic cafes may be opening another location in Somerville.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Life Alive is looking to open in Union Square, with a Cambridge Day article saying (via a neighborhood meeting notice) that the new location would move into a space on Prospect Street near the Green Line station. If approved, the new dining spot would join a location in Davis Square along with others in Boston (2), Brookline, Cambridge (3), Lowell, and Salem, while another will soon be opening at Legacy Place in Dedham as well.

The address for the proposed location of Life Alive in Union Square is 32 Prospect Street, Somerville, MA, 02143. The website for all locations of Life Alive can be found at https://www.lifealive.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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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.)

  

Life Alive Is Opening in Former Panera Space at Boston University’s West Campus

A local group of cafes featuring healthy, organic food will be opening a new location that should be popular with students.

Eater Boston is reporting (via The Daily Free Press) that Life Alive is planning to open in the former Panera space on Commonwealth Avenue at Boston University's West Campus. The new shop will join others in Cambridge, Salem, and Lowell, and there had been talk earlier of the group of eateries looking to open in Jamaica Plain and at another Cambridge location as well, though there has been no word on either of late. Based on the other locations, expect to see vegetarian, vegan, and raw options at the upcoming Life Alive, including such items as wraps, salads, coffee, tea, smoothies, and desserts.

Panera closed its shop at BU's West Campus in May of this year, citing high rents as a reason for its closure.

The address for this new cafe by BU is: Life Alive, 888 Commonwealth Avenue, Brookline, MA, 02115. Its website can be found at http://www.lifealive.com/

[April 25, 2018 update: The Daily Free Press mentions that the new location of Life Alive at BU's West Campus plans to open this summer.]

[June 22, 2018 update: Eater Boston states that Life Alive is now open by BU.]

[Earlier Article]
Panera on Boston University’s West Campus Is Closing; High Rents Cited

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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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The Organic Table to Replace Prana in Newton Corner

A vegan restaurant is going to be opening in Newton Corner, replacing another vegan dining spot that recently closed for renovations.

According to their Facebook page, The Organic Table is planning to open on Centre Street, moving into the former Prana spot. (Prana closed for remodeling earlier this month after being open since the winter, when it had reopened after closing in the summer of 2011.) It looks like the new spot will feature organic vegan cuisine along with juices and smoothies. At this point, it is not known whether The Organic Table is owned by the Prana folks; as soon as we find out more information, we will post an update here.


Once it opens, hours for The Organic Table will be 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM Monday through Thursday, 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays, and 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Sundays.

The address for this upcoming restaurant in Newton Corner is: The Organic Table, 292 Centre Street, Newton, MA, 02458. Their Facebook page can be found at https://www.facebook.com/organictable

Thanks to both an emailer and a poster on the Chowhound site for bringing this to our attention.


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Rafiki Bistro in Cambridge Has Closed

A bistro between Cambridge's Harvard Square and Porter Square that featured mostly organic, healthy takes on Provencal fare has decided to call it a day.

According to their Facebook page, Rafiki Bistro on Mass. Ave. is now closed, with their last day of operation being this past Saturday. No specific reason for their closing was given, with the Facebook note simply saying "Last night [Saturday night] Rafiki Bistro closed its doors for the last time. To all our friends and loyal customers we say 'THANK YOU.'"

Rafiki Bistro first opened its doors in the spring of 2010, taking over the space where the Forest Cafe had been since the 1930s. The restaurant featured a mostly French and New American menu that included such items as mussels, crispy eggplant, fried calamari, a spring salad with duck egg, tuna tartare, coq au vin, crispy cod, statler chicken, and steak frites.

The address for this now-closed restaurant in Cambridge was: Rafiki Bistro, 1682 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02138.


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Rafiki Bistro Moving Into Old Forest Cafe Space in Cambridge

A modern bistro featuring organic, healthy cuisine is coming to Cambridge, and it is moving into the space where a well-known restaurant and bar had been for many decades.

Rafiki Bistro will be opening this spring on Mass. Ave. between Porter Square and Central Square, taking over the spot where the Forest Cafe had been since the 1930s (and which closed earlier this winter). According to the restaurant's website, Rafiki Bistro will focus on organic fare while stressing environmentally friendly and socially responsible practices.

The breakfast menu at Rafiki Bistro includes pancakes, French toast, and burritos (with a cafe menu featuring bagels and pastries, while the lunch menu includes a variety of burgers (beef, salmon, ostrich, chicken, turkey, walnut), soups, paninis, and hummus. The dinner menu has such items as chicken tangine, veggie enchiladas, and fish stew, as well as options from the lunch menu.

As mentioned in an earlier article, it appears that the owners of the Clear Conscience Cafe in Cambridge's Central Square are also the people behind Rafiki Bistro.

[April 26 update: Rafiki Bistro is now open.]

The address for this new restaurant in Cambridge is: Rafiki Bistro, 1682 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02138. The phone number is (617) 661-7810. And the website is at: http://www.rafikibistro.com/

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Mill City Gourmet in Lawrence Has Become Wichit

A cafe in Lawrence that has been serving breakfast and lunch to both locals and nearby workers for several years has changed its name and menu, and renovated its interior. Mill City Gourmet in the Everett Mills complex on Union Street became Wichit earlier this fall (same ownership) and now focuses more on organic foods and sandwiches, though some items from the Mill City Gourmet's menu are still offered. A press release put out by Wichit states that the rebranded cafe is now doing online ordering and also offers catering.

The menu at Wichit includes pulled pork breakfast burritos, frittatas, angus steak chili, a roast turkey Cobb salad, sweet potato fries, and a number of sandwiches (Cubano, chicken katsu, angus burger, ham and egg, and several others).

On a side note, Mill City Gourmet was a restaurant that we had featured on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants site. We will be heading to Wichit soon to check out the spot, but in the meantime, if you would like to read our old Mill City Gourmet review, here it is:

http://www.hiddenboston.com/MillCityGourmet.html

Hours for Wichit are 6:30 AM to 3:00 PM Monday through Friday (it is closed on weekends). The address is: Wichit, 15 Union Street, Lawrence, MA, 01840. The phone number is (978) 794-0199. And the website is at: http://www.wichitsandwich.com/

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