Sysco Announces Plan to Buy Restaurant Depot

The country's top food distributor is planning to purchase a foodservice supplier that is used by independent restaurants--and which has several locations in the Greater Boston area.

According to an article from CNBC, Sysco has struck a deal to buy Restaurant Depot for $29 billion (including debt), with Sysco CEO Kevin Hourican saying "Sysco and Jetro Restaurant Depot will enhance value for small independent restaurants and the consumers they serve by expanding access to more affordable, fresh food products and delivering more choice and convenience." Restaurant Depot, whose wholesale cash‑and‑carry model allows customers to pay upfront for food, drink, and other products, has warehouse outlets locally in Andover, Avon, Everett, Milford, and Needham.

It appears that if the deal is approved by regulators, Restaurant Depot would continue to operate independently, according to Hoodline.

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

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Top Mix Bar & Kitchen Opens in Cambridge's Alewife Area

Last summer, it was reported that a pair of restaurants in Boston known for their Caribbean-style bar bites and cocktails would be joined by a third location in Cambridge, and now we have learned that it is open.

A message sent by Leah Klein of City Living Boston indicates that Top Mix Bar & Kitchen is now open in the city's Alewife area, moving into a space on CambridgePark Drive. The new eatery joins others in Roxbury and Jamaica Plain, and based on the other locations,  it will likely offer such options as pastelitos, chicken and waffles, steak tips, fish and chips, mofongo, burgers, chicken sandwiches, and more. 

The address for the new location of Top Mix Bar & Kitchen at Alewife is 50 CambridgePark Drive, Cambridge, MA, 02140. The website for all locations is at https://www.topmixbar.com/

[Earlier Article]
Top Mix Bar & Kitchen Plans to Open in Cambridge

(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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Blue Bottle Coffee Is Reopening Its Harvard Square Location

A Cambridge location of a San Francisco-based coffee roaster that appeared to shut down permanently last spring is opening back up.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Blue Bottle Coffee in Harvard Square is reopening, with a Crimson article stating that a flyer is up in the window of the Bow Street storefront saying that "We are training! Excited to welcome you back on October 31, 2021!" The Harvard Square location of the chain was removed from the company website around late May or early June of 2020, with its windows being papered over (the Crimson says that it officially closed on May 30); a check on its website now shows that the Cambridge outlet is back up and it says "temporarily closed."

Other locations of Blue Bottle Coffee can be found locally in Boston's Back Bay (2), Cambridge's Kendall Square, and Chestnut Hill.

The address for Blue Bottle Coffee in Harvard Square is 40 Bow Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138. The website for the company is at https://bluebottlecoffee.com/

[November 10 update: Based on its website, the Harvard Square location of Blue Bottle Coffee is now open.]

[Earlier Article]
Blue Bottle Coffee in Cambridge's Harvard Square Has Apparently Closed

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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Sweetgreen Is Opening at Arsenal Yards in Watertown

A growing chain of dining spots known for its healthy options is opening yet another location in the Greater Boston area, with this one coming to a new development by the Charles River.

According to a web page within the Arsenal Yards website, Sweetgreen is coming to the development, with a page saying that it will be "opening soon." The upcoming outlet will join a number of other locations in the local area while also joining a variety of dining spots at Arsenal Yards itself, including Ben & Jerry's, Chipotle, City Works, Cuppa Coffee, Garbanzo, Pepe's, Shake Shack, and several other places that will be opening over the coming weeks and months.

The website for Sweetgreen, which is known mainly for its salads and grain bowls, can be found at https://www.sweetgreen.com/

[August 27 update: According to a Facebook post, Sweetgreen is now open at Arsenal Yards.]

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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Elon Musk May Be Getting into the Restaurant Industry

The person behind a company that produces electric vehicles appears to be eyeing the restaurant industry for one of his next ventures.

According to an article from TechCrunch, Elon Musk has filed trademarks covering "restaurant services, pop-up restaurant services, self-service restaurant services, take-out restaurant services," which seems to indicate that the CEO of Tesla could be planning to set up restaurants that could also theoretically double as EV charging stations while customers dine inside. Details are few as of now, but Musk did hint at this concept a few years ago in a tweet in which he said, "Gonna put an old school drive-in, roller skates & rock restaurant at one of the new Tesla Supercharger locations in LA."

A couple of barriers to purchasing electric cars have been the vehicle range and the time it takes to charge them, though both of these continue to improve, with U.S. News now showing some cars having a range of more than 250 miles while Kelley Blue Book mentions that a few cars are currently able to charge at a rate of approximately 12 to 15 miles per minute.

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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Au Bon Pain on State Street in Downtown Boston Has Closed

One day after reporting that the Somerville location of a chain of bakery cafes is saying farewell, we have learned that another outlet as closed as well, and this one was in the heart of Boston.

According to multiple sources, Au Bon Pain on State Street in downtown Boston has shut down, with a check in the locations section of the local chain seeming to confirm this, showing that it no longer shows up on that page. The State Street outlet joins another closure in Davis Square, with that location sending an email to a number of other sources saying that it is "closing permanently" (it appears that the Somerville shop has already closed, as it has now been removed from the locations page as well).

Other locations of Au Bon Pain--which is headquartered in the Seaport District of Boston--seem to remain in operation, including other downtown Boston shops at South Station, One International Place, Park Plaza, and Merrimac Street, though they are all labeled as currently being "temporarily closed" on the site, apparently because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The address for the now-closed location of Au Bon Pain in downtown Boston was 53 State Street, Boston, MA, 02109. The website for the chain can be found at https://www.aubonpain.com/

[Earlier Article]
Au Bon Pain in Somerville's Davis Square Is Closing

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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As Phases 2 and 3 Approach, Questions Remain As to What Constitutes a "Bar"

We are now in the middle of Phase 1 of the gradual reopening of Massachusetts as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, and while Phase 2 will mark the opening of restaurants (with restrictions) and Phase 3 will mark the opening of bars, how, exactly, does Governor Baker's administration define what a bar is in this case? It doesn't seem as straightforward as one might think.

According to a page on the state website that looks into the four-phase approach to reopen the state, restaurants are slated to reopen as early as June 8 and bars are slated to reopen as early as June 29, as each phase lasts a minimum of three weeks. A note next to the section on bars brings up some questions, saying that "Bars are defined as establishments that only serve alcohol and do not have kitchen areas that prepare food on-site." If taken literally, this would means that nearly all bars would be included with restaurants and could reopen in Phase 2, as there are very few drinking spots that do not offer food made on the premises (a few that come to mind include Brendan Behan in Jamaica Plain, Croke Park/Whitey's in South Boston, and Sligo Pub in Somerville). A recent Facebook post from the upcoming Donahue's Pub in Holbrook hints that there appears to be some confusion out there about this, as they say they do not expect to debut until at least June 29 because they believe that they "don't have the proper kitchen to be a restaurant," and yet their menu shows a variety of food items including pizza, wings, steak and cheese eggrolls, chicken sandwiches, onion rings, fries, and more.

Hopefully the Baker administration can clarify this over the coming days as it also (presumably) starts posting guidance for restaurants and bars now that we are getting closer to the possible start of Phase 2, and eventually, Phase 3.

[Earlier Article]
Guidelines Set in Place for Reopening of Restaurants and Bars in Massachusetts

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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What the Future Might Hold for Salad Bars and Buffets

As some states get ready to open up in phases--and Massachusetts also looks at a possible lifting of restrictions later this month--one question that seems to be coming up is, what will become of restaurants that focus at least in part on salad bars and buffets in a post-pandemic world?

While many dining spots offer salad bars and buffets as only a small part of their offerings and can probably pivot to focusing solely on freshly-made meals (think Indian and Chinese restaurants that offer weekday lunch buffets or dining spots that offer weekend brunch buffets), other eateries such as Brazilian steakhouses that are known mainly for their buffets may have to redo their concepts, while conveyor-belt sushi places--while not technically considered to be buffets--may also have to do the same because having multiple diners be too close to food is an obvious problem. The main issue with salad bars and buffets (and conveyor belt restaurants) is the self-service aspect of them; an NBC Connecticut article indicates how this is such a concern, saying that food and restaurant organizations in that state are looking into measures that could include prohibiting self-service areas in restaurants, including salad bars and buffets, as dining spots get ready to reopen.

With the coronavirus not going away anytime soon, are salad bars and buffets going to become a thing of the past? Maybe not, but until a vaccine becomes available, don't expect to see them anytime soon in Massachusetts or most other states, for that matter.

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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Ruth's Chris, Sweetgreen Returning Loans Granted Through the CARES Act and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)

Two more restaurant chains have decided to return the money granted them as part of a government stimulus package designed to help small businesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to an article from NBC and a post from Grub Street, Ruth's Chris Steak House is returning its $20 million forgivable loan while Sweetgreen is returning the $10 million that it had received, both of which were granted via the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) part of the CARES Act. The two chains join two others that are returning their loans--Shake Shack, which was given $10 million and Kura Sushi, which was granted $5.98 million.

Several restaurant chains have been criticized for securing funding from the PPP which ran out of money in under two weeks, leaving many independent restaurants not getting any funding at least for now. (The PPP was set up to help small businesses maintain their payrolls.)

[Earlier Articles]
Shake Shack Returning $10 Million Granted Through the CARES Act and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)
Kura Sushi Returning $5.98 Million Granted Through the CARES Act and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)

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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Could "Restaurmarts" Become a Hot New Concept in a Post-Pandemic World?

An article that was posted here last week looked at one dining concept that could take off once the coronavirus crisis lessens--the ghost kitchen--and now another concept is being looked at as a possible booming subcategory within the restaurant industry.

Based on an article in Forbes, it appears that the "restaurmart" could be a big player in the future, especially considering that cities and towns across the country, including Arlington and Somerville, are currently allowing restaurants to sell grocery items until restrictions are lifted on dining and drinking spots. The question is, will at least some restaurants decide to continue to sell groceries once things get better, either by applying for the required permits that will be going back into place, and/or perhaps seeing cities and towns make it easier for dining spots to acquire the needed permits? This remains to be seen, but as Forbes says, Sysco (which is a food distributor) has already begun something called a "Sysco Pop Up Shop" which helps restaurants sell "essential" products in addition to its usual food/drink items, while chains such as Panera are now offering an array of grocery items to customers.

Forbes also notes that one chain has actually done very well with their own version of the "restaurmart" concept over the years--Cracker Barrel, a Southern-style chain of eateries that features combination restaurants/country stores and which also sells some of its products in a variety of supermarkets.

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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Shake Shack Returning $10 Million Granted Through the CARES Act and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)

A restaurant chain known for its burgers and shakes is giving back the money it received as part of a government stimulus package designed to help small businesses.

According to an article from NBC, Shake Shack is returning the $10 million that it was granted via the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) part of the CARES Act, with founder Danny Meyer and CEO Randy Garutti saying in a letter that "We now know that the first phase of the PPP was underfunded, and many who need it most, haven't gotten any assistance....Our people would benefit from a $10 million PPP loan, but we're fortunate to now have access to capital that others do not....Until every restaurant that needs it has had the same opportunity to receive assistance, we're returning ours." NBC mentions that Shake Shack and its parent company Union Square Hospitality Group were able to secure additional capital separately last week, prompting them to return the stimulus money.

The PPP currently allows restaurant locations to pursue loans if they have no more than 500 employees, and as the letter from Meyer and Garutti indicates, Shake Shack outlets apparently have an average of approximately 45 employees. Shake Shack and other chains, including Ruth's Chris Steak House and Potbelly Sandwich Shop, have caught flack over the past few days for securing funding from the PPP, which ran out of money in less than two weeks, leaving many small businesses--including restaurants--still awaiting funding. (The PPP is supposedly set up to help small businesses maintain their payrolls.)

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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As Restaurants Continue to Suffer Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Ghost Kitchens Could Begin to Flourish

With restaurant restrictions and shutdowns continuing across the country, it is no secret that the industry is reeling, but it looks like an emerging sector of the business might be in better shape than others, especially as the coronavirus crisis begins to plateau and hopefully lessen.

Based on an article from CNBC, it appears that "ghost kitchens" may be primed to take off, with C3--which is a consortium that is part of SBE Entertainment Group--planning to hire 1,000 workers while also signing leases with CloudKitchens, a startup that was founded by former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick. The post says that mall owner Simon Property is partnering with SBE to bring ghost kitchen cooking facilities to malls and hotels, with the plan being to open 138 kitchens by the end of the year.

CNBC mentions that at least some ghost kitchens--which are basically food prep/cooking facilities set up for creating delivery-only meals and are also known as cloud kitchens or virtual kitchens--are being set up within empty restaurant spaces, with SBE Entertainment CEO Sam Nazarian saying that "It's an interesting solution to what we believe, post-Covid, when a lot of restaurateurs will not be able to survive, and these restaurants will be going dark." (C3's delivery-only brands include Krispy Rice, which focuses on sushi, and Sam's Crispy Chicken, which offers chicken sandwiches.)

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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Half of All Chinese Restaurants in the United States Are Closed, According to Study

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the restaurant industry in the United States, a particularly hard-hit area of the industry is one that might not come as a real surprise.

Restaurant Business is reporting that 51% of all Chinese restaurants in the country are closed for takeout and delivery for at least the time being, with the article showing that the next largest percentage of closures is Indian restaurants at 21%. The study, which comes from Womply (a credit card processing company whose data comes from over 400,000 transactions), looks at the number of dining spots that were closed as of last week, with Restaurant Business mentioning that the study shows the inordinately high numbers of Chinese restaurants closed is due at least in part to "consumer prejudice and misperceptions."

The data shows that dining spots featuring chicken wings have fared better than all other categories looked at, with only 8% of those eateries being closed for now.

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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Toast Cuts 50 Percent of Its Staff As Restaurant Industry Continues to Reel from Restrictions and Shutdowns

A local company that provides point-of-sale software to restaurants is laying off half of its workers.

According to an article from CNBC, Toast announced yesterday that it is cutting approximately 50% of its employees, or somewhere around 1,300 workers in total. The layoffs are a direct result of the coronavirus crisis as indicated by CEO Chris Comparato's statement saying that "During the month of March, as a result of necessary social distancing and government-mandated closures, restaurant sales declined by 80 percent in most cities....This is a massive disruption that hit the industry virtually overnight. Many restaurants that have temporarily closed may never reopen." The Boston-based company had been growing rapidly before the outbreak with its revenue more than doubling last year, but the combination of restaurants closing or having to focus only on takeout/delivery have caused a ripple effect throughout the industry.

 Comparato hopes for the best for both the company and the restaurant industry as a whole, saying that "There is no playbook for navigating a global pandemic, but at Toast we will double-down on our effort to support our community and become the leading platform for restaurants of all size....We will continue to invest in our team, our platform, and -- most importantly -- our customer community."

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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Nashoba Valley Winery Owner Faces License Issue That Could Force Restaurant or Winery to Close

A well-known winery west of Boston is going to court over a licensing issue that could ultimately cause at least part of the business to close.

WBUR is reporting that the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) is not going to be renewing all of the licenses for Nashoba Valley Winery in Bolton for next year, saying that a Massachusetts business cannot have both a pouring license for a restaurant and a farmer's manufacturing license (in this case, a farmer's winery license). Because of this, owner Rich Pelletier indicates that he would have to either drop the pouring license which would mean that the dining spot on the premises--J's Restaurant--would not be able to sell the farm's wine, or he could drop the farmer's winery license and no longer be able to produce wine. A post from CBS Boston states that if Pelletier is not able to retain both licenses, he may have to close the restaurant around the end of the year--or the winery, according to WBUR--though stopping the production of wine does not seem like a viable option.

Pelletier is now looking to take regulators to court over the licensing issue, but the office of Attorney General Maura Healey is seeking to have the case dismissed because the licenses have not actually been denied for next year as of yet, saying that Pelletier needs to exhaust his "administrative remedies" before going to court. (A hearing on the dismissal is expected to take place June 29.)

Nashoba Valley Winery is a hilltop spot that includes a winery, orchard, tasting area, restaurant, and retail shop; it also hosts functions and events, including weddings, corporate outings, family reunions, private picnics, and more. Its website is at http://nashobawinery.com/

[June 28 update: A new article from WBUR indicates that Governor Charlie Baker is ready to support legal action or legislation that would make sure Nashoba Valley Winery will be able to continue operating as it has been for 16 years without having to choose one license or the other. The post also shows a statement from Treasurer Deborah Goldberg saying that "My office is working with the ABCC, the Attorney General's Office, and legislators on this issue, actively seeking an appropriate solution. I am confident that we will get there very soon."]

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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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Sugar Baking Company and Restaurant Opening in Roslindale

The owner of a sandwich shop and a bakery in West Roxbury is working with the owner of a West Roxbury diner to open a new restaurant and bakery in Roslindale.

According to the West Roxbury Transcript and Wicked Local, Sugar Baking Company and Restaurant is going to be opening where A. Boschetto Bakery used to be on Washington Street along the northern edge of Roslindale Village. (A. Boschetto Bakery bad been in business for nearly 60 years before closing last fall.) The article mentions that the owner of the Real Deal on Centre Street in West Roxbury and Sugar Bakery, which is attached to the Real Deal, is teaming up with the owner of the Rox Diner (formerly Auntie B's), which is across the street from both businesses, to open up Sugar Baking Company and Restaurant.

Sugar Baking Company and Restaurant, which could be open by September, will offer breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. It appears that items from the commercial bakery will be included on the menu, according to the article.

[January 28, 2011 update: A phone call placed to Sugar Baking Company and Restaurant indicates that it is now open for business. (Thanks to tablecritic.com for helping us find this out.)]

The address for this new restaurant and bakery in Roslindale is: Sugar Baking Company and Restaurant, 4172 Washington Street, Roslindale, MA, 02131.

Thanks to Universal Hub for bringing this to our attention.

For more information on the opening of Sugar Baking Company and Restaurant, please go to the West Roxbury Transcript/Wicked Local link below.

Rox Diner + Sugar Bakery = Sugar Baking Company and Restaurant!

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Romantic Boston Restaurants

Just a last-minute reminder about our Romantic Boston Restaurants for Valentine's Day page on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants site. Many restaurants are now booked for next Wednesday (Valentine's Day), but it is still possible to find a dining spot that has tables available that night. Some of the restaurants listed on the our page are not very well-known, so perhaps some of them are still taking reservations.

Tags: romantic restaurants Boston Valentine's Day