Sami's in Boston's Longwood Medical Area Has Closed Again

by Marc Hurwitz

A landmark food trailer that closed for a couple of years earlier in the decade has closed once again.

According to a source within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Sami's in Boston's Longwood medical area has closed, with a Facebook post from the place confirming this, saying "It pains me to say this which is why it's taken me so long to post... We are closed, indefinitely. Mom (Amy) and I are heartbroken about this. We feel terrible that we weren't able to give you all any notice either. I don't even know what to say here... We love you all like family and will miss you so much. Jou-jou" A note within the comments section of the post says that "there's a teeny bit of chance" of it being able to reopen, but it "requires lots of fundraising and orchestrating."

In 2012, the Sami's food cart had to close and was facing the possibility of losing its home because it apparently needed to abide by the same codes as brick-and-mortar structures since it did not have wheels. It returned, however, in 2014 and has been open ever since.

Sami's first opened in the Longwood area in 1979, featuring such items as falafel, hummus, lamb gyros, kebab wraps, and chicken shawarma.

[Earlier Articles]
Sami's May Lose Its Home in Boston's Longwood Medical Area
Sami's Has Reopened in Boston's Longwood Medical Area

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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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Smokey's Almost Famous Hot Dogs in Raynham Has Returned

A seasonal hot dog and sausage stand that closed down last fall after a quarter century in business is back with what appears to be a new owner.

A comment posted in an earlier article here mentions that Smokey's Almost Famous Hot Dogs in Raynham "is back for the 26th season. We have the same menu with some new items on the way!" A check on its Facebook page shows an earlier post saying that "someone will be taking over Smokeys...and yes I will train him which means I will be back for a short time, but knowing myself it will be tough to stay away." Last November we reported that the owner of Smokey's was shutting down the cart and considering retiring from the business, though he was also looking to have a new owner possibly taking it over.

Smokey's Almost Famous Hot Dogs, which is set up in the Raynham Shopping Plaza (also known as Raynham Crossing) on Route 44, has been around since 1992.

[Earlier Article]
Smokey's Almost Famous Hot Dog/Sausage Stand in Raynham Has Closed

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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Smokey's Almost Famous Hot Dog/Sausage Stand in Raynham Has Closed

A seasonal hot dog and sausage stand south of Boston has closed after a quarter century in business, though there may still be a ray of hope that it returns.

According to its Facebook page, Smokey's Almost Famous in Raynham shut down on Saturday, with the owner thanking his customers and saying "I don't know the status of my trailer...will someone buy it return as a new Smokey...unknown right now...But remember this there is only one Smokey ---ME Thanks everyone bye." A more recent post hints that the owner will actually be renewing the permit for the place, but he states that it "doesn't mean I'll return...Later this month and the winter will tell me more." Based on earlier posts, it appears that the reason for the trailer shutting down is because the owner has been hoping to retire.

Smokey's Almost Famous, which started out in 1992, offered hot dogs and sausages along with burgers, chicken, and drinks from its cart, which was set up in the Raynham Shopping Plaza (also known as Raynham Crossing) on Route 44, usually from March 1 to November 30 each year.

[December 6 update: A new Facebook post indicates that the trailer that housed the now-closed Smokey's Almost Famous is up for sale, though the owner emphasizes that it is the trailer--and not the business--that is for sale.]

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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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Tenoch Is Opening in Somerville's Davis Square

The person behind two Mexican restaurants and a food truck in the Boston area is planning to expand once again, with a new location of the eatery slated for one of the busiest parts of Somerville.

The Boston Globe confirms what Eater Boston mentioned earlier, that Tenoch is looking to open on the edge of Davis Square, with the restaurant possibly into the Highland Avenue space where Kickass Cupcakes had been before moving up the street (and ultimately closing).

[May 19, 2015 update: A new article from Eater Boston states that the upcoming Somerville location of Tenoch will not be in the former Kickass Cupcakes spot at 378 Highland Avenue, but in the former M3 space at 382 Highland Avenue instead. (No opening date for the place has been given as of yet.)]

[July 15, 2015 update: Eater Boston states that the new location of Tenoch in Somerville may be opening sometime in August, and that it plans to offer breakfast (and it could serve beer and wine if a liquor license is approved).]

[November 11, 2015 update: Tenoch has not yet opened in Somerville's Davis Square, but it appears to be close to opening, as a Facebook post from this week states that they are "just waiting on a few details."]

[December 14, 2015 update: According to a Twitter post from Boston Globe writer @kcbaskin, the new Tenoch in Somerville's Davis Square opens this Thursday (December 17).]

Currently, locations of Tenoch can be found on Riverside Avenue in Medford and on Lewis Street in Boston's North End, with a food truck also operating as well.

The website for Tenoch is at http://www.tenochmexican.com/

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Sami's Has Reopened in Boston's Longwood Medical Area

A Middle Eastern food trailer in Boston's Longwood Medical Area that closed a couple of years ago has returned.

According to a couple of posters on the Chowhound site, Sami's is open once again on Avenue Louis Pasteur, with one of the posters saying that the place is "as good as before" though "they are a bit understaffed right now." In 2012, the food cart had to close and was facing the possibility of losing its home because it apparently needed to abide by the same codes as brick-and-mortar structures since it did not have wheels. Because of this, Sami's had to look at installing plumbing or else it would no longer be able to operate. (There is no word on the outcome of this.)

Sami's first opened in the Longwood area approximately 35 years ago, featuring such items as Greek salads, hummus, falafel, lamb gyros, kebab wraps, and chicken shawarma.

[Earlier Article]
Sami's May Lose Its Home in Boston's Longwood Medical Area

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2012 Food Vendor Lineup for the Rose Kennedy Greenway in Boston

The 2012 food vendor lineup for Boston's Rose Kennedy Greenway has just been announced, and it will include a mix of new and returning trucks, trailers, kiosks, and carts. Based on an article from Grub Street Boston, some of the new foods offered this year on the Greenway will be Greek items, grilled cheese, and tacos. The list of vendors for 2012 is as follows, according to Grub Street (mostly listed from south to north):

Kickass Cupcakes, in Dewey Square and Chinatown Park
BBQ Smith, in Dewey Square
Bon Me, in Dewey Square
Clover Food Lab, in Dewey Square
Lefty's Silver Cart, in Dewey Square Park
Renula's Greek Kitchen, in Dewey Square Park
Roxy's Grilled Cheese, across from Rowes Wharf Plaza and in Chinatown Park
Yo Taco, across from Rowes Wharf Plaza
Silk Road BBQ, in Rowes Wharf Plaza
Beantown Franks 'n Spuds, at Rings Fountain by Milk Street
Grilled Cheese Nation, across from Rings Fountain by Milk Street
Boston Pushcart, near the Carousel and Harbor Islands Pavilion
Culinary Cruisers, near the Carousel and Harbor Islands Pavilion
Anthem, on the Freedom Trail in the North End Parks
Boston Harbor Ice Cream Company, various locations
Equal Exchange Free Range Cafe, various locations

As soon as we hear about some opening dates for the vendors, we will post an update here.

[March 20 update: The Boston Magazine Chowder blog mentions that some of the vendors will be up and running on May 1, with all of them being in place by Memorial Day.]

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2011 Food Vendor Lineup for Boston's Rose Kennedy Greenway

Last year, a pilot program was set up for 6 food vendors to appear along the Rose Kennedy Greenway in downtown Boston. It appears that vendors will be back on the Greenway for 2011, with twice as many food trucks, trailers, kiosks, and carts setting up this year.

According to The Boston Globe, a total of 12 food vendors will be coming to the Rose Kennedy Greenway this year, including 5 from last year and 7 new ones. The Globe mentions that the following food trucks, trailers, kiosks, and carts will be setting up along the Greenway (from south to north):

BBQSmith (new this year), in Chinatown Park
Clover Food Lab, in Dewey Square Park
DosaMobile (new), in Dewey Square Park
Lefty’s Silver Cart (new), in Dewey Square Park
Equal Exchange Free Range Cafe (new), between State Street and Pearl Street
Silk Road BBQ, in Rowes Wharf Plaza
Grilled Cheese Nation (new), across from the Rings Fountain
Cupcake Cart (new), at Rings Fountain
Beantown Franks 'n Spuds, at Rings Fountain
Going Bananas, at the Carousel
Streatery (new), at the Carousel
Boston Pushcart, at the North End Park

According to the Globe, Clover Food Lab and Silk Road BBQ are already open, with the others looking to start up around Memorial Day in late May.

For more information on the 2011 food vendor lineup along the Rose Kennedy Greenway, please go to the Boston Globe articles below.

Greenway names a dozen food vendors for 2011

More choices for Greenway gourmets

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