The Rumor Mill: Is Daisy Buchanan's Returning to Boston's Back Bay?

A couple of months ago, an iconic bar in the Back Bay of Boston shut its doors after being in business for nearly 45 years. Now we are hearing that it could be returning to a new space nearby, though nothing has been confirmed as of yet.

The Inside Track of The Boston Herald mentions that the owner of the now-closed Daisy Buchanan's on Newbury Street is apparently looking at a building on the same street as a possible new home for the bar. The column states that "Someone Who Knows" says it is indeed in the works--but not a done deal at this point--while the real estate person who was involved with the sale of the Daisy's space did not wish to comment.

Daisy Buchanan's, which first opened in 1970, closed down in November with the building at the corner of Newbury and Fairfield streets reportedly being slated for high-end retail development.

Thanks to @ConciergeBoston for bringing this to our attention.

[Earlier Article]
Daisy Buchanan's in Boston's Back Bay Is Closing

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Caffe Nero Is Opening in Boston's South End

In November, we reported that a chain of Italian-style coffee shops based in Europe was planning to open a second location in Boston. Now we have learned that another location is in the works as well.

An article from BosGuy indicates that Caffe Nero is looking to open a shop on Tremont Street in the South End where Francesca's Cafe had been for nearly 20 years until closing in the summer of 2013. The post says that the Union Park Neighborhood Association has an upcoming meeting that will include an overview of plans for the shop, so this appears to be in its very early stages. If Caffe Nero does open in the South End, it will join an existing shop in Downtown Crossing as well as an upcoming one in Jamaica Plain.

Last February, we mentioned that a location of Peet's Coffee & Tea was possibly coming to the former Francesca's space, but that appears to have fallen through.

The address for the new Caffe Nero in the South End is 564 Tremont Street, Boston, MA, 02118. The website for the chain can be found at http://www.caffenero.com/

[May 1 update: According to a post from CBH Communications, it appears that Caffe Nero has been given the green light to open in the former Francesca's Cafe space, with a sign up for the shop saying "coming soon."]

[July 20 update: According to the chain's Facebook page, the new Caffe Nero in Boston's South End is now open.]

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Four Restaurants Open within Stop and Shop in East Somerville

A location of a local chain of supermarkets now has four restaurants within its space.

According to an article from The Shelby Report, the Stop & Shop on the McGrath Highway in East Somerville has added a dining area to the front of its store, with Carol Ann's Bake Shop and Fisherman's Net (both of which operate at Boston's Faneuil Hall), Salsa's (a Mexican restaurant with locations in South Boston and Hingham), and The Sausage Guy (a Fenway Park vendor) all offering both dine-in and takeout choices to customers. The article says that the restaurant area at Stop & Shop is open from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM seven days a week.

The address for the East Somerville location of Stop & Shop (and the four restaurants within it) is 779 McGrath Highway, Somerville, MA, 02145.

Thanks to @FoodserviceEast for bringing this to our attention.

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Bread + Butter in Boston's North End Has Closed; Catering Business Moves to Back Bay

A bakery and cafe in the North End of Boston has closed its doors, though its catering operation remains in operation in another part of the city.

According to a Twitter photo from @ConciergeBoston, Bread + Butter on Cross Street is no longer in business, with a sign outside the place saying that it has moved its catering business to the Back Bay. An article from NorthEndWaterfront.com mentions that the cafe had actually closed in December and put up a sign saying that it would reopen this month, but it never did end up reopening.

Bread + Butter first opened in May of 2013.

The address for this now-closed bakery-cafe in the North End was: Bread + Butter, 64 Cross Street, Boston, MA, 02113.

Thanks to @PatrickMBoston of Maguire Promotions for initially bringing this to our attention.

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Smashburger Is Opening in Westwood

Last summer, we reported that a Colorado-based chain of quick-casual burger restaurants was going to be opening a second location in the Boston area. Now we have learned that a second location is indeed on the way, but in another part of the region.

According to a job post within the Craigslist site, Smashburger is opening a new shop in Westwood, joining an existing location in the Sherwood Plaza on Route 9 in Natick. In July, we had mentioned that a shop was being planned for the Fellsway Plaza in Medford, but there has been little more information on that one of late, and now the chain says that the Westwood location will be its "2nd" in the region. (The job post also says that more than 20 locations are planned for the Boston area over the coming years.)

[February 9, 2015 update: A new job post on Craigslist says that Smashburger plans to open at University Station in Westwood sometime next month.]

[April 6, 2015 update: An article in The Walpole Times states that the new Smashburger in Westwood is now open.]

The Denver-based Smashburger chain first started out in 2007, featuring meatball-shaped patties that are "smashed" on the grill, which they say helps caramelize the beef and keep in the juices. The website for the chain can be found at http://smashburger.com/

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Owners of La Morra in Brookline to Replace Sherborn Inn with Heritage of Sherborn

[Ed Note: This article was updated on March 6 and April 29 to reflect new information, including a new name and when it might open.]

An authentic colonial restaurant west of Boston is closing down, though the owners of a well-known Italian restaurant are planning to take over the space.

The Dover-Sherborn Press is reporting that the Sherborn Board of Selectmen have approved a liquor license transfer for the Sherborn Inn--as well as a transfer for the adjacent Sherborn Out wine shop--on North Main Street, with the licenses going to Josh and Jennifer Ziskin of La Morra on Route 9 in Brookline. A call placed to the inn indicates that tomorrow (Saturday, January 3) will be its last day in business with food and drink being served in the tavern area, while a note from one of the owners of La Morra indicates that the restaurant will be closed for renovations for a few months, though the wine shop may possibly remain open for catering, wine, and provisions. The actual sale of the Sherborn Inn should be finalized in the next few weeks, at which point the new owners will likely make a formal announcement on the exact plans for the place.

[January 8 update: The Dover-Sherborn Press gives a bit more information on the plans for the now-closed Sherborn Inn; according to the article, Josh and Jennifer Ziskin--who are purchasing the place--will look to focus on American-style fare (with perhaps an Italian dish or two included) and will "incorporate farm-inspired cuisine" into the menu.]

[March 6 update: According to a Facebook post, the sale of the old Sherborn Inn to Josh and Jennifer Ziskin has been finalized and the new restaurant will be called Heritage of Sherborn.]

[June 11 update: A new Facebook post from Heritage of Sherborn indicates that the restaurant has its grand opening tomorrow (Friday, June 12).]

[June 30 update/correction: Quick note--the gastropub section of Heritage of Sherborn has opened, not the entire restaurant. The website for Heritage says that the main room of the restaurant opens sometime in July.]

The Sherborn Inn is housed in a renovated structure that dates back to the mid-1700s; the restaurant itself has been in business there for more than 25 years.

The address for the Sherborn Inn is 33 North Main Street, Sherborn, MA, 01770.

Thanks to a poster on the Chowhound site for bringing this to our attention.

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