Boston Restaurant Talk

Tuesday, April 04, 2017

EvyTea Opening Tea Bar in Former Sorelle Space on Monument Avenue in Charlestown

A tea bar is on its way to Charlestown, taking over the space where a location of a bakery-cafe had been.

Eater Boston is reporting that EvyTea is planning to open a second brick-and-mortar location, with this one moving into the former Sorelle spot on Monument Avenue. Once it opens, the new shop will join another in Jamaica Plain, while the company's cold brew teas can also be found at a number of local stores, including locations of Whole Foods in the Greater Boston area. An opening date has not yet been given for EvyTea in Charlestown, so stay tuned for updates.

Sorelle Bakery & Cafe closed its Monument Avenue shop in January of this year; its other locations in Charlestown's City Square, Atlantic Wharf near Fort Point Channel, and the Seaport District remain in operation.

The address for the new tea bar from EvyTea is 1 Monument Avenue, Charlestown, MA, 02129. Its website can be found at http://coldbrewedtea.com/

[August 9 update: Eater Boston states that EvyTea opens this week in Charlestown, giving customers a "first look" at the place tomorrow.]

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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]

Ethiopian Cafe Inc. to Open in Former Aurum Space in Jamaica Plain

It looks like a new dining spot is on its way to Jamaica Plain, and it will be taking over the space where a restaurant featuring hand pies recently closed.

According to a post within the Jamaica Plain Facebook group page, Ethiopian Cafe Inc. is planning to open on Centre Street where Aurum had been until shutting down several weeks ago, and there are hints that the people behind the nearby Blue Nile may also be behind this new place. It looks like the upcoming eatery will be open for breakfast and dinner and that it will focus at least in part on coffee, though specific details are not yet known.

Aurum remains in business as a caterer and a wholesaler, and it plans to be involved in pop-up events across New England as well.

The address for the upcoming Ethiopian Cafe Inc. is 377A Centre Street, Jamaica Plain, MA, 02130.

[April 7 update: The Jamaica Plain News confirms that Blue Nile owner Yosef Haile is indeed behind Ethiopian Cafe Inc., which could be opening in as soon as a few weeks if all goes well. The article says that the eatery will offer American-style breakfasts with some Ethiopian additions to the breakfast menu, while Ethiopian dishes will be offered for lunch and dinner--and the items served will be different from those of Blue Nile. (Ethiopian coffee will also be offered, as hinted at earlier.)]

[January 21, 2019 update: It appears that plans to open Ethiopian Cafe Inc. are still on, as a licensing board hearing page indicates that the restaurant has applied for a beer and wine license, with the hearing scheduled to take place on January 23.]

[Earlier Article]
Aurum Closes in Jamaica Plain; Owner to Focus on Catering, Wholesale and Pop-Ups

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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]

Monday, April 03, 2017

Amelia's Taqueria to Open in Former Real Deal Deli Space in Brighton's Cleveland Circle

A pair of Mexican restaurants will soon be opening a third shop, and this one will move into the space where a location of a deli had been.

Boston Magazine is reporting that Amelia's Taqueria is planning to open in the Cleveland Circle section of Brighton, taking over the spot on Beacon Street where The Real Deal Deli had been. The article says that the new eatery will mainly be used for takeout, but it will also be the largest location of Amelia's yet, with about 1,200 square feet of space and seating for approximately 30 people. Once it opens, the new location of Amelia's will join others in Allston and by Northeastern University.

The Real Deal Deli shut down its Cleveland Circle location around the beginning of the year, though its shops in West Roxbury and Jamaica Plain remain in operation.

If all goes as planned, the new location of Amelia's could be open on or around April 15.

The address for this upcoming Mexican restaurant in Cleveland Circle is: Amelia's Taqueria, 1936 Beacon Street, Brighton, MA, 02135. The website for Amelia's is at http://ameliastaqueria.com/

[Earlier Article]
The Real Deal Deli in Brighton Has Closed

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Popeyes to Open in Lynn

A chain of fast-food places known in part for fried chicken and Southern-style food will be opening a sixth location inside Route 128.

According to an article in itemlive.com, Popeyes will be opening in Lynn, moving into the space on Boston Street where Global gas used to be. Once the new location opens, it will join others in Boston's Kenmore Square, Huntington Avenue by Northeastern, Roxbury, Roslindale, and Everett, along with shops a bit further out in Brockton and Chelmsford.

It is not yet known when the Lynn outlet of Popeyes might open; as soon as we get more information on a possible opening date, we will post an update here.

It looks like the address for the new location of Popeyes will be 180 Boston Street, Lynn, MA, 01904. The website for the chain can be found at http://www.popeyes.com/

[October 11 update: A new article from itemlive.com mentions that Popeyes could be opening in Lynn on or around October 19, but it depends on final food and building permits.]

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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]

Ward 8 Owner Opening Bodega Canal in former Grand Canal Space in Boston

A few months ago, we reported that the person behind a North End restaurant and cocktail bar was taking over a nearby mainstay for Italian-American food. Now we have learned that these aren't his only plans.

Eater Boston states (via The Improper Bostonian) that Nick Frattaroli, who owns Ward 8 on N Washington Street, plans to open a Mexican dining spot in the space on Canal Street where The Grand Canal had been until closing last summer. This was announced as Frattaroli is also opening North Square Oyster in the Gennaro's Five North Square space in the North End, with that spot hoping to debut sometime this month [ed note--now open]. Little information has been given on the proposed Mexican restaurant, so stay tuned for details.

The address for the Mexican restaurant planned for the old Grand Canal space is 57 Canal Street, Boston, MA, 02114.

[April 14 update: According to a source, the name of the upcoming Mexican restaurant will be Bodega Canal, and it is looking the acquire the full liquor license of the now-closed Grand Canal.]

[September 28 update: A press release indicates that Bodega Canal plans to open in late October, and that it will have the feel of a "timeworn Mexican mansion" inside while offering "elevated" Mexican food and drink in a space with a capacity of 295 that includes a dining room, three bar areas, and a lounge.]

[November 17 update: According to a poster on the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Bodega Canal is now open.]

[Earlier Articles]
The Grand Canal in Boston Has Closed
Gennaro's Five North Square in Boston's North End Being Sold to Owner of Ward 8

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Art's in Hull Will Not Reopen for the Season

A restaurant with some of the best views in the Greater Boston area--and one that was opened by the people behind a now-closed landmark South Shore eatery--appears to be shut down for good.

According to a Facebook post from the place, Art's in Hull will not be reopening for the season, with the note saying that "We could not reach an agreement with the landlord at the location....We decided to go our separate ways and see where life leads us. Stay tuned we will keep you posted about our next adventure.....If anyone has an Art's Restaurant gift certificate the office at the marina will refund you." The A Street dining spot, which opened last spring in the former Sea Dog Brew Pub space, was run by De and Art D'Allessandro, who were the owners of Arthur and Pat's in the Brant Rock section of Marshfield until it shut down in the spring of 2015.

As soon as we find out what might open in the former Art's space--and what De and Art D'Allessandro might do next--we will post an update here.

The address for the now-closed Art's was 2 A Street, Hull, MA, 02045.

[April 4 update: It appears that the former Art's space in Hull might not be empty for long, as a poster on the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants group page mentions that a new spot called LOCAL 02045 will be moving into the spot. Very little is known about the upcoming restaurant at this point in time, which is hoping to open sometime this month according to a Facebook post from the place.]

[Earlier Article]
Sea Dog Brew Pub in Hull to Close; Arthur and Pat's Owners to Replace It with Art's
Arthur and Pat's Restaurant in Marshfield's Brant Rock Has Closed

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve New England Restaurants in Scenic Locations]