The Just Crust in Cambridge's Harvard Square Has Closed

by Marc Hurwitz

A pizza spot in Cambridge that has been closed for renovations for several months has officially called it a day--though it could reopen in a new location.

According to an article in Cambridge Day, The Just Crust on Brattle Street in Harvard Square is closed for good, with operations manager Becky Lopes-Filho saying that "The lease is up and the rents are high and going up higher," though she also says that "We are considering the possibility of other locations to reopen in the future." The Just Crust shut down for renovations back in mid-July, though little information was given on the exact status of the place.

A location of the Upper Crust had once resided in the Brattle Street space, but it closed after the chain declared bankruptcy and Shannon and Liss-Riordan and her husband Kevin opened The Just Crust there in April 2013.

The address for this now-closed pizzeria in Harvard Square was: The Just Crust, 49 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138.

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Pizzas in the Boston Area and Beyond]

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Cava Is Opening at Legacy Place in Dedham

by Marc Hurwitz

A couple of months ago, we mentioned that a group of Mediterranean dining spots based in Washington, D.C. was looking to open several locations in the Boston area, including one in Dedham. Now we have a bit more information on that proposed outlet.

According to an article in the Dedham Patch, Cava is opening at Legacy Place possibly in March of April of 2018, with the restaurant getting approval from town selectmen last week. As mentioned earlier, other locations of Cava are being planned for the Back Bay of Boston, the Fenway, and the Derby Street Shoppes in Hingham, though it is not yet known which will be the first to open in the region.

Cava, which started out in 2011, is a fast-casual chain that features customizable items that begin with a salad/grain/soup/pita base and with items such as hummus, falafel, feta, meatballs, braised lamb, olives, grilled chicken, and pickled banana peppers added. Its website can be found at http://cava.com/

[March 21, 2018 update: A Twitter post from @JustinA_PZD indicates that Cava opens tomorrow (Thursday, March 22) at Legacy Place, joining the Fenway location which opened in January; this is the second shop to open in the Boston area, as the Back Bay and Hingham locations have not yet opened. (In addition, Eater Boston says that Thursday is "Community Day" for the Dedham location, with free meals given out and donations collected for its non-profit partner Future Chefs. The official opening takes place on Friday.)]

[Earlier Articles]
Washington, D.C.-based Cava to Expand to Boston
Cava to Open in Boston's Fenway Neighborhood
Cava Gets Approval to Open in Boston's Back Bay

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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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Tokyo Restaurant Property in Cambridge to Be Replaced by a Used-Car Dealership

by Marc Hurwitz

Earlier this year, we reported that the site of a long-closed restaurant in Cambridge could be demolished to make way for affordable housing. Now we have learned that the structure will indeed be torn down, though plans for affordable housing are no longer in the works.

According to an article from Cambridge Day, a used-car dealership has received License Commission approval to open in the space on Fresh Pond Parkway where Tokyo Restaurant had once been, with the building coming down at some point and Fresh Pond Auto Sales moving in, and the plan being for its lot to have room for 20 to 25 cars (though his number could end up being lowered, based on discussions of the plans). Back in May, it appeared that affordable housing units might be built at the site, while Cambridge Day also says that the space was mentioned in the discussion of a rebuilding of the adjacent elementary school and Vassal Lane Upper School as well, but now it appears that the used-car dealership has indeed gotten the green light to move in instead.

The address for the Tokyo Restaurant property is 307 Fresh Pond Parkway.

[Earlier Article]
Tokyo Restaurant Property in Cambridge May Be Torn Down to Make Way for Affordable Housing

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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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Bates Bar and Grill Is Opening in Weymouth Landing

by Marc Hurwitz

Last year, we reported that a new restaurant may move into the South Shore space where a bar and a pizza place had been until being demolished after a fire. Now we have learned a bit more about the place.

According to a job post within the Craigslist site, Bates Bar and Grill is planning to open on the Braintree side of Weymouth Landing, with the address given indicating that it will take over the Commercial Street space where The Landing Pub was, and based on the earlier article, possibly the Ultimate Pizza space as well. The post mentions that Bates Bar and Grill will be a casual neighborhood pub that will offer sandwiches, gourmet burgers, pub-style pizza, craft beer, wine, cocktails, and more, and while the earlier report had mentioned that the upcoming spot could have seating for 95 and an outdoor area, it is not known if this is still the case.

In March of 2015, both The Landing Pub and Ultimate Pizza were hit by a fire, with the structure subsequently being taken down; before the fire occurred, the Sarras family had mentioned that it actually had plans to demolish the building and open a restaurant in the space.

The address given for Bates Bar and Grill is 2 Commercial Street (which is where The Landing Pub was), while Ultimate Pizza had been at 6 Commercial Street.

[February 14, 2018 update: It looks like Bates Bar and Grill will be opening this week, as a Patch article says that a ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place there tomorrow (Thursday, February 15).]

[Earlier Article]
New Restaurant Coming to Weymouth Landing Where Ultimate Pizza and The Landing Pub Had Been

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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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Wahlburgers, J.P. Licks, MidiCi, Gyu-Kaku Coming to South Bay Town Center in Dorchester

by Marc Hurwitz

Last year, we reported that a burger place with local connections was being planned for a new mixed-use development in Dorchester, and now we have learned that a few other dining spots are on their way to the place as well.

According to an article in the Dorchester Reporter, South Bay Town Center is going to be home to Wahlburgers, J.P. Licks, MidiCi, and Gyu-Kaku, and that parts of the development will be debuting over the next couple of weeks, though no opening dates have been given for any of the dining spots as of yet. (It appears that some or all could be opening either later this year or early in 2018.) The article also mentions that a beer garden may be part of the plans as well, though no specifics have been given on that.

Wahlburgers, which is headed up by former Dorchester residents Mark, Donnie, and Paul Wahlberg, features burgers, while J.P. Licks offers ice cream, MidiCi focuses on pizza, and Gyu-Kaku is known in part for its Japanese BBQ.

South Bay Town Center is located by the old South Bay mall/shopping center between the Mass. Ave./Southampton Street and Columbia Road exits off the Southeast Expressway.

[May 22, 2018 update: Caught in Dot states that J.P. Licks has its grand opening tomorrow (Wednesday, May 22) at South Bay Town Center.]

[October 26, 2018 update: Gyu-Kaku could be one step closer to opening at South Bay Town Center by next week, as the city will look into its application for a license on Wednesday, October 31.]

[Earlier Articles]
South Bay Town Center Planned for Dorchester
Wahlburgers Planning to Open within South Bay Town Center in Dorchester

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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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Cottage Cafe in Hyde Park May Be Closing; License Could Be Going to Innovation and Design Building

by Marc Hurwitz

It looks like yet another dive bar in Boston could be shutting down, and its license may be going to a building in one of the hottest sections of the city.

According to an article from Universal Hub, the Cottage Cafe (which is also known as the Cottage Tavern) in Hyde Park is petitioning to sell its liquor license to the Innovation and Design Building in Boston's Seaport District, which may possibly open a restaurant and bar in the structure that is aimed at "makers, designers, architects, communicators, researchers, manufacturers, technologists, innovators and entrepreneurs." If approved and the place shutters, the Hyde Park Avenue bar would join a couple of other now-closed dives in the neighborhood (Dempsey's and the Hyde Park Pub), though a few other watering holes do remain in operation in Hyde Park, including Master McGrath, Cavan Cafe, and Cappy's, the last of which resides in Readville.

The address for the Cottage Cafe is 1227 Hyde Park Avenue, Hyde Park, MA, 02136.

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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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