Panera Cares at Boston's Center Plaza Is Closing

by Marc Hurwitz

A nonprofit "pay-what-you-can" concept from a chain of bakery-cafes is closing its final location, which happens to be in the heart of downtown Boston.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Panera Cares Community Cafe at Center Plaza is shutting down, with a Bloomberg article confirming this, saying that the eatery will close on February 15 because the business model was not sustainable. The Bloomberg post mentions that an email from Panera Bread says "Despite our commitment to this mission, it's become clear that continued operation of the Boston Panera Cares is no longer viable....We're working with the current bakery-cafe associates affected by the closure to identify alternate employment opportunities within Panera and Au Bon Pain."

Panera Cares, which opened its Boston location six years ago, looked to the concept as being a way to address hunger with customers giving a suggested donation for their food items--and those donations would presumably cover the operating costs of the shop while also allowing free food to people who could not afford to pay. Other Panera Cares locations in Chicago, Portland, OR, Dearborn, MI, and Clayton, MO have closed down, according to the article.

The address for Panera Cares is 3 Center Plaza, Boston, MA, 02108.

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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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Allora Ristorante in Marlborough Has Closed

by Marc Hurwitz

An upscale restaurant that was one of the relatively few lakeside dining spots inside Route 495 has closed down.

According to multiple sources, Allora Ristorante in Marlborough is no longer in business, with the website for the Lakeside Avenue spot confirming this, saying "With great sadness, Allora Ristorante has closed its doors. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our guests for their support over the past 12 years, many who we are proud to call our friends." No reason was given for its closure, nor is it known for sure what might be going into its space; we have heard a rumor that a new restaurant may move in, but are still trying to find out more details before mentioning its name.

Allora was an Italian and Mediterranean spot that our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants) featured as a place to go in part for its sprawling patio with views of Lake Williams. A link to the review can be found below:

https://hiddenboston.com/AlloraRistorante.html

The address for this now-closed dining spot in Marlborough was: Allora Ristorante 139 Lakeside Avenue (Route 20), Marlborough, MA, 01752.

[February 15 update: Wicked Local states that Allora was evicted from its space, as it owed more than $50,000 in back taxes and rent (the landlord is now in control of the property).]

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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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North Square Oyster in Boston's North End Has Closed for Renovations

by Marc Hurwitz

A seafood restaurant in the North End of Boston has closed for the time being.

According to a Twitter post from @Steve_O_McN, North Square Oyster is shuttered, with the tweet saying that it is"closed for renovations till the Spring," while Patrick Maguire of Maguire Promotions & Hospitality confirms this, telling us that a sign out front says exactly that, though no further information has been given. We have sent a message to the dining spot and are waiting to hear back, so stay tuned for any updates that may come in.

North Square Oyster first opened in the spring of 2017, taking over the space where Gennaro's Five North Square had been. The restaurant has a connection to Ward 8 and Bodega Canal, both of which are located where the North End and West End/North Station area meet, and it also has a connection to a brand new Italian restaurant across from Ward 8 called Tony & Elaine's

The address for North Square Oyster is 5 North Square, Boston, MA, 02113. Its website can be found at https://www.northsquareoyster.com/

[February 4 update: North Square Oyster says in a tweet that this is indeed just a renovation and that they will reopen in the spring as shown on the sign out front.]

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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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Pizzamore Flatbread Company in Woburn Has Apparently Closed

by Marc Hurwitz

It appears that a suburban spot featuring flatbread pizza has shut its doors, and it is not known what might become of the space.

According to a message from The Daily Lunch, Pizzamore Flatbread Company in Woburn is closed, and has been for awhile now (apparently since before Christmas), and that there is no indication as to why it has shuttered or what may be happening with the space. Its closure confirms what we had heard from other sources, though several checks on the website for the Main Street eatery over the past few weeks show that it is still up while phone calls go unanswered.

Pizzamore, which first opened in the fall of 2015, offered flatbreads along with soups, salads, calzones, and sandwiches.

The address for Pizzamore Flatbread Company was 901 Main Street, Woburn, MA, 01801.

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

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Landsmith Cafe and Outdoor Adventure Clubhouse Plans to Open in Malden

by Marc Hurwitz

A cafe that focuses on those who love the outdoors may be on its way to the local area, and the person behind it is also one of the founders of a popular donut shop.

According to an article from Eater Boston, Landsmith is looking to open somewhere in Malden and has started up a Kickstarter campaign that would help cover the buildout and design of the place. Heather Schmidt, who is one of the founders of Union Square Donuts, is looking at the cafe being a spot for coffee, breakfast and lunch, and grab-and-go items while also being a place for people with an interest in the outdoors to connect with others by way of weekly bike rides and runs along with in-store and local clinics that focus on outdoor activities.

If all goes well, Landsmith could be opening sometime this fall, though that could change depending on how the permitting process and buildout go.

The Facebook page for Landsmith will be at http://www.thelandsmithco.com/

[May 24 update: An update from Eater Boston states that Landsmith is looking to open at the upcoming J Malden Center mixed-use development at 190 Pleasant Street.]

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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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Vivi's Kitchen Opens in Rockland

by Marc Hurwitz

A new dining spot that features Greek food has come to a section of the Greater Boston area that has few options for Greek cuisine.

According to an article from Wicked Local, Vivi's Kitchen is now open in Rockland, with owners Vivi Karastanatis and Christine Martino previously running the now-closed Cedar Cafe in Hanover. The new eatery, which is located in an industrial park, is open on weekdays for lunch and (an early) dinner, with the menu having both Greek items and American dishes, including lemon chicken soup, a Greek salad, gyros, falafel, hummus, burgers, Mediterranean rice bowls, a variety of wraps, and more. Hours for Vivi's Kitchen are 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM Monday through Friday.

Currently, Greek options on the South Shore are very limited, with such places as the Olympian Diner and Maria's in Braintree being a couple of spots offering some Greek dishes.

The address for Vivi's Kitchen is 200 VFW Drive, Rockland, MA, 02370. Its website can be found at https://vvskitchen.com/

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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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