Tag Archives: South End

Over the weekend it appeared as if the popular South End, cheap eats restaurant, Delux Cafe, had closed.  Dig Boston posted this photo of the restaurant on their Twitter account @DigBoston on Saturday. Soon after @deluxcafe sent a Tweet assuring everyone they will reopen in February. The restaurant had been sold to a long time employee so one would expect Delux will remain same as it ever was; perhaps it is just getting a much deserved (and needed) cleaning.

The news of Delux closing did result in a lot of hand wringing initially as residents bemoaned the closing of yet another longstanding popular, cheap eats restaurant.  Fortunately, that isn’t the case but it does provide everyone an opportunity to think through why (despite the popularity of such dining establishments) there are so few remaining in the South End. And what –  if anything – will the neighborhood do to help encourage more restaurants like this to open in lieu of $20-$30 counterparts (or even worse more banks and real estate offices).

The South End restaurant and bar space perhaps best known as the former home of Icarus, but most recently occupied by Noche made news earlier this year when the owners, Boston Nightlife Ventures (BNV), said they would reopen as a cocktail speakeasy restaurant in early 2014 named Blind Tiger. I wrote about it and included some artist renderings in my post Blind Tiger.

Earlier this month BNV announced they were changing the name to Wink and Nod after initial tests indicated Blind Tiger sounded too much like an Asian restaurant. Euz Azevedo told foodie blog, Eater Boston, Wink and Nod will feature “a serious craft cocktail program with a dinner menu that can be paired well with the inspired drinks and are encouraged to be shared.”

While I’m happy to welcome a new restaurant and bar, BNV has a dubious record of managing restaurants.  Maybe this will be the restaurant that proves me wrong.  I’ll be more than a little curious to see who they partner with to develop their menu and see how it is managed after the opening. I was a regular at Noche’s bar on Wednesday nights and miss the space.

So Eater Boston reported that The BiNA Family Hospitality’s  latest newsletter (the owners of: jm Curley’s, Bogie’s Place, Bin 26 Enoteca and Lala Rokh) has recently added a logo for a new space called Merrill & Co.  This leads one to believe that the South End rumor I reported earlier this month is more than just neighborhood gossip.  According to the newsletter this new restaurant in a yet to be named location (cough, cough 1 Appleton Street) will open in the Spring of 2014.

Persistent rumors suggest that Sibling Rivalry’s plum location in the South End will soon be a Spanish tapas and wine bar.

Word on the street is the owners behind the popular Spanish tapas restaurant, Barcelona Brookline, will go into the space formerly occupied by Sibling Rivalry at 525 Tremont Street in the South End.

When I reached out to the ownership, I received neither a confirmation or denial, but a promise that more information would be shared soon.  It is hard to say what may happen, but when I hear more, I’ll be sure to pass it along.

In late October I heard rumors that  jm Curley in DTX was considering opening a new location in the space formerly occupied by 28 degrees in the South End. However, when I contacted Suzanne Dagenais – GM for jm Curley & Bogie’s Place – she responded that the ownership remained open to new ventures but there would not be “any more jm Curley’s in the South End or elsewhere.”

Fast forward to mid-November and word on the street is that the owners of jm Curley have inked a deal that will have them moving into the space formerly occupied by 28 degrees.  If this turns out to be true it will be great to have them in the neighborhood.  Not familiar with jm Curley’s?  Check out their website, jmcurleyboston.com.

UPDATE – NOV 15: I was contacted again by Suzanne Dagenais.  She confirmed the owners are looking at this space, but have not finalized negotiations (this runs counter to what I was told about the deal being inked).

According to Suzanne, should a deal go through, the space would be for a separate concept not yet determined.   It is hard for me to believe that owners would agree to move into such an expensive space and not have a full business plan if only so they can get financing.  What I’ve concluded from Suzanne’s email is it is unlikely jm Curley’s will open, but the owners are probably looking at a higher end option to make the space economically viable.

Could the soon to be departing jm Curly chef Sam Monsour be involved with the jm Curley’s owners in this new space? Time will tell I suppose.  More about Chef Sam Monsour’s departure can be found in EaterBoston’s article.