Future of the Midway Cafe in Jamaica Plain in Question

Only a few days after news broke that a popular local music club was planning to close, it looks like yet another well-known music spot has an uncertain future.

According to an article from The Boston Globe, the Midway Cafe in Jamaica Plan faces possible closure due to an increase in rent unless a new owner can be found. The article states that Midway owner Jay Balerna is seeking new ownership because the new owner of the Washington Street building is looking to double the rent, with Balerna holding out hope for a solution, saying that "A lot of people are interested in having the place keep going, and I am as well" while also mentioning that the owner of the building is willing to hold off on the rent increase until this time next year. The Midway Cafe has been in operation for nearly 40 years, bringing in countless local music acts while also hosting a variety of theme nights.

As reported over the weekend, the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge is slated to close next May, while a number of other music clubs have also shut down over the past several years, including The C Note in Hull, Rockwood in the Fenway, Wonder Bar in Allston, Atwoods Tavern in Cambridge, and Thunder Road in Somerville.

The address for the Midway Cafe is 3496 Washington St, Boston, MA 02130. Its website can be found at https://midwaycafe.com/

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

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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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Banyan Bar + Refuge in Boston's South End Has Closed

Last month, it was reported that the person behind a local restaurant and hospitality group was planning to take one of her brands national while also selling one of her other businesses (which has remained closed after a 2005 fire), and now we have learned that that place has permanently shuttered.

According to an Instagram post, Banyan Bar + Refuge in the South End of Boston will not be reopening, with the post from Rebecca Roth Gullo of the Gallows Group saying the following:

 I've called the South End home since 2004. It's where I got married, where I'm raising our daughters, and where I opened The Gallows, Banyan Bar + Refuge, and Blackbird Doughnuts. I've built my life here, and I can't imagine living anywhere else. So it's bittersweet to announce that Banyan will not reopen. The time has come for us to focus all of our time and energy on Blackbird's growth....And while Banyan's chapter is coming to a close, I'm fortunate to continue working alongside two people who helped make it all happen. Elena remains at the helm of it all. And Jimmy? Yup. He's right by our side. I remain incredibly optimistic about Boston's restaurant industry and its future....Thank you for being part of Banyan's story.

As reported in October, Gullo and the Gallows Group are seeking investment in Blackbird Doughnuts, with the plan being to expand to Maine and New Hampshire initially, then to "every major city." At the time, the plan was to try to sell Banyan Bar + Refuge (which was an Asian gastropub) with the hope being to transfer the business to a local restaurant person.

The address for Banyan Bar + Refuge was 553 Tremont Street, Boston, MA, 02116.

[Earlier Article]
Blackbird Doughnuts Looking to Expand Nationally; Banyan Bar + Refuge Is Being Sold

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

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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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Temazcal Tequila Cantina, Jack's Coal Fired Pizza in Burlington Have Both Closed

A Mexican restaurant and an adjacent pizza spot in the northern suburbs of Boston have both closed.

According to a source, Temazcal Tequila Cantina and Jack's Coal Fired Pizza in Burlington are no longer in business, with a check on the website for Temazcal indicating that the Wall Street dining spot has indeed been removed from the locations page, while a phone call placed to Jack's (which is also on Wall Street) confirms that it has shuttered as well. It does appear that locations of Temazcal in Dedham and Lynnfield remain in operation. (Another location of Temazcal in Framingham closed several weeks ago.)

The Boston-based hospitality company Rebel Restaurants is behind Temazcal, and it also operated Jack's; Tony C's in Burlington, Peabody, and Somerville are also part of the group.

The address for Temazcal Tequila Cantina and Jack's Coal Fired Pizza in Burlington was 2 Wall Street, Burlington, MA, 01803. The website for the other locations of Temazcal  is at https://ift.tt/Z76F3l2

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

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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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Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

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Wahlburgers in Boston's Fenway Has Closed

Yet another location of a chain of burger spots with local roots has shut down, and this was its last standalone brick-and-mortar restaurant in the Greater Boston area--at least for now.

According to an Instagram post from the business, Wahlburgers in the Fenway section of Boston has closed, with the post saying the following:

Thank you, Fenway. After 11 years in the neighborhood, our Fenway location [closed] on October 31 as our lease comes to an end. We're grateful to everyone who joined us for game days, celebrations and everyday moments over the years. We're actively pursuing a new home in the Boston area and hope to have more to share soon.

In late September, the original Wahlburgers in Hingham closed, while others at South Bay in Dorchester and MarketStreet Lynnfield have also shuttered over the past couple of years; the only other outlets in the immediate area are at Logan Airport (2) while others can be found further out in Plainville and Springfield.

The address for the now-closed location of Wahlburgers in the Fenway was 132 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215. The website for Wahlburgers is at https://ift.tt/8QvWJm4

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

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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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Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

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Restaurant News for the Week Ending November 1, 2026

Below are some of the biggest restaurant and food-related news stories that have been posted between October 26, 2026, and November 1, 2026.

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Cambridge Common, Lizard Lounge to Close in 2027
After weeks of chatter, it has now been confirmed that a beloved restaurant, bar, and music club in Cambridge will be closing.
Full Story

Cafe Barada in North Cambridge Is Closing
A decades-old Middle Eastern restaurant is going to be closing its doors.
Full Story

Komorebi to Open a Brick-and-Mortar Restaurant in Brookline/Strip by Strega Space in the Park Plaza Area
The people behind a local ghost kitchen known for its premium sushi and bento boxes will be opening a permanent storefront.
Full Story

Old Friend Pizza Opens in West Roxbury
A Detroit-style pizza business known for its pop-ups and residency at an historic space has opened a brick-and-mortar spot.
Full Story

Uchi to Open in Fort Point
A group of high-end Japanese restaurants with roots in Texas--and whose chef/founder is a James Beard award winner--will be expanding to Boston.
Full Story

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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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Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

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Cambridge Common, Lizard Lounge in Cambridge to Close in 2027

After weeks of chatter, it has now been confirmed that a beloved restaurant, bar, and music club in Cambridge will be closing.

According to an article from WBUR, Cambridge Common and the Lizard Lounge are going to be shutting down in May of 2027, with co-owner Holly Heslop saying, "It's been a long run, and we know it's time....Although I don't think either of us is particularly emotionally ready for it. The article mentions that co-owners Heslop and Charlie Christopher have been talking with a buyer for the Massachusetts Avenue property, though it is not known at this point in time what might become of the space.

Cambridge Common first opened in 1996, with the Lizard Lounge debuting a year later; the former has been known in part for its classic American fare including its boneless buffalo tenders and tater tots (along with an extensive beer list) while the latter has been a major part of the local music scene, having countless local acts perform there over the years.

The address for Cambridge Common and Lizard Lounge is 1667 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02138. The website for the former is at https://ift.tt/FmURgpQ while the website for the latter is at https://ift.tt/689BdVt

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

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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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Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

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Komorebi to Open a Brick-and-Mortar Restaurant in Brookline

The people behind a local ghost kitchen known for its premium sushi and bento boxes will be opening a permanent storefront.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Komorebi is planning to open a brick-and-mortar location in Brookline, apparently moving into a space on Beacon Street in the Coolidge Corner area. The business first started out a couple of years ago, focusing on online ordering for pickup/delivery and working out of a space in Revere. Based on various job listings for the upcoming restaurant, the space will include a counter and a dining area, and expect omakase-style bentos using seasonal ingredients. (The job notices for the Brookline location of Komorebi indicate that it could be opening in mid-November.)

The website for Komorebi can be found at https://ift.tt/Bc9sMuI while its Instagram page can be found at https://ift.tt/wH5vD46

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

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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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Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Read more »