The following is a list of the oldest bars in Boston: Green Dragon Tavern: 1712 Address: Union Street The Green Dragon Tavern was a public house on Union Street that has since been demolished. The Three Judges on the border of New Haven and Woodbridge, CT. Best antipasto!! I worked at Senior Pizza in the late 1960sa poor hippy girlthe manager was an angel. The clam roll shave been equaled and surpassed bu t other both they were good. HOW CAN this list not include Howard JohnsonsThey invented the CLAM ROLL, along w/help From NISSEN who invented the New England Hot Dog rollsAlso Heck Allens in Saugus GREAT SEAFOOD. But its always been fascinating to us that so many notable (and in some cases, historic) concerts, parties, and events have happened across the city in places that no longer exist. Clown sundaesyum. The four Boston gay bars that closed during the pandemic were a pointed reminder of changes the community has experienced for decades. The most elegant, continental style, second Prime Rib if you finished the first- The Brook Manor Super special dining for special occasions! Also York Steak House!! The stand was enlarged a couple of times and in 1949 she built a restaurant on the same site which she had bought in 1939. Thinking about Howard Johnsons and The Red Coach Inn restaurants. As of November 2019, all of the restaurants on this list are still in operation and any old historical Boston restaurants that have closed recently were left off the list. Pewter Pot Muffin House did not have a long run. At its early-1970s zenith, Pewter Pot Muffin Houses could be found from Harvard Square to Cape Cod, about 40 of them in all. I had so many times there with friends as part of a day spent shopping or at the movies. We loved Heck Allens too. The Big Judge had two hamburger patties! The Cock n Kettle was epic! And wed wait! In 1920, this shop started out as a humble dry goods store, but within a decade, it had changed direction to focus on women's clothing. All rights reserved. KPub is now in the same building. In addition to all of these? As a kid until I moved away after 22 yrs, I lived up the street from Fontaines and never We loved going to Durgin Park for the food and to interact with the tourists who were invariably nice, interesting, and often clueless about what made Boston, well, Boston. Boylston Street -- one of the most popular and busiest in Boston -- grew eerily quiet when the state first required businesses to close under the COVID-19 restrictions. They too just closed for some reason. Gilchrist's opened in Boston in 1842 and, by 1964, there were multiple store locations across Greater Boston. There were Wanted posters and bull horns on the walls. This 1874 building was supposed to be knocked down, but preservationists campaigned against this move and were able to save the top three floors of the faade. They offer full lunch and dinner menus and at night they have live music and DJs every night of the week. The Boston-Area Bars and Restaurants That Have Closed (Or Are Closing), Spring 2022 Tracking eating and drinking establishments that won't reopen by Stephanie Carter Updated Apr 27, 2022,. Cafeteria Boston: One of the city's most popular see-and-be-seen spots has permanently closed after 13 years on Newbury Street. At one time, Jordan Marsh, Filene's, and Gilchrist were the three shopping landmarks of Downtown Crossing. JJ Foleys is a true Boston icon, opening its doors in 1909 and establishing itself as a South End institution well before the neighborhood became the bustling slice of gentrification that it is today. My heart is filled with sweet memories just thinking about those special dinners. Sherry Mayes Millington, As a former employee of Anthonys Pier 4, the popovers were delicious. But alas, all good things must come to an end. Luckily, the recipe has been preserved for those who would like to make those classic Jordan Marsh blueberry muffins at home. David K. I used to love Sandys! Thanks for subscribing! The ClamBox has taken its place with my family. Founded by Massachusetts native Edward Brigham in 1914, Brighams opened in the Boston suburb of Newton as a single shop, with the proprietor selling the ice cream and candy he made in the back room. Mocha chip my all time favorite. The old Joe Tecces on North Washington Street in Bostonfirst date with my husband in 1975! Jayne Rossi-Elliott, First date with my husband, 1970. Susan Finstein Brine, First date with my husband in 1982. Julie Kerbel, Yes, Joe Tecces! There were so many and I miss them all. Loved them both in the 70s-90s. On the other side of 95 was The 95 House. The Tam is a prime example, having first opened its doors sometime during the 1940s, thriving as a beloved townie bar ever since. Compared to other U.S. cities, Boston has lots of businesses that have endured the passage of time. Still have my best friends for life from there. I remember Anthonys Pier 4, but didnt go there very often. Great memories. scoops of ice cream, carried to the table on a silver platter by multiple busboys, who would pretend to struggle with the weight. https://www.tfrecipes.com/jordan-marsh-macaroon/. I felt badly when I heard of their fire and subsequent closure. My mom was not a fan of fried chicken. God bless them for locating great places to eat, mostly from Yankee Magazine. Locke-Ober was the fourth oldest restaurant in Boston prior to its closing and, in its heyday, it had a reputation as a clubby "men only" spot that was rumored to be frequented by "working. As West Broadway undergoes massive development, including to the building in which Amrheins sits, one can only hope this bastion of old Southiedoes notdisappear in a cloud of gentrification. Soseven New England restaurants, and theyre all in Massachusetts except for one that was literally 2 minutes from Massachusetts. And I can never forget the Athens Olympia on Stuart St., a favorite of my parents and my introduction to Greek foodout-of-this-world taramasalata, kebabs, and unsweetened coffee jello with whipped cream for dessert. Also very much missed is the Town Line The space is now occupied by Yvonne's. In March 1951, Howard Flanders and his family became the new owners of Green Ridge Turkey Farm, and a rebuilt restaurant reopened the following year. What about Mug N Muffin. There were road signs telling you it was coming up ahead. With the neon chicken sign waving you in with his wing.. Baileys ice cream in Wellesley and Belmont. I always ordered the same thing for dinner: escargot followed by baked stuffed lobster. Fans of Bettys comfort fare can head down the street to sibling South Boston restaurant Publico, which remains open. Wonderful staff and so many special nights there with those spectacular views. The parking lot had the best view often there would be a heron or other wildlife in the marsh when you parked. I miss The The Rome in North Attleboro-Joe Chilli was great to work for too! It was an occasional outing from our family home in Burlington . I lived up the street as well- on spring street until I moved to NH in 1987. Late hours with great fries and roast beef sandwiches. From General Electric building over the site of The Channel in Fort Point to the inconspicuous Allston location of early-80s post-punk comet Underground, so much of Bostons musical history is hiding in plain site. In 1931, George and Grace Kimball purchased 200 acres of land in Nashua, New Hampshire, and turned the property into a turkey farm. Sorry its gone missing! The No Name was one of the most important restaurants in New England history! I agree, always looked forward to the one before you crossed the bridge to the cape. Research and anecdotes were pulled from The Music Museum of New England, Dirty Old Boston, The David Bieber Archives, and a variety of other online sources, linked when appropriate. My go to was Harvard Sq, probably the first to go due to rent prices. Thank you, terrific memories ~ add to em Locke-Ober Cafe, the Cafe Budapest, and Josephs of Dartmouth St.s lobster savannah. When I was a kid, we had a summer cottage in Onset in the 40s. The lure? My family loved Hills Restaurant in Hyannis, MA. Lobster, prime rib, the Arabic platter, the baked Alaska. The Seawitch Restaurant & Shop on Route 1 Gone, Bel-Aire Diner, Route One North, in Danvers, MA. As Boston has grappled with a public health emergency coupled with myriad restrictions, local restaurants and bars of all stripes have tried to combat the challenges of 2020. In 2011, the bricks-and-mortar store closed. He repackaged it as the Hearth n Kettle and eventually expanding that brand to five Cape Cod locations. BTW Lafayette House and Red wing are still operational. Miss those dress up dinner nights. I also remember Valleys Steak House and the lobster specials they had. Marios or Manero across from Westport Ct train station was my dads haunt after commuting beck from NYC on the 5:25 or 6:10 evening train. Have childhood memories of Howard Johnsons from their Toasted Corn Muffins, Clam Roll to Ice Creamwas always a stop leaving Boston, heading to or leaving The Cape and anywhere in between along major roadways. All but 1 of these restaurants were in MA, yet this is titled 7 Lost & Gone (But Not Forgotten) New England Restaurants Good to know its still going strong. It was really formal and they hosted weddings in the back yard. Hilltop was a firm favourite for its ridiculous extravagance with decorations, the herd of plastic cows. They dont know what ice cream is down here. Cafeteria Boston: One of the city's most popular see-and-be-seen spots has permanently closed after 13 years on Newbury Street. Brighams was up the street from.my house in Lynn, wed go for our birthdays. Seems all the good ones on the Cape went away. The owner was a daughter of the people who owned Dock and Dine next door. Saugus! Not having adequate insurance to rebuild, the Kimballs opted to sell. Its current location, however, is not the first, serving as this tavern's home only since 1844. During its 137 years in business, this establishment was known for its elegance, history, and steak and lobster fare. We used to live on the corner of Broadway (Route 1) walking distance to the Town Lyne House. Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox. When it was built, it supposedly replaced a nearby tavern burned down by the British troops either during the Battle of Bunker Hill or another Revolutionary War skirmish. ate there! Never knew who might show up at the Clam Bar. The chain of restaurants was born in the 1960s and spread to other New England states like Connecticut and New Hampshire. )and sayBoss,my sisters boy(or brother in law,or whatever) is coming over from the old country,can you find him a job?So,the new arrival would start at the bottom, maybe washing dishes,and over time would work his way up ,becoming a cook on the line. Vanyaland editor Michael Marotta and photographer John Hutchings spent a day tracing Bostons long-gone clubs, and photo-documenting what exists in these spaces today. Loved the fried clams at the Redwing! Yay to Thompsons. At HoJos, mom always had Orange Pineapple ice-cream !! The Parker House is the oldest continuously operating hotel in the U.S. and its bar is one of the oldest in Boston. Good call with Hob Knob???? I remember Elises went I attended MIT. Equally memorable were the Chadwicks birthday celebrations and since the whole thing worked on the honor system, it was pretty much always someones birthday. Kamakura: After a short run as one of the city's few spots serving Japanese kaiseki menus, Kamakura has closed up shop in the Financial District. Im looking for the coconut macaroon recipe from Jordan Marsh or Filenes??? Blue Ship Tea Room on a dock in Boston. Thats certainly something worthy of a toast. Durgin-Parks roots actually go back even further, since it grew out of a food hall that opened shortly after Faneuil Halls construction in 1742. As far as now defunct chain restaurants that were always very good, Victorias Station ( all of their restaurants were built from converted Train Cars. Heck Allens in Lynn, really good seafood and good prices too. This restaurant was a highlight of my teenage years. The Toll House in Whitman Ma home of the Toll House cookie was our place of family gatherings until it burned down in 1984. Answer (1 of 9): The laws in Massachusetts require that bars stop serving alcohol at 2 am. They closed ages ago However a spinoff of it opened on Post Rd in Warwick RI not too bad. Great Scott: One of the area's most beloved music clubs has hosted its last concert.The 240-capacity Allston bar was an unofficial feeder for larger clubs like the Middle East and the Paradise. As such, it lays bona fide claim as the oldest restaurant in Boston, and among the oldest in the United States. I recall a several course wine dinner there around the mid 80s with a staff of about twenty waiters and waitresses who never missed a beat. Sigh plus cest change, Anyone remember where in Boston Justins was? Breathe deep the aroma of Guinness and find a new friend to chat with. J.J. Foley's: The Most Authentic Irish Pub. Following a return to private ownership in 1982, Brighams capitalized on its most popular offering and began selling packaged ice cream in supermarkets. Max Brenner: One of the city's most popular destinations for sinful, over-the-top chocolate treats has served its last mega sundae. Learned to eat Fish & Chips there before I learned to like seafood. Stay up to date with everything Boston. Was so hoping someone would rescue the place or at least honor the age of the building and put an eatery that would compliment Durgins history, Weeks Dairy Bar in Laconia, New Hampshire. 2023 Vanyaland. #BostonStrong The Pour House on Boylston 907 Boylston St #21, Boston, MA 02115 Most famously, John F. Kennedy launched his political career at the hotel and proposed to Jacqueline Bouvier at Parker's Restaurant. There is a Maneros in Palm City, Fla. and its the same family as in Westport. Trader Vics was another fantastic restaurant, now gone. Among Brighams claims to fame was popularizing or perhaps even creating jimmies as an ice cream topping. I recall seeing Hans Conried (Fractured Fairytales) who was in a play at one of the neighboring theatres. One of my favorite places was Kens at Copley. The Brook Manor! The prime rib was unbelievable and the popovers out of this world! My dad always got finn Haddie we kids would pronounce it. The clam shack on Route 1 was called Els, our all time favorite place for clams. 11 Marshall St, (617) 367-0055 WARREN TAVERN, Charlestown Warren Tavern is the oldest tavern in Massachusetts and the most famous watering hole in the United States still in its original building and location. Stillit I ever got back to Massachusetts, it would have been well worth going to several times! I have great memories of The Town Lyne House. 4. Victor and Anna Charpentier purchased the farm and restaurant in 1954, and they ran it until Victor died in 1966. You always had to rub the Buddhas belly in the lobby before and after you ate your meal. Patti Johnson Georgevich, Anthonys Pier 4 in Boston will always hold a special place in my heart. Grew up on the Northshore. Dedicated production facilities were established, and more than 20 new Brighams locations opened in the 1930s and 1940s. The Kings Rook in Marblehead kept me in great French Cream Cheese cake, fruit Frapps and Classical Music. Theres probably some Harvard Business School study on why that is, but its often really disappointing for the customers. When the state took the land for the Walden Pond State Reservation in 1966 or 67 she was ready to sell. Dantes Inferno always a stop when leaving Thunder Mountain through Spring field Mass. Receive the latest news and breaking updates, straight from our newsroom to your inbox. So he opened his own shop, the Jordan Marsh Muffin Co., in Brockton, Massachusetts, in 1998. No matter which one you went to you would always end up seeing someone you knew. Jimmys Harborside in Boston (next door to Pier Four) and The Pillar House in Newton. The gleaming stainless diner was a family stop on every trip to-and-fro Providence and Portland Always a thrill to be the first to spot the big red DINER sign Finding a table always toward the right, passing truckers straddling stools at the long pink counter. And the Wurst House in Harvard Square. We went to the Hilltop, Yokums, Brighams ( the best Lime Rickeys), Kowloon was always fun with the boat in the pond. By 5PM every day there was a line a mile long to get in. I also remember the Pewter Pot Muffin House. Top of the Hub: Among special occasion spots, Top of the Hub towered over the competition from its perch atop the Prudential Tower since its inception in 1965. My friends and I used to hang out at The Pewter Pot AND Senior Pizza. There Baked Stuffed Shrimp was to die for and they had what they called The Hot Hamburger which was a hamburger in a bun with fries covered with gravy! Many a last call at the South Pacific in Newton. Stoddard's: Tucked away in the Leather District, this retro drinking and dining haunta favorite of Downtown Crossing's after-work crowdshas shuttered its doors. He let each of his employees make a pizza to take home with them at closing shift. I always thot Howard Johnson had the best ice cream, especially their unbeatable Mocha Chip! Famed not only for its Chinese fare, but for attracting top comedians and offering a Polynesian floor show.. In a space that originally housed the Federal Reserve, Bond is now a cocktail bar that nods back to its history with original doors and a pastry kitchen that is located in the bank's old vault. Bell in Hand is located at 45 Union Street, Boston, MA 02108. The Town Lyne House. Kens in Copley Square was a late-night favorite. If you asked, they also sold their squat red-on-clear Bel-Aire water glasses that the waitress brought before taking our orders. I now go to Brax Landing when am in Harwich Port, I was just wondering if anyone knows the name of the restaurant where Kellys on RT 1 is now. It was also one of the first, if not THE first restaurant to ban smoking! Compiled between July 11 and July 15, 2016, with profound fondness and sorrow for the dearly departed watering holes of our youth: Worked there two summers during college. We used to have lunch at Brighams. Dick's Last Resort: One of Quincy Market's most notorious party spots has hosted its last raucous birthday party. Buzzys Roast Beef is gone and the Liberty hotel now occupies its place. But Weylus also had a satel;lite location Weylus Sure in Brockton, MA. Other employees would ring cowbells and blow noisemakers. My family would dine there occasionally and it was always a special treat. And one more treasured spot -The English Tea Room on Newbury fantastic menu for starving students, and their sweet salad dressing was amazing! Im from the Worcester area. Among the most famous of now-closed New England restaurants is Durgin-Park, a Faneuil Hall favorite for nearly two centuries before it shuttered in 2019. Great salads and sticky buns. The Green Barn in Salem,NH. The menus were written in swoopy cursive. Although Id only been there once about 10 years ago, it has a special sentimental place in my heart. Original Owner: James Hook. In the late 1960s, Id always go there after giving blood to reconstitute my supply of red cells. Ive been to a couple of these restaurants like the Hilltop Steakhouse remember going there with my grandparents when I was little and going into the butcher shop too. Also the prime rib of course! Best sundaes around, amazing lime rickey. Christopher Pierce, When in my early teens (eons ago), my mom would give me $1.50, and I would get a Coke, a tuna sandwich, fries, and a sundae (with marshmallow!) But its nowhere near 50 feet tall; Id guess 15-20 from driving by there recently. I learned proper table service, including boning fish and carving beef properly, as well as making flaming desserts thrilling the customers. How can we forget Jacob Wirth on Stuart St. in town? They are missed too. Hilltop Steak House was founded in 1961 by a butcher named Frank Giuffrida, and it was popular from the start. Anyone remember Custys all you can eat lobster buffet in Rhode Island? The waiters were all old men, and the pictures of movie stars who ate there were on the walls. Thankfully, many still survive throughout NE. Went to Yokens when I first moved to North Hampton in the early 1960s. Always packed, always outstanding. A 68-foot-tall cactus sign is all that remains of this once-huge restaurant in Saugus. It was on Hwy 184 (Providence-New London Turnpike), almost to the state border with Rhode Island. The final Brighams-branded restaurant, located in Arlington, Massachusetts, retired the name in 2015. Agree Agree. Great memories. Also, their clam chowder was also delicious. At that point, ownership passed to Victors nephew, Luc Charpentier, who ran the restaurant until it closed in the mid-1990s. There was music and some of Santas elves would bring you a box of your own crayons and coloring pages while you waited for dinner. How they used to flock to Anthonys and stand in line waiting for an hour or more! Customer from the mid 60s for about 20 happy years. Two more owners saw the restaurant through its next 60 years, until it was finally sold in 2007 to Ark Restaurants, whose other holdings include Bryant Park Grill in New York City and Sequoia in Washington, D.C. During its long run, Durgin-Park flirted with expansion, operating satellite locations at Copley Place and Logan Airport for a time. No one mentioned Vinny Ts they had restaurants in Worcester and Lexington. I got moussaka and vegetables. It was a high class restaurant. Anyone know? Blacksmith shop in Whitman/North River House in ?Pembroke/Isaacs & Burts in Plymouth, MA, Honisss was our go to restaurant for many years. Heck Allens is much missed, and even its replacement, Spuds, is now gone and my husband and I and several friends used to go there often. My family would go to Custys every year when my uncle came up from N.C. There was easily enough for two people. One of our familys favorite restaurants. An online version of Filene's is still in business. They were famous for their huge slabs of the tastiest Prime Rib you could have. Also the best Grape Nut Pudding I ever had. How I looked forward to that! My parents just loved it. Worked there in the 90s. Now, lets not get confused with this historic watering hole: Were talking about the original location on East Berkeley Street. And last, because its Christmas, Filenes would have dinner with Santa which was the greatest treat of all. Is there a similar place anywhere now? In the early decades of the car boom, Route 1 in Saugus, Massachusetts, was a bastion of kitschy restaurants, each of which wore its theme proudly and worked to out-do the others. Brighams was great but you didnt give mention to Baileys in Harvard Sq! Out in Metrowest of Boston there was The Cock N Kettle restaurant in uxbridge. Also recall the Dinnerhorn in Portsmouthnot too far from Yokens. House. Parsnip: This upscale Harvard Square restaurant, housed in the multi-level space that formerly held Upstairs on the Square, opened in late 2015. Thanks for subscribing!