Now that football season is over, the weekends have opened up a bit. I wanted to share some restaurant openings and closings throughout the Boston area— the list of places that are closing hit close to home for me.

Jimmies Cafe served just about everything from sandwiches to ice cream and lasted over 20 years in Roslindale. Another favorite in that area was Sofia’s Italian Steakhouse in West Roxbury. I spent many holidays there and realized within the last year that they had a lovely room upstairs and that it was a tough loss for people who live in the Parkway area. I’m sure if you grew up in that area, you attended a wedding or prom at Lombardo’s in Randolph. It will be up for auction on February 15th.

I moved to the North Shore six years ago, and I must tell you the food options are everywhere. Downtown Peabody has many restaurants in the center of town, including Stanzy’s Country Ranch. The family has opened another restaurant in Salem called Revival. The concept of a country bar in the area was questionable to me, but I heard they had fantastic food.

There are plenty of new restaurants to seek out. I’ve heard good things from friends who have visited the Pennsylvania area and raved about Voodoo Brewing. I’m a Popeyes fan, and they have one of the best chicken sandwiches around. Speaking of Chicken, Birdies is opening a third location in Downtown Boston next to Potbelly. Lala’s will move into the old Article 24. I’m glad there is another brunch option in that area.

Boston Restaurant Openings and Closings in 2024

• Revival Cafe + Kitchen to Open in South Boston

  No exact location has been announced. They have locations in downtown Boston, Cambridge, and Somerville, with new locations coming to Watertown and Lexington

• Lalas Plans to Open in the Former Article 24 Space in Brighton

  Lalas plans to open on Western Avenue in the former Article 24 space. Owners Tyrone Di Stasi, Richard Sullivan, and Jairo Dominguez are behind it. The fourth place from the team of Di Stasi, Sullivan, and Dominguez, joining Flamingo in the North End, Rock & Rye in the Theatre District, and Pinky’s in the Back Bay.

• Popeyes to Open in Newton Corner

  Popeyes is moving into a space on Centre Street that had been home to a Subway location. It will join the locations in Roslindale, Roxbury, West Roxbury, Brockton, Chelmsford, Everett, Lawrence, Lynn, Randolph, Quincy, Woburn, and Northeastern University in Boston.

  https://www.popeyes.com/

• Birdies Hot Chicken to Open in Boston's Downtown Crossing

  A third location of a group of Nashville hot chicken places is on its way to the Greater Boston area along with Brockton and Westwood.

   https://birdieshotchickenma.com/

• Voodoo Brewing Co. to Expand to Boston

  Voodoo Brewing Co. plans to open a franchised location in Boston later this year, its first outlet in Massachusetts. The upcoming brewpub will offer beer, cocktails, hard seltzers, and a food menu that includes items “tailored to local tastes.” Voodoo Brewing Co. first started in Pennsylvania and has franchises in Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Colorado, and Nevada.

   https://www.voodoobrewery.com

• Rosa Mexicano at the Burlington Mall Has Closed

  The Burlington outlet of the restaurant first opened in June of 2022, joining another in Boston’s Seaport District; other locations can also be found in New York City, Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

   https://www.rosamexicano.com/

• Sofia Italian Steakhouse in West Roxbury Is Closing

  Sofia Italian Steakhouse on VFW Parkway is closing its doors, with a Facebook post from the place saying the following:

  After 16 happy and successful years, it is with a heavy heart that we have come to the difficult decision to have our last dinner service on Saturday, March 2nd. Sofia has been sold to another restaurant group that will aim to reopen under a new name and concept….if you can’t make a last trip in to dine with us, we invite you to visit our sister restaurant in Stoughton: Amelia’s! You’ll also be able to use any of your Sofia gift cards there. The space in which Sofia resides had previously been home to Vintage and, before that, Fontaine’s.

   https://www.sofiaboston.com/

• Jimmies Cafe in Roslindale Has Closed

  An ice cream shop in a Boston neighborhood has shut down after being in business for 15 years. In a Facebook post, the Corinth Street spot thanked customers for their support and said it is closed “indefinitely.” Jimmies, which first opened in 2009, was known in part for its ice cream but also served salads, sandwiches, chicken fingers, empanadas, and fries.

• Stanzy's Country Ranch in Peabody Has Closed, Will Be Replaced by a New Pub

  A Southern-influenced restaurant, bar, and music spot on the North Shore has shut down, and a new dining and drinking spot will replace it. Facebook group page (via a North Shore Dining post), Stanzy’s Country Ranch in Peabody has shuttered, with a note from the Main Street place saying that they are selling the business to the landlord who will be opening a pub within the space. The note mentions that gift cards can be used at the upcoming pub or at Rivalry in Salem, which is under the same ownership as Stanzy’s.

• Lombardo's in Randolph Is Going Up for Auction

  One of the best-known event venues in the Greater Boston area is going on the auction block. The Lombardo family announced the sale of its property last September and also announced the formation of the Lombardo Hospitality Group, which is behind Bardo’s Bar Pizza in South Boston and Norwood, as well as Off The Vine Catering. Lombardo’s traces its roots to a butcher shop in East Boston.

   https://lombardoshospitality.com/

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