Massachusetts
More than 20 Eastern Massachusetts restaurants closed their doors during January
January is the start of a new year, but unfortunately it marked the end of the road for more than 20 restaurants in Eastern Massachusetts.
Thanks to last month’s closures, vacancies now exist in the following Wicked Local communities: Rockland, Braintree, Billerica, Newton, Cambridge, Arlington, Roslindale, Saugus, Brighton, Acton, Westwood, Tewksbury, Brighton and Hingham.
Wicked Local will keep you posted on what new restaurants may open in these locations.
Did we miss any? Let us know by emailing jtzouvelis@wickedlocal.com.
Sugo Cucina Italiana, Arlington
Sugo Cucina Italiana, 162 Massachusetts Ave. (Route 3), has closed. It had been in business since the summer of 2015.
Owner Rudy Maniscalco specialized in classic Italian fare based on the recipes of his late mother, Gina Maniscalco.
Just like Mom made: Sugo Cucina Italiana in Arlington aims to revive Italian classics
Courthouse Fish Market, Cambridge
Courthouse Fish Market, 484 Cambridge St., which had been in business since 1912, shut down in January.
A note on the shop’s website states: “Dear valued customers: We extend our heartfelt gratitude for your years of support and patronage at the fish market. It is with a heavy heart we share the news that our fish market will be closing on January 13, 2024. We sincerely thank you for your years of unwavering support and patronage. While the fish market bids farewell, we are excited to inform you that our restaurant will continue to serve you with the same dedication to quality and excellence. We look forward to welcoming you to the restaurant next door.”
Article Fifteen Brewing Co., Rockland
After four years in business — first in Weymouth, later in Rockland — Article Fifteen Brewing Co. closed on Jan. 27.
“It’s been a fun ride, but every road comes to an end,” the business announced in a Facebook post.
Article Fifteen said “the burdens of inflation, the rising costs of materials and equipment maintenance, combined with the constant regulatory challenges presented to us since our move, have made it clear that we had to make the hardest of decisions.”
Blossom Nutrition, Newton
Blossom Nutrition, 318 Walnut St., which marketed itself as a family business providing healthy options to improve customer’s lifestyles, announced it was closing in an Instagram post on Jan. 9
The post stated: “Unfortunately we closed, we wanna to say thank you everyone for support us, and God bless you always. Never stop dreaming….”
Blossom opened during the summer of 2022, offering smoothies, juices, coffee, tea and bowls.
Cafe Asiana, Braintree
After nearly 25 years in business offering Thai and Chinese fare, Café Asiana, 25 Pearl St., has closed.
A post on the Everything Braintree Facebook group page indicates the owners decided to retire and that a new Asian restaurant will open in its place.
Casa Loca Mexican Cantina, Westwood
Casa Loca Mexican Cantina, 174 University Ave., has closed. It was known as a place to relax within a homey atmosphere and enjoy doughnuts, carnitas and margaritas.
The restaurant opened at University Station in the fall of 2020. It was part of the Wellesley Restaurant Group.
Chung King Restaurant, Billerica
Chinese and Japanese restaurant Chung King Restaurant, 446 Boston Road (Route 3A), has closed.
A post on the restaurant’s Facebook page states: “We opened the restaurant during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, navigating through tough times, facing numerous challenges such as increased operating costs, and economic crises. Believe me, this was a difficult decision for our management team. We cherish the community, and we wouldn’t have come this far without your support. We want to express our gratitude to the Billerica community and surrounding towns.”
Chung King’s owners also run Jade Pacific at 770 Boston Road,where they will honor Chung King gift cards.
Deli King Restaurant, Tewksbury
An old-school dining spot in the northern suburbs of Boston is shutting down after being in business for several decades.
Deli King Restaurant, 885 Main St. (Route 38), has closed. According to WCVB, its owners, brothers-in-law Arthur Agganis and Dimitrios Gomatos, opened the cafeteria-style restaurant specializing in Greek and American cuisine in 1989.
Donut Villa, Newton
Donut Villa, has closed its Newtonville location at 344 Walnut St. The diner still has three other locations (Malden, Cambridge and Arlington).
The Newton location opened in the fall of 2022 in the former Brewer’s Coalition space. It was open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, seven days a week and of course, doughnuts were the specialty.
Imperial China, Framingham
Imperial China, 413 Worcester Road (Route 9), Framingham, has shut down.
In a post on the ChewOnThis Facebook page, the business stated: “Our business will be permanently closing January 1, 2024. We thank you for your many years of support.”
The restaurant, which had been in business for more than 30 years, was known mainly for its Chinese-American fare and its Polynesian drinks.
Nomai, Hingham
Nomai, at the Derby Street Shops, 94 Derby St., has closed.
A post on its website states: “We are announcing the unfortunate closing of Nomai. Since our opening at Hingham’s Derby Street Shops in 2022, we have had so much fun meting and feeding so many of you.”
The post also states: “We look forward to having you visit us at our other Boston and Cambridge establishments, including Shojo, Ruckus and China Pearl, opening later this year.”
OddFellows Ice Cream Co., Chestnut Hill
OddFellows Ice Cream Co., 55 Boylston St., has closed. The Chestnut Hill location was the only location in Massachusetts for the New York City-based franchise.
OddFellows opened during the summer of 2019, offering an array of ice cream flavors (including some unusual options); the business was established in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, New York, in 2013.
Rivershed, Braintree
Rivershed, 35-37 Commercial St., has closed. The business has other locations in Scituate and Killington, Vermont.
Since the fall of 2020, Rivershed specialized in burgers, barbecue and craft beer.
TGI Fridays, multiple locations
Danvers and Dedham are among the locations where casual dining chain TGI Friday operated until shutting down several of its Massachusetts restaurants in early January.
Seven TGI Friday’s remain in Massachusetts, including in Boston, Braintree, Everett, Methuen, Millbury, North Dartmouth and Stoughton.
The company announced it was closing 36 underperforming locations nationwide.
Tokyo Japanese Steak House, Newton
The Tokyo Japanese Steak House restaurant in the Chestnut Hill Mall, 199 Boylston St., is no longer in business.
The restaurant opened in 2013 offering steak, sushi and teppanyaki options, with chefs cooking in front of diners on grills at each of the tables.
The Dial and The Blue Owl, Cambridge
The Dial restaurant and the Blue Owl rooftop bar, on the ground and top floors, respectively, of a 907 Main hotel, 907 Main St., are closed.
A post on The Dial Instagram page states: “It is with a heavy heart that we have to announce the permanent closing of The Dial and The Blue Owl. We thank you all for being part of The Dial and Blue Owl community and a part of the diverse neighborhood that gives Central Square it’s unique energy. Together we celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, promotions, Pride months and return to office cocktails; whatever the occasion, we were grateful that you chose to spend it here with us.”
Jimmies Cafe, Roslindale
After 15 years in business, Jimmies Café, an ice cream shop at 48 Corinth St., has closed.
A Facebook post states: “Thank you for your support. Jimmies Café is closed indefinitely.”
Besides ice cream, Jimmies also served salads, sandwiches, chicken fingers, empanadas and fries.
Fuddruckers, Saugus
Fuddruckers announced in a press release in November that it would be closing its Saugus location, 900 Broadway (Route 1), by year’s end.
Franchise owner Adrienne LeBlanc stated: “This is not the outcome we had hoped for because we want to keep the restaurant open. Despite multiple attempts to negotiate a fair lease, however, we simply couldn’t come to an agreement with our landlord, and we were forced to make this very difficult decision.”
Fuddruckers’ Reading location, inside Jordan’s Furniture, remains open. That’s the only other Massachusetts location.
Known for its hamburgers, the company is headquartered in Texas.
Article 24, Brighton
After eight years, Article 24, 458 Western Ave., announced Jan. 14 on Facebook that it would close.
Its post states: “It is with a heavy heart that we announce the closure of our doors after 8 wonderful years. Join us for one last gathering today before we bid farewell. Your presence will make this farewell special.”
Ginger Court, Acton
In business since the 1990s, Ginger Court, 344 Great Road (Route 2A), is closed.
A sign on the door indicates that owners had until Jan. 25 to vacate the premises and remove all personal property or the landlord would take possession.
Owner Po Pai also owns Acton Asian Market, up the street at 279 Great Road.
Massachusetts
Body camera video shows Massachusetts police officer save 78-year-old man from burning truck – East Idaho News
EASTON, Mass. (WBZ) — Police body camera video shows an Easton, Massachusetts, officer rescuing a 78-year-old Raynham man from a burning car on Friday morning.
A Mack dump truck was experiencing problems on the side of Turnpike Street just after 2 a.m. when a Ford pickup truck struck the back of it, according to police.
The pickup truck then became stuck under the dump truck, trapping the driver, Francis Leverone, inside. A Toyota Camry then hit the back of the pickup truck and caught fire, police said.
Easton police officer Dean Soucie arrived at the crash and saw that the two vehicles were on fire. Video shows Soucie rushing over before breaking the driver’s side window and then, with the help of the two witnesses, freeing Leverone from the pickup truck. Soucie said he was confused but conscious.
“As I reached inside the vehicle, one of the passersby — he actually jumped into the cab of the truck, and he helped me free the individual,” Soucie said.
They then carried the driver to safety.
Leverone was taken to a nearby hospital before being transferred to a Boston hospital. He received serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
No one else was injured in the crash.
Dee Leverone told WBZ her husband is doing OK. “I’m just thankful for the people that got him out,” she said. “Very thankful.”
After watching the police body-cam video on the news she said, “I was shocked, I was like ‘Oh my God!’ I just couldn’t believe it. His truck is like melted.”
She says she realized that something was wrong last night when her husband never made it home from work.
“I kept trying to call him and call him, and I finally got a hold of him at like 4:30 a.m., and he was at (Good Samaritan Hospital) and he told me he’s gotten in an accident,” Dee said.
She says he’s recovering at the Boston Medical Center and being treated for a dislocated hip.
“He’s a trooper,” Dee said. “He’s a strong man — and you know he’s 78, but you know he’s a toughie. He definitely is a toughie.”
Soucie commended the help of the two witnesses and said that before he arrived at the crash, they had attempted to put out the flames with a fire extinguisher and removed a gasoline tank from the pickup truck before it could ignite.
“They jumped into action like it was nothing,” Soucie said. “Those two individuals were absolutely awesome.”
Easton Police Chief Keith Boone said that he is “extremely proud” of Soucie and the witnesses.
“He saved a life last night,” Chief Boone said. “He is an exemplary police officer and this is just one example. I think he’s a hero.”
Turnpike Street was closed for several hours following the crash. Easton Police are investigating.
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Massachusetts
Crews battle fire at Townsend home
A fire broke out Sunday morning in Townsend, Massachusetts.
The Townsend Fire department said shortly before 7 a.m. that firefighters were on scene for a structure fire on Dudley Road.
People have been asked to avoid the area.
The Massachusetts Department of Fire Services said state police fire investigators assigned to the state fire marshal’s office are responding to assist the Townsend Fire Department.
There was no immediate word on any injuries, or any information on what caused the fire. It’s also unclear if the large snow piles in the area impeded access to fire hydrants, as was the case at the house explosion in Taunton last week.
This developing story will be updated when we learn more
Massachusetts
Eight high school takeaways from the midst of the state tournaments, plus a new Attleboro football coach – The Boston Globe
Throw in Newton North winning its first state gymnastics title in 54 years, two Natick runners (and one from Oliver Ames) capturing New England titles, a last-minute goal from St. John’s (Shrewsbury) boys’ hockey to eliminate BC High, and plenty of overtime thrillers, and you get an all-time action-packed day.
Find all the scores here, and take a moment to browse all of our coverage:
Not seeing your team’s highlights in Takeaways? Here are all the ways to submit scores and stats to Globe Schools via phone, email, and social media.
▪ With a deep 3-pointer in the first quarter of Greater New Bedford’s 68-43 win over Springfield International, junior Jai-Ana Silva became the program’s leading scorer, surpassing Stephanie Antoine’s 1,493 points, set in 2012. Silva finished with 31 points and now sits at 1,513. Earlier this season, she became the fourth female 1,000-point scorer in school history.
▪ With 30 points in a 90-68 win over Quincy, Beverly senior Jacob Klass surpassed Peter Wynne’s scoring mark of 1,351, set in 1981. Klass, who reached 1,000 earlier this season, has 1,371.
▪ Concord-Carlisle senior goalie Sam Griswold made 44 saves, including the 1,000th of his career, in a 2-1 win over Woburn.
▪ Hoosac Valley senior Qwanell Bradley joined the 1,000-point club on a 3-pointer during a 78-59 Division 5 first-round win over Pacific Rim Charter.
▪ A pair of Bulldogs reached 100 points in Canton’s 9-0 smackdown of Somerset Berkley. Senior defenseman Teddy Shuman got there with a goal and three assists, and senior center Joey Ryan also reached the mark with three helpers.
▪ Taunton junior Jamie Vallarelli matched the school’s points record, joining Jeff Gallagher (’94) with 139, by notching a goal and adding an assist on the overtime tally that kept the Tigers’ season alive with a 3-2 win over Middleborough.
The single-digit seeds are starting to fall.
Saturday saw the first three top-five seeded teams sent home, with No. 3 St. John’s Prep boys’ hockey getting taken down by No. 14 Arlington Catholic in Division 1 action — the highest seed sent home through the first five days of the tournament.
The highest-ranked team to be bounced from the Division 2 boys’ hockey bracket became No. 5 Woburn. It fell, 2-1, to No. 12 Concord-Carlisle, which got an incredible 44-save performance from senior Sam Griswold and goals from Ben Brooks and Joe Grasso.
Division 3 also saw a top-five falter, as No. 5 Pembroke was clipped by No. 13 Norwood, 3-1, in the second round. John Lynch, Anthony Parise, and Mark Trahon provided the goals.
Not to be left out, Division 4 boys’ hockey also saw a significant upset, with No. 23 Bourne riding Jackson Palmborg’s 26 saves to a 3-2 first-round win over No. 10 Hudson.
On the hardcourt, No. 24 Pembroke boys’ basketball didn’t mind a morning ferry ride to Martha’s Vineyard, taking down the ninth-seeded hosts, 65-50, behind Will Farrell’s 24 points.
▪ Seventh-grader Effie Parsons found the net with 31 seconds left in overtime as No. 2 St. Mary’s girls’ hockey escaped a strong upset attempt from No. 18 Winchester, which led, 2-1, before Alyssa Norden tied it up in the third period.
▪ Reading sophomore Payton Curran not only delivered the equalizer in the final minute of regulation, but provided the overtime winner to lift the Rockets to a 3-2 girls’ hockey win over Waltham.
▪ Nantucket’s Gaven Smith forced overtime against Swampscott with a 3-pointer with nine seconds left in regulation, but the fourth-seeded Big Blue rode 26 points from Connor Chiarello and 25 from Teddy O’Neill to a 67-61 win over the No. 29 Whalers.
▪ No. 25 Bishop Fenwick girls’ hockey nearly upset No. 8 Bishop Stang, which would have eliminated both of last year’s Division 1 finalists, but the Spartans survived, 1-0, on junior Alexis Pettinato’s overtime winner.
▪ Braden LaChance netted the overtime winner for Taunton, which survived Middleborough, 3-2, in the third matchup between the two programs in 12 days. The Tigers won, 4-1, on Feb. 16 at Aleixo Arena before Middleborough prevailed, 4-0, on Feb. 18 at Bridgewater Ice Arena.
▪ Nico Santella scored on a stick-side snipe with 42.2 seconds left to propel St. John’s (Shrewsbury) past BC High, 2-1, in a Division 1 second-round matchup of Catholic Conference rivals.
Cal Atherton, Newburyport — The senior erupted for 31 points, guiding the Clippers to a first-round win over the defending Division 2 champions, Somerset Berkley.
Allen Brown Jr., Holbrook — The senior poured in 32 points, the highest total reported to the Globe on Saturday, to lead the Bulldogs past Boston Prep, 66-45 and into the second round.
Amelia Crowe, Pentucket — Amelia Crowe caught fire from deep, draining eight 3-pointers en route to 27 points and a 40-33 first-round win over Seekonk.
Addy Harrington, Duxbury — The senior produced one of the night’s three hat tricks, scoring thrice in a 4-2 second-round win over Melrose.
Levi McNally, Barnstable — Just a sophomore, he netted a hat trick for the Red Hawks in a 5-2 first-round win over Minnechaug.
Cam Melone, Hanover — The senior went for 5 points, scoring twice and assisting thrice in a 6-1 second-round win over Lynnfield.
Georgia Murray, Bishop Feehan — The junior scored a natural hat trick in the first period and finished with four goals in a 6-2 second-round win over Acton-Boxborough.
Celia Neilson, Bishop Fenwick — The senior captain contributed across the board, providing 23 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 8 steals for the top-seeded Crusaders in a 58-27 waxing of Wilmington.
Jackie Pohl and Jenna Oman, East Bridgewater — Pohl, a sophomore, and Oman, a junior, were everywhere in a 63-39 first-round win over Bellingham. Pohl finished with 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists, and Oman had 15 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals.
Attleboro High has a new football coach. Lamont Penn, a Bridgewater-Raynham assistant under Eian Bain, will take over the Bombardiers. They went 3-8 last year under Jim Winters, who helmed the program for four seasons, going 14-30.
Penn served as Norwood’s offensive coordinator from 2018-21. He was introduced to the team Friday.
Providence junior Jon Mignacca, a Bishop Feehan graduate from Seekonk, won the Big East high jump championship, clearing 6 feet, 8.25 inches (2.04 meters) to beat out UConn’s Enaji Muhammad (6-7).
▪ UMass Dartmouth sophomore Ancil Alexander, a Taunton graduate, was named Little East Conference Field Athlete of the Year for men’s indoor track after taking second at the LEC Championships in the shot put (51 feet, 3.75 inches). He won the event three times during the season.
▪ UMass Dartmouth freshman Michael Veegh, a Bishop Stang graduate from Tiverton (R.I.), was named Little East Conference men’s indoor track Rookie of the Year. He won the 400 at the LEC Championships (50.54 seconds) and was part of the second-place 4×400 relay (3:28.67). He was also named All-LEC first team.
▪ Keene State junior Tyler Bolaske, a Palmer graduate, was tabbed as the Little East Conference’s male Track Athlete of the Year after leading the Owls to their first indoor championship since 2008. Bolaske won the mile at the LEC Championships in 4:11 and was runner-up in the 800 (1:59.25).
Georgia Murray, Bishop Feehan, 4
Addy Harrington, Duxbury, 3
Levi McNally, Barnstable, 3
Riley Bergeron, Acton-Boxborough, 2
Brayden Boczenowski, Arlington Catholic, 2
Cate Buckler, Barnstable, 2
Abigail Burke, Notre Dame (H), 2
Payton Curran, Reading, 2
Hannah D’Angelo, Pembroke, 2
Luke Dickson, Medfield, 2
Colman Donohue, Hingham, 2
Will Doucette, Canton, 2
Ryan Elrick, Canton, 2
Jack McCourt, Catholic Memorial, 2
Cam McKenna, Hingham, 2
Cam Melone, Hanover, 2
Joe Pumphret, Winthrop, 2
Nolan Russell, Arlington, 2
Sabrina Stone, Milton, 2
Ella Sullivan, Pembroke, 2
Connor Hines, Hanover, 3
Cam Melone, Hanover, 3
Joe Ryan, Canton, 3
Teddy Shuman, Canton, 3
Abigail Burke, Notre Dame (H), 2
Kellen Labanara, Canton, 2
Hunter McClain, Bourne, 2
Sam Griswold, Concord-Carlisle, 44
Stephen Camara, Arlington Catholic, 33
Jackson Palmborg, Bourne, 26
Jaxson Fleming, Catholic Memorial, 24
Jim Lyman, Winthrop, 22
Colin McCarthy, St. John’s Shrewsbury, 21
Lydia Barnes, Methuen/Tewksbury, 18
Dom Conte, BC High, 18
John Snider, Arlington, 15
Vivienne Melo, Bishop Stang, 14
8. Basketball leaderboard
Allen Brown, Holbrook, 32
Cal Atherton, Newburyport, 31
Jacob Klass, Beverly, 30
Elian Rodriguez, Salem, 30
Mike Berry, Cape Cod Academy, 28
Elian Rodriguez, Salem, 28
Tyler Staiti, Abington, 28
Amelia Crowe, Pentucket, 27
Jag Garces, West Bridgewater, 27
Connor Chiarello, Swampscott, 26
Sysy Emmanuel, St. Mary’s, 26
Dom Taylor, Somerset Berkley, 26
Michael Cimetti, Hull, 25
Grant Neal, Lynnfield, 25
Teddy O’Neill, Swampscott, 25
Will Farrell, Pembroke, 24
Logan Volkringer, Plymouth South, 24
Celia Neilson, Bishop Fenwick, 23
Julian Allison-Cardoso, Dedham, 22
Mateo Jackson, Bridgewater-Raynham, 22
Tori White, Canton, 22
Tori Adams, Walpole, 21
Liam Conneely, Hull, 20
Jackie Pohl, East Bridgewater, 20
Kingston Maxwell, Abington, 15
Krem Amparo, Latin Academy, 14
Mateo Jackson, Bridgewater-Raynham, 14
Bella Bingham, Walpole, 13
Sadie Hartley-Matteson, Old Rochester, 13
Devyn Walsh, Pentucket, 13
A’laya Colbert, North Quincy, 12
Zade Garron Ciberay, Plymouth South, 12
Mike Ekweanya, New Mission, 11
Chase Groothuis, Swampscott, 11
Teddy O’Neill, Swampscott, 11
Brooke Connor, Canton, 10
Jenna Oman, East Bridgewater, 10
Hannah Thorell, Old Rochester, 10
Jackie Pohl, East Bridgewater, 8
Kingston Maxwell, Abington, 7
Jacob Klass, Beverly, 6
Celia Neilson, Bishop Fenwick, 6
Luke Tirrell, Bridgewater-Raynham, 6
Sydney Bosma, Old Rochester, 5
Cason Faulk, Bridgewater-Raynham, 5
Manny Valentino, New Mission, 5
Grace Goudreau, Seekonk, 4
Sadie Hartley-Matteson, Old Rochester, 4
Celia Neilson, Bishop Fenwick, 8
Emma Farrell, East Bridgewater, 6
Connor Chiarello, Swampscott, 5
Sienna Miranda, Seekonk, 4
Brooke Connor, Canton, 3
Zade Garron Ciberay, Plymouth South, 3
Brendan Kurie can be reached at brendan.kurie@globe.com. Follow him on X @BrendanKurie.
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