Massachusetts

More than 20 Eastern Massachusetts restaurants closed their doors during January

Published

2 years ago

February 6, 2024

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.

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Massachusetts

Think you’re middle class in Massachusetts? Here’s the income range

Published

5 hours ago

March 27, 2026

Press Room

Think you’re middle class in Massachusetts? Here’s the income range

Your household can earn more than $200,000 a year and still be considered part of the “middle class” in Massachusetts, according to a recent study by SmartAsset.

Massachusetts ranks as the top state with the highest income range for households to be considered middle class, based on SmartAsset’s analysis using 2024 income data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The Pew Research Center defines the middle class as households earning roughly two-thirds to twice the national median household income.

According to a 2022 Gallup survey, about half of U.S. adults consider themselves middle class, with 38% identifying as “middle class” and 14% as “upper-middle class.” Higher-income Americans and college graduates were most likely to identify with the “middle class” or “upper-middle class,” while lower-income Americans and those without a college education generally identified as “working class” or “lower class.”

Here’s how much money your household would need to bring in annually to be considered middle class in Massachusetts.

How much money would you need to make to be considered middle class in MA?

In Massachusetts, households would need to earn between $69,900 and $209,656 annually to be considered middle class, according to SmartAsset. The Bay State has the highest income range in the country for middle-class households. The state’s median household income is $104,828.

In Boston, the range is slightly lower. Households need to earn between $65,194 and $195,582 annually to qualify as middle class, giving the city the 19th-highest income range among the 100 largest U.S. cities. Boston’s median household income is $97,791.

How do other New England states compare?

Massachusetts has the highest income range for middle-class households in New England. Here’s what households would have to earn in neighboring states:

Massachusetts (#1 nationally) – $69,885 to $209,656 annually; median household income of $104,828
New Hampshire (#6 nationally) – $66,521 to $199,564 annually; median household income of $99,782
Connecticut (#10 nationally) – $64,033 to $192,098 annually; median household income of $96,049
Rhode Island (#17 nationally) – $55,669 to $167,008 annually; median household income of $83,504
Vermont (#19 nationally) – $55,153 to $165,460 annually; median household income of $82,730
Maine (#30 nationally) – $50,961 to $152,884 annually; median household income of $76,442

Which state has the lowest middle-class income range?

Mississippi ranks last for the income range needed to be considered middle class, according to SmartAsset. Households there would need to earn between $39,418 and $118,254 annually. The state’s median household income is $59,127.

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Massachusetts

Massachusetts AG Campbell accused of breaking professional conduct amid audit lawsuit

Published

18 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

Massachusetts AG Campbell accused of breaking professional conduct amid audit lawsuit

AG Andrea Campbell called Diana DiZoglio’s personal cell phone a day after an SJC justice moved the legislative audit legal case to the full court, a call that the auditor alleges violates the state’s professional conduct rules.

DiZoglio’s fight with Campbell is steaming ahead, even as the attorney general claims that there’s a “path forward” for the voter-approved audit of the state Legislature, over 15 months after 72% of the state signed off on the ballot measure.

DiZoglio’s office argues that Campbell’s attempt to call the auditor on her personal cell phone violates Rule 4.2 of the Massachusetts Rules of Professional Conduct, which prohibits lawyers from communicating directly about a case with an individual represented by another attorney without consent.

“The Attorney General is our state’s top law enforcement officer and should follow the Rules of Professional Conduct,” DiZoglio said in a statement on Wednesday. “I will not participate in dark, shadow conversations with the AG about this lawsuit.”

“That she is trying to get me to speak with her alone, via private cell phone, without my legal counsel present, is unacceptable,” the auditor added.

Campbell’s office is firing back at DiZoglio’s claim, which it says is a “false and baseless accusation.”

“If the Auditor is interested in a solution,” the office said in a statement shared with the Herald, “the AG is available to speak with her or the Auditor’s staff can speak with our office – but as it stands, her office refuses to engage with us directly on a path forward.”

DiZoglio and Campbell have been locked in a legal tug-of-war since voters approved the audit in November 2024.

Siding with legislative leadership, Campbell has claimed that DiZoglio has not answered basic questions on the scope of the legislative audit. The AG argues that the auditor’s review may also violate the state Constitution.

In February, DiZoglio sued House Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka for refusing to comply with the audit. The auditor is asking the SJC to allow her to appoint an outside attorney, as Campbell is representing the top Beacon Hill Democrats.

DiZoglio spotlighted Campbell’s attempt to talk with her on her personal cell phone after the AG appeared on GBH’s Boston Public Radio on Wednesday. The auditor also released emails between the two offices regarding the call.

In her radio segment, Campbell admitted to calling the auditor after seeing her at a recent event in Worcester and that she had yet to hear back from DiZoglio. The AG said the message that she is trying to convey to the auditor is that “there’s a pathway forward.”

Speaking at an event on March 16, DiZoglio said, “I have only asked for financial receipts and state contracts. There is nothing unconstitutional about … getting access to that information.”

Campbell argues DiZoglio has “changed” her stance on the audit’s scope.

Deputy Auditor Michael Leung-Tat expressed his concerns about Campbell’s call to DiZoglio in an email on Monday to Assistant Attorney General Anne Sterman and First Assistant Attorney General Pat Moore.

Leung-Tat emphasized that the last time DiZoglio and Campbell spoke via phone was allegedly in November 2023, when the AG informed the auditor of her support of the legislative audit.

“They don’t have a relationship beyond our office’s official communications,” Leung-Tat wrote, “and, as you know, official business between our offices is conducted at the staff level. … it appears that the Attorney General was calling the Auditor about the pending litigation before the SJC.”

“As you are aware,” the deputy auditor added, “we have been engaged with your office seeking assistance in our efforts to audit the Legislature since 2023, so it is curious that the Attorney General only just now decided to call.

In an email reply, Moore said there was “nothing unethical” about Campbell’s call and that the AGO was “surprised to see” the auditor’s “unfounded assertion.”

“The Auditor has also used her time in those forums make false allegations against the Attorney General and officers of every other branch of state government, recently including judges,” Moore wrote. “Having now heard multiple variations of these comments, the Attorney General felt it appropriate to reach to talk with the Auditor.”

After multiple exchanges back and forth, Moore refuted Leung-Tat’s claims that DiZoglio has answered Campbell’s questions to help the legislative audit proceed. The first assistant AG added that the office “takes pride in our professionalism.”

“We do not, just to pick one example,” Moore wrote, “claim that every state agency funded by legislative appropriation is corrupt; nor that the courts adjudicating our cases are.”

“Nor do we take exception to conferring with those against whom we are litigating,” he added. “We do that every day.”

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