Middle East Owners to Replace T.T. the Bear's with Sonia's

A new music venue is coming to Central Square, according to Cambridge Day, replacing T.T. the Bear's, a night club and bar that had operated in the space for more than 30 years before closing in July.

Joseph and Nabil Sater, the brothers who own the Middle East Restaurant & Nightclub and ZuZu Restaurant, reportedly won permission this week to turn T.T. the Bear's into Sonia's, a restaurant and venue named after their sister.

They plan to serve the same food as they do at the Middle East Restaurant and will not initially serve alcohol, though Cambridge Day reported that the pair eventually plans to attain a liquor license. T.T's former owner Bonney Bouley still owns the space's liquor license.

When T.T. the Bear's closed, the Saters petitioned to expand their existing businesses into the vacant space, while keeping the spot as a separate venue. They had purchased the building housing all three venues and Central Convenience on Massachusetts Ave. for $7.1 million in December. T.T.'s former owner suggested a higher rent impacted the sale and closure of the venue.

The Saters reportedly plan to continue to use the forthcoming Sonia's as a music venue.