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Welcome back to AM Intel, a round-up of mini news bites to kick off the day.
What Happened Last Week?
Catch up on last week’s most-read stories, including the updated Heatmap; the shutter of Townsman; looks inside a new Somerville barbecue joint and a new Downtown Crossing brewery; and more.
And from our international big sister, Eater.com: a look at what’s happening to Mario Batali’s books in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations; a rundown on all the food-related television shows and movies hitting streaming services this month; an essay on the “life-bettering magic” of Ikea’s meatballs; and more.
No Starbucks for the North End
That hotly contested Starbucks planned for 198 Hanover St., right at the gateway of one of Boston’s most historic neighborhoods? Not happening. In the wake of heavy opposition from residents — not to mention Mayor Marty Walsh asking the developer to cancel its plans — developer Charter Realty has done so.
A Hiatus
Somerville rock club Once — which opened in the former Anthony’s function space on Highland Avenue four years ago, first as Cuisine en Locale at Anthony’s — is taking the late summer off for restructuring, aiming for an early fall “reboot” and reopening. The events calendar is packed for July, but August will be quiet as owner JJ Gonson and her team figure out how to “transition and hone to keep the business viable.”
Oyster Alert
The team behind a trio of Jamaica Plain restaurants is days away from debuting Little Dipper, a space-themed diner taking the place of the group’s recently shuttered Centre Street Cafe (669 Centre St., Boston). Meanwhile, the team is also adding a raw bar to its taco bar, Casa Verde (711 Centre St., Boston), per co-owner David Doyle, inspired by chef Owen Royce-Nagel’s “love of seafood.” Look for plenty of New England oysters, including Island Creek and Moon Shoals, as well as shrimp cocktail, several styles of ceviche, and more. “Expanding our menu to include raw bar offerings is our way of celebrating the bounty that lies off our shores,” says Doyle.
A Little Bit of Boston Is Heading to Florida
Downtown Boston’s Beantown Pub will get a southern sibling: Beantown Pub South is opening in St. Petersburg, Florida. It’s slated to debut later this month at 29 3rd St. N., promising “some Boston vibes with some better weather.”
Got a news tip for the Eater Boston team? Email boston@eater.com.
