Towne Stove & Spirits Has Closed in Back Bay

Towne Stove & Spirits (900 Boylston St., Back Bay, Boston) has closed its doors, but it will reopen as something new this spring. Patrick Lyons, owner of Towne and the Lyons Group, told Eater the decision to rebrand was dictated by Boston’s restaurant marketplace.

“When we opened originally, we envisioned Towne as a higher check average restaurant,” Lyons told Eater. “Now we feel like the market has changed a bit. A higher ticket experience is not where we think the market is going, or what diners want.” Towne opened in mid-2010, and noted local chef Lydia Shire (of Locke-Ober fame, and more) was affiliated with it at the time, but she has not been connected to the restaurant for several years now.

Lyons told Eater that the restaurant will undergo a complete overhaul, from the kitchen to the interior. A Brooklyn-based design firm called Home Studio NYC — which is responsible for the designs of New York restaurants Rebelle, June, and Sisters — will be responsible for the redesign.

Lyons also noted that there will be a completely new culinary approach, but he said they won’t be announcing those details quite yet. Whatever the new space is going to be, Lyons seems enthusiastic.

“We are terribly excited about it and feel like it will fill a void in the marketplace,” Lyons said. “In the city in general, and the Back Bay in particular.”

Towne Stove & Spirits closed relatively quietly. Lyons said they had a blowout of a New Year’s Eve party, and a very busy December, but demurred when asked about a big to-do closing.

“We chose to do it that way, as opposed to whatever other melodrama is associated with final dinners and farewells,” he said. “Now we’re busy on reopening it.”

Lyons said he hopes the new restaurant will be open before Marathon Monday.