Charlestown Cafe to Close as Owners Lean Into Retirement

Retirement is on the horizon for the owners of a long-running Charlestown cafe. Kevin and Lynn Smith, who operate Grasshopper Cafe (229 Bunker Hill St., Boston), want to downsize their lives, leaving the restaurant business and building a multi-unit housing setup on the site of the existing cafe.

The Smiths have operated Grasshopper for about 10 years, and Kevin Smith credits the family’s ability to stay in business to fact that they own the building, allowing them to remain insulated, to a degree, from the rising costs associated with running a restaurant in the Boston area.

Grasshopper serves a mix of fare, including salads, steak with fries, Reuben sandwiches, and breakfast items. Weekend specials feature eggs Benedict with lobster and crab cakes, along with blueberry coffee cake, lox and bagels, and more. Keep apprised of updates about the eventual closing — timeline TBD — on Grasshopper’s Facebook page.

Update, 2/26/20: The owners no longer plan to close Grasshopper Cafe.

• Grasshopper Café to Close Down, Owner Proposes Residential Project [CB]