Flat Top Johnny’s Is Eyeing a Rebirth in Allston

Flat Top Johnny’s, the popular Kendall Square pool hall and burger joint that closed last August due to the pandemic, is eyeing a comeback, this time in Lower Allston near Trader Joe’s.

Owner John Adams tells Eater that he has signed a lease and that he’s currently going through the liquor licensing process, though he has an offer to purchase an existing liquor license. The next step will be getting the approval of the community. Adams had a preliminary meeting with the Allston Civic Association on July 21; he says that his plan was “well received.”

The new Flat Top Johnny’s will be built out from scratch, with all new equipment, including pool tables — there will be eight to 10, depending on space — and pinball machines. (Adams says he didn’t have the ability to store his original equipment.) It will feature an outdoor patio and have a menu that consists of comfort foods and burgers, as well as a full liquor license. Adams says he’s mostly just hoping to replicate the laid-back, welcoming atmosphere he created in Kendall Square for nearly three decades. His management team will be made up of employees from the former business.

Adams has been looking for new spaces since he was forced to close the original location last summer, and he says that he’s eager to join a part of Allston that’s experiencing a bit of a renaissance. “I’m excited to give back to my community again, to host fundraisers, to help out folks in the neighborhood.” He expects the buildout and licensing process will take between six and eight months, so local pool sharks can expect a Flat Top Johnny’s return sometime in early 2022.

• July 16, 2020: A Couple of Cambridge Bars With Pool, a Fancy Japanese Destination Downtown, and More Closings [EBOS]