In the City

A Changed Kenmore Square and Fenway

Pandemic has shuttered some businesses, altered others in these two popular close-to-campus neighborhoods

Many businesses in Kenmore Square and the Fenway area have been deeply affected by the coronavirus pandemic, with some facing uncertain futures or forced to close permanently. Still others remain open with strict protocols in place. Photos by Cydney Scott (from left), Jackie Ricciardi, and courtesy of the House of Blues

Last March when COVID-19 ramped up in Boston, Boston University, along with other colleges throughout the city, immediately moved to remote learning, sending tens of thousands of students home. Nonessential employees began working remotely, as well. Stores and restaurants were shuttered by order of Governor Charlie Baker, and tourism—central to the city’s economy—all but disappeared. In the wake of all that, many businesses closed in Kenmore Square and the Fenway, two of the most popular neighborhoods for the BU community—some permanently. Of the businesses that have reopened, many have had to make significant changes to the way they do business, reducing hours, implementing strict physical distancing protocols, and placing an emphasis on curbside pickup, takeout, or outdoor dining. 

Below is a list of which businesses have closed and which remain open. Is there one we missed? Add it in our Comment section below.

Permanently closed:

Kenmore Collectibles
466 Commonwealth Ave.

This premier dealer in coins, gold, silver, sports cards, and sports memorabilia closed its Kenmore Square location on July 29 and has moved to an office at 56 Chestnut Hill Ave., Brighton. Those interested in buying, selling, or trading can contact Kenmore Collectibles by calling 617-482-5705 or emailing at info@kenmorecollectibles.com.

Uno Pizzeria and Grill
645 Beacon St.

Uno Pizzeria and Grill, a Kenmore Square fixture since 1979 and known for attracting rowdy Red Sox fans seeking a bite before a home game at Fenway Park, officially closed its doors in late July. Although the restaurant chain continues, the Kenmore Square location was the last Uno restaurant in Boston.

Boston Hotel Buckminster
645 Beacon St.

Designed by renowned architect Stanford White, the Boston Hotel Buckminster was the largest building in Kenmore Square when it opened in 1897. The hotel was the site of the plot to fix the 1919 World Series, and in 1929, was the site of the nation’s first radio network broadcast. In 1950, the popular jazz nightclub Storyville moved to the hotel, featuring live performances by legendary musicians like Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. The hotel closed in March, a casualty of the pandemic.

Temporarily closed:

Pho Common
468 Commonwealth Ave.

This traditional Vietnamese restaurant, popular for its varieties of pho, the popular beef broth noodle soup, is temporarily closed. No details on when it will reopen to the public are available.

Island Creek Oyster Bar
500 Commonwealth Ave.

Island Creek, in the Hotel Commonwealth, has been a favorite among BU faculty and staff since it opened. The restaurant attracted diners from all over the city, drawn to its high-quality seafood and oysters. It is temporarily closed and according to restaurant staff, may never reopen. But fans of the restaurant take heart: Island Creek recently opened a new location in nearby Burlington, Mass.

The Hawthorne
500A Commonwealth Ave.

Jackson Cannon’s sophisticated cocktail bar, The Hawthorne, also in the Hotel Commonwealth, quickly earned a reputation for its craft cocktails and its tasty bar menu when it opened in 2011. The cocktail bar temporarily closed in early March because of the pandemic, and the Hawthorne’s website notes that they are “unfortunately unsure of our ability to reopen due to ongoing lease negotiations with our landlords.”

Eastern Standard
528 Commonwealth Ave.

Eastern Standard, another restaurant sited in the Hotel Commonwealth, was an instant hit when it opened in Kenmore Square in 2005. Like The Hawthorne, the restaurant is temporarily closed and its future also uncertain, again because of lease issues with landlords.

Boston Beer Works
61 Brookline Ave.

This Beantown landmark, just a curveball away from Fenway Park, has been temporarily closed since March. But in July, the sports bar, known for its carbonated cask beers and experimental and limited-release beers, posted a tantalizing message on Instagram, promising “something new and exciting for 2021.”

Lucky Strike Social Boston
145 Ipswich St.

This three-story, 70,000-square-foot entertainment complex, featuring bowling alleys, billiards tables, a giant game room, and six full bars, is temporarily closed and management has as yet given no reopening date.

Fenway Park
4 Jersey St.

Although the Major League Baseball season is truncated, and the Red Sox are hosting games at their home stadium (which was erected in 1912), games are closed to the public as a result of the pandemic.

Hojoko
1271 Boylston St.

This Japanese-style tavern, renowned for its sushi, sake, and small bites, remains closed to the public due to COVID-19. Follow them on Instagram at @hojokoboston for reopening updates.

Museum of Fine Arts
465 Huntington Ave.

Home to a world-renowned collection of nearly half a million objects, the Museum of Fine Arts has been shuttered since mid-March because of the pandemic. Although it remains closed to the public, the museum recently announced that it will be continuing its collaboration with the Roxbury International Film Festival and Boston Latino International Film Festival to create a film and music experience both online and in person. The MFA will be screening a number of films outdoors, including Remember the Titans and Selena, as part of its September Nights at the MFA, where strict social distancing practices will be observed. Get free ticket reservations here. In the meantime, check out the online gallery, recently awarded the title of Best Virtual Museum Experience by Boston magazine, here. And remember, when the museum does reopen to visitors, BU students, faculty, and staff get in free with their BU IDs. Find the latest updates for rescheduled fall events here.

And now for some good news: these businesses are open

Cornwall’s
644 Beacon St.

This family-owned Brit-style pub, a magnet for members of the BU community, is now open for indoor and outdoor dining, and as well has pickup and delivery options. The restaurant recently began serving breakfast, from 8 to 11 am, along with lunch and dinner . Breakfast includes all of the basics, among them a classic breakfast burrito with choice of bacon or ham, American cheese, and a fried egg on an English muffin, as well as delicious pastries, such as blueberry muffins, Grandma’s coffee cake, and more.

India Quality
484 Commonwealth Ave.

Rated Boston’s top Indian restaurant 18 years in a row by Zagat, India Quality serves traditional Indian cuisine. Among the more than 60 entrées are standouts like lamb curry, naan, saag paneer, and more. Note: because of the ongoing health crisis, the restaurant is open for delivery and takeout only. Order here .

Nuggets
486 Commonwealth Ave.

This record–video store has been a Kenmore Square fixture since 1978, selling, buying, and trading vinyl records, CDs, VHS tapes, DVDs, and cassettes. The store, with more than 10,000 records, including rare and out-of-print titles, is currently offering curbside pickup. The store occasionally post hours for in-person shopping on its Facebook page, as well. Looking for a specific record? Email nuggetsrecords@hotmail.com and be sure to check out its website for additional information.

The Deck on Lansdowne
15 Lansdowne St.

House of Blues opened this 21-plus only rooftop deck to the public earlier this summer, serving up cocktails, pizzas, sandwiches, and more. To book a reservation, email TheDeck@LiveNation.com for parties up to six people. The deck is open Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays through October. Check out the menu here.

Wahlburgers
132 Brookline Ave.

This burger chain, owned by actors Mark and Donnie Wahlberg and their brother Paul, serves up locally sourced innovative burgers, fresh salads, and crowd-pleasers like “Mom’s Sloppy Joe” and smoked bacon mac ‘n’ cheese. The Fenway spot is currently open for delivery, takeout, and curbside pickup. Find the full menu here. The restaurant is currently offering a special of two burgers and a beer bucket for only $20.

By Chloe
100 Van Ness St.

This vegan restaurant chain serves delicious and innovative alternatives to classic dishes, such as a mac ‘n’ cheese, made with sweet potatoes, cashew cheese sauce, shiitake bacon, and almond parmesan, and a classic burger featuring a patty made of tempeh, lentil, chia, and walnut. The restaurant has put in place strict measures to protect the health and safety of its customers and offers indoor and outdoor seating options, as well as contact-free delivery and pickup. Delivery can be ordered through Uber Eats, Postmates, Caviar, or DoorDash. Get $5 off your first order with the By Chloe app, here.

Saloniki Greek
4 Kilmarnock St.

This sleek eatery, helmed by famed local chef and restaurateur Jody Adams, pays tribute to the “humble Greek sandwich shop.” The traditional Greek fare can be ordered as a plate or pita. Try the classic pita wraps with your choice of meat and toppings, or a classic Greek salad. The restaurant is currently open noon to 8 pm daily for takeout, delivery, or patio dining.

Blackbird Doughnuts
20 Kilmarnock St.

This artisanal shop, boasting doughnuts made from either cake batter or brioche dough, features a rotating roster of flavors, including a peach jam bismarck. Patrons can order full-size doughnuts or mini-doughnut stacks (three to an order). Blackbird currently offers both pickup and delivery options. (There is no indoor seating at present.)

Eventide
1321 Boylston St.

This counter-style service version of the popular Portland, Maine, Eventide Oyster Company serves up delicious shucked oysters, fried seafood, New England clam chowder, and buttery lobster rolls. Seating on the restaurant’s patio is first come, first served. The restaurant also offers takeout and delivery options. Allow about 15 to 30 minutes preparation time for all takeout orders.

Honeygrow
1282 Boylston St.

Honeygrow’s menu includes a variety of bowls and salads. Among the most popular: the sesame garlic chicken stir-fry made with egg white noodles, all-natural chicken, bell peppers, broccoli, red onions, pineapples, and parsley; and the “Greek Out” salad made with chopped romaine lettuce, all-natural chicken, crunchy chickpeas, Mediterranean herbs, feta cheese, grape tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, red onions, Kalamata olives, and pickled banana peppers, served with green goddess dressing. Honeygrow offers both delivery and takeout options. Check out how Honeygrow is responding to COVID-19 here.

Tasty Burger
1301 Boylston St.

This classic burger joint opened for full indoor service in July, but also offers contactless takeout and delivery options. The menu is easy on the wallet, with most burgers costing less than $7. The hot dogs and chicken sandwiches are worth sampling, too.

Citizens Public House and Oyster Bar
1310 Boylston St.

Citizens Public House and Oyster Bar serves modern tavern food with a twist. Offering more than 325 whiskeys and a large selection of wines and craft cocktails, the tavern is the perfect place to grab a drink either on the patio, in the indoor dining room, or with takeout service. Check out the full menu, served every day starting at 4 pm, here.

Basho Japanese Brasserie
1338 Boylston St.

This Japanese eatery serves up some of the best sushi rolls and bowls in Boston. Basho is open for full service, including both indoor and outdoor patio seating. The restaurant also offers delivery and takeout. Order online here.

Tiger Mama
1363 Boylston St.

Tiger Mama’s Southeast Asian fusion menu, which draws on Thai, Vietnamese, and Malaysian cuisine, can be enjoyed either in person, on the patio, or via takeout. Among the standouts are crispy pork ribs and an array of tiki drinks.

Sweet Cheeks Q
1381 Boylston St.

This Southern BBQ and cocktails restaurant, which offers a taste of “the American south, north of the Mason Dixon,” is open for takeout and in-person service on the patio. The menu includes such favorites as buttermilk fried chicken, mac ‘n’ cheese, and sliced prime beef biscuit. View the complete menu here.

Time Out Market (some vendors temporarily closed)
401 Park Dr.

This 25,000-square-foot food hall is home to numerous stalls from some of Boston’s top restaurants, but several vendors, including the Demo Kitchen, Ms. Clucks Deluxe, and Gogo Ya, have yet to reopen. In response to COVID-19, the market has implemented table dividers and increased sanitation, and requires masks to be worn until customers reach their table.

The Green at 401 Park
401 Park Dr.

Formerly a parking lot for the historic Landmark Center building, this recently opened one-acre park is open to the public, but as a result of COVID-19, regular events like summer concerts and winter ice skating have been put on hold for the foreseeable future.

Bennett’s Sandwich Shop
84 Peterborough St.

Bennett’s Sandwich Shop—famous for its quarter-pound Maine lobster rolls and its steak and cheese sub with 100 percent all-natural shaved sirloin steak, melted American cheese, and grilled veggies—is open for in-house dining, as well as takeout and delivery. The sandwich shop also offers various salads and a delicious classic grilled cheese sandwich. Check out the full menu here.

Phinista
96 Peterborough St.

Vietnamese coffee shop Phinista has taken up residence where Neighborhoods Coffee and Crepes used to be. The new owners happily retained Neighborhoods’ crepes on their menu. The restaurant is now open for in-person service and has seating both indoors and on the patio. Check out the menu here.

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
25 Evans Way

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, one of Boston’s most beloved cultural institutions, recently reopened to the public after closing its doors in March. Housed in a replica of a 15th-century Venetian palace, the museum has more than 2,500 paintings, sculptures, tapestries, rare books, and decorative arts—including works by Titian, Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Raphael, Botticelli, Manet, Degas, and Sargent—all reflecting the taste of Isabella Stewart Gardner (1840–1924), the prominent Boston art collector and philanthropist who founded the museum. At its center is a courtyard filled with flowers year-round. The museum, open daily except Tuesdays, has instituted a number of health and safety measures. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Find more information about visiting and the museum’s reopening policies here.