News

Tavern in the Square hopes to open at former News site

By Chris Cassidy
Staff writer
Published: July 18, 2008

SALEM — The owner of several restaurants in Cambridge, Somerville and Boston plans to open a casual restaurant and bar on the first floor of the former Salem Evening News building.

The Arcari Restaurant Group owns the Boston Beer Garden in South Boston, the Joshua Tree in Davis Square in Somerville and Brighton, and Tavern in the Square in both Central and Porter squares in Cambridge. Now, they hope to open Tavern in the Square — Salem by spring of 2009.

The 200-seat, casual-themed restaurant and bar would take up the entire first floor of the former Salem Evening News building and feature an outdoor patio. It will serve lunch and dinner and have a late-night menu.

It will resemble the two Tavern in the Square locations in Cambridge with a wide-ranging menu featuring salads, burgers, pizzas, sandwiches, pastas and appetizers.

"Salem's an up-and-coming city, and we're hoping to add to it," said owner Joey Arcari, whose group also looked at the former Roosevelt's location (now Spirits) awhile ago.

Arcari opened his first restaurant, the Boston Beer Garden, 14 years ago and now owns 10 establishments, including one in Naples, Fla., and two in New York City.

He said Tavern in the Square would draw a clientele of all ages, ranging from young professionals to families.

The restaurant would be a major anchor at one of the city's most visible locations. Somerville-based RCG is developing the site into a four-story building, featuring apartments on the three top floors.

"We're excited," Mayor Kim Driscoll said. "It's an experienced restaurant group. ... They're prepared to make a major investment in that corner. ... It's a marquee intersection. You have to go by it to enter the city."

Driscoll hopes the new restaurant will make the downtown Washington Street stretch more of a destination for diners, the way Harvard Square and Boston's North End attract patrons.

"With the work that Edgewater Café has done with outdoor seating and A Passage to India, it's a great fit to round out that corner," RCG principal Matt Picarsic said.

To operate, Arcari first needs a liquor license, but because the city has already reached its limit of licenses, none is available.

"There are a few licenses not being used, but they're all under agreement," said Licensing Board Chairman Dave Shea.

With the backing of Driscoll, Arcari's group asked the City Council last night to seek a home-rule petition. The petition, which the council endorsed, would have to pass the state Legislature and be signed by the governor, but would allow Tavern in the Square to serve alcohol.

That's not sitting too well with at least one of Arcari's potential competitors. Hugh Kerr, the owner of A Passage to India on the same block, said he had to invest $150,000 and wait nearly a year before he could acquire his liquor license.

Kerr said he had to buy the old Boxcar Café on Bridge Street, spruce it up, resell it, then transfer the license to his restaurant in order to serve alcohol there.

"I was forced to buy a building to get my hands on a liquor license," Kerr said. "If we're going to allow everyone who comes to Salem to get a home-rule petition for a liquor license, what's the value of mine?"

Dave McKillop, the co-owner of Rockafellas a few blocks away, said he expects the new restaurant will give people another reason to dine in the downtown.

"As long as there's not a tremendous overlap of the same product, it's a great thing to do," McKillop said. "Everyone has their own niche. ... The more the merrier."