Restaurant Openings: Tonino, Mike & Patty’s, Happy Lemon, and More

A high-end Italian restaurant, a breakfast sandwich shop, and a boba tea spot -- Jamaica Plain has several new restaurants offering very different fare. Claire Makley and Luke Fetbroth opened Tonino on Oct. 20 in the former Little Dipper space (669A Centre St.) in partnership with local restauranteur David Doyle and his wife, Mari Pérez-Alers. Tonino is an Italian restaurant inspired by the trattorias, enotecas and aperitivo bars of the smaller neighborhoods surrounding Rome’s city center. The menu includes tomato pie, which has a direct influence from Fetboth's childhood trips to Philadelphia.

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Cannabis Dispensary Looking to Open in 7-Eleven’s Old Centre Street Spot

A recreational marijuana company is in the process of opening a dispensary at the old 7-Eleven spot on Centre Street. Prolific Cannabis recently signed a 10-year lease for the vacant commercial storefront at 684 Centre St., said CEO Eric Lawrence to Jamaica Plain News. Prolific Cannabis has been approved to open a recreational marijuana dispensary in Allston, and hopes to do so in that neighborhood by the end of the year. Representatives of Prolific Cannabis recently met with the Jamaica Pond Association to talk about their business on July 11. Lawrence hopes to open its Jamaica Plain store by May 2023.

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Jamaica Plain’s Centre Street Kicks Off #OpenStreetsBoston

The city kicked off its Open Street initiative with 1.4 mile stretch of Jamaica Plain's Centre Street on Sunday, and it was a smashing success. The actual event was six hours long from 9 am to 3 pm, but streets were shut down earlier in the morning, and remained closed after the event. During that six-hour span people played chess, danced in the street, and enjoyed food (ironically) from food trucks from Jackson Square to the Monument. Let's kick off the fun with a cartwheel down the double yellow line! We love JP Open Streets!

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Car-Free Centre Street on July 10: One Day Only for Street Performances, Food Trucks, Kid Activities and More

As part of the city's Open Streets initiative, Jamaica Plain's Centre Street will be car-free for one day, July 10, which will be celebrated with music, food trucks, retail shopping, outdoor dining, kid-friendly activities and more. Centre Street between Jackson Square and the Soldier's Monument at Centre and South streets intersection will be closed to vehicles from approximately 7 am to 4 pm. That's a 1.4-mile stretch without cars! Some streets may close as early as 6 am. The event runs from 9 am to 3 pm, and streets will be fully open to cars by approximately 4 pm.

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Jamaica Plain Residents Opening Italian Restaurant on Centre Street

Two Jamaica Plain residents will be opening a new Italian restaurant on Centre Street that will serve handmade pastas, Sicilian-style pizza and more. Claire Makley and Luke Fetbroth, will be opening Tonino at 669A Centre St., which was last home to the Little Dipper. They hope to open the restaurant later this summer. The duo have close to 25 years of combined experience in the food and beverage industry, and this is their first venture together. Makley's career includes being the general manager of the very highly regarded Hojoko izakaya, after starting as a hostess at the o ya restaurant.

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Centre Street Going Car-Free for One Day in July

Jamaica Plain's Centre Street will be car-free for one day in July as part of the city's Open Streets events initiative. Centre Street from Lamartine Street (Jackson Square) to the Soldier's Monument (Centre and South streets) will be closed to vehicles from 9 am to 3 pm on Sunday, July 10. That's a 1.4 mile stretch. As part of the half-day event, there will be programming that could include music, games, face-painting, business and community group tabling, fitness classes, bicycle repairs, and more, according to a press release. There will also be a block party in collaboration with SEED in Hyde Square.

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Flavor Boom, a Gourmet Fast-food Restaurant Opening on Centre Street in June

A soon to be vacant spot on Centre Street will quickly have a new restaurant in its location that specialize in slow-cooked Asian and Mediterranean food. Signs in the window at 703 Centre St., indicate that Flavor Boom! will be opening in June. This is the second location for the restaurant, with its first in Watertown. Carrot Flower had operated from the commercial spot, but closed in May.

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Old Havana Restaurant Permanently Closed

The Old Havana restaurant has closed its doors for the last time. Located between Hyde Square and Jackson Square at 349 Centre St., the restaurant was noticeably not open for lunch on Tuesday and Wednesday. A source who spoke with the restaurant's owner told Jamaica Plain News that their lease was not renewed. The owners said there was no plan to move the restaurant to another location. Open since 2013, Old Havana offered traditional Cuban cuisine.

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Restaurant Reopening: Costello’s Tavern is Back

Costello's Tavern, one of Jamaica Plain's favorite bars, recently reopened on Centre Street. The Tavern closed during the pandemic in 2020 and earlier this month teased on Facebook that it was starting to look like "Drinkmas". Costello's reopened on Dec. 20, is accepting credit cards, but the kitchen is still under construction. Stop in for a drink or two, and help a local institution get back on its feet.

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