Not just any restaurant - my very favorite one in Boston. Durgin Park
From the Boston Business Journal:
Durgin-Park to serve last customer
One of Boston's most historic restaurants is closing its doors.
Right now, Durgin-Park in Faneuil Hall is still open for business. There are no signs the place is closing. But the workers have been told their last shifts will be next week, and now, many disappointed customers are trying to get in their final meals.
Like an under-cooked steak, long time customer Jonathan Berg says the news is leaving a bad taste in his mouth.
"This is another passing of a great institution," said Berg.
Rachelle Mazzone is Durgin-Park's bartender and says dozens of long-time workers were told the restaurant would be closing next weekend. She was told it's no longer profitable.
A bit more about the place:
Outside, the restaurant's slogan proudly hangs above the entrance, reading, "Established Before You Were Born." Inside, it's a blast from the past. The menu has traditional "Yankee cooking," like prime rib, clam chowder, Boston baked beans and shepherd's pie.
Since 1827, the business attracted faithful diners and tourists to its Faneuil Hall location, winning several culinary awards. And the wait staff was always encouraged to be rude — in a good way.
"When you saw the same people everyday, you were like, 'Joe, eat your beans. Harry, eat your hot dog, get away from me.' Nothing offensive, though," said Mazonne.
You read that correctly - it opened its doors in 1827 and was owned by the same family until they sold out in 2007. I went to college in Boston (Boston U - Marine Biology) and dropped out when personal computers became a thing. Durgin Park seated you at long tables and I was sitting next to a couple who were discussing their work with an IP21 photomultiplier tube (a very sensitive light detector). I was taking some astronomy classes and had been working with the same RCA IP21 tube (PDF) and I introduced myself and we had a wonderful conversation. Turns out that the guy worked for New England Aquarium and asked me if I was interested in volunteering and helping him out with his project. Got hired full-time soon after and had a wonderful five years there.
Durgin Park was about five blocks from the Aquarium so I had lunch there often. It is another victim of the higher minimum wage movement as well as the gentrification of what was once a working district. Really sad to hear this.
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