Florence’s cult-favorite sandwich shop All'Antico Vinaio is closing in on a second Boston address, this time in Downtown Crossing. City paperwork and local reporting connect the brand to a planned restaurant at 330 Washington St, a compact counter-service spot with seats for roughly 20 people. The expansion follows the shop’s Back Bay debut last year and would drop its steaming schiacciata sandwiches into one of Boston’s busiest retail corridors. Before any construction crews show up, the project has to clear licensing and community review.
Licensing Docket Lays Out the Plan
According to the City of Boston, AV 330 Washington, LLC, doing business as All’ Antico Vinaio, has applied to transfer a Common Victualler 7 Day Wines and Malt Beverages license to 330 Washington St and to lift existing restrictions on alcohol service. The filing describes a space of about 1,650 square feet split between the ground floor and basement, with a Washington Street entrance, an ordering counter, and seating for around 20 guests. The application lists Justine Zozula as manager and proposes a 9:00 PM closing time, details the Licensing Board will weigh when it reviews the transfer and any changes to license conditions.
How All'Antico Got Here
All'Antico Vinaio was founded in Florence by the Mazzanti family in 1989 and began expanding into the United States in 2021 with partners Joe Bastianich and Tanya Bastianich Manuali, according to Eater Boston. The brand opened its first Boston shop in Back Bay last year at 565 Boylston St and drew long lines when it launched, per NBC Boston. A second location downtown would stretch the chain’s footprint from Copley and Back Bay into Boston’s weekday lunch rush and tourist-heavy core.
Why Downtown Crossing Makes Sense
Downtown Crossing sits where Boston’s retail strips and transit lines collide, and it is known as a dense, pedestrian shopping district, per Wikipedia. The constant flow of office workers, shoppers, and transit riders tends to favor compact spots that can turn over customers quickly. All'Antico’s counter ordering and small seating footprint match the fast-moving, grab-a-bite-and-go formats that are already common in the neighborhood and in the chain’s other U.S. locations.
Licensing, Neighbors, and Next Steps
The Downtown Crossing proposal appeared on the city calendar and at an abutters meeting earlier this month, giving nearby residents and businesses a chance to weigh in on deliveries, trash, and operating hours. The abutters notice and the Licensing Board docket together show that the company is seeking a license transfer and the removal of conditions that limit alcohol service. Both requests require Board approval and are open to public comment. Local coverage first pointed to the 330 Washington St address and the docket listing, and What Now Boston reports the chain is pursuing the Downtown Crossing move while the company has been contacted for comment.
What to Expect
If the Licensing Board signs off on the transfer and any revised conditions, the project would move into permitting and build-out, a phase that typically takes several months for fit-out work and inspections. For now, the docket and public notices are the clearest signs that All'Antico is serious about Downtown Crossing. Local diners will be watching for the Board’s decision, which should finally put a timeline on when those Florentine sandwiches hit Washington Street.
