Two Pence Market is on track to flip a long-vacant Bank of Boston building at 2 Eliot Street into a combined cafe, market and community hub for Milton Village. The project pairs local entrepreneur Joshua "JD" Wild with neighborhood restaurateur Dan Kerrigan of Steel & Rye and names chef Alison Hearn as executive chef and director. Plans call for indoor seating, two outdoor patios and a small curated "Vault" for wine and gifts, along with grab-and-go ordering and a neighborhood hangout meant to bring some life back to the corner, as per the Town of Milton.
Planning board sign-off and design details
The Milton Planning Board granted site-plan approval on May 22, 2025, and the signed decision spells out the scope and conditions, including preservation of the existing building footprint and parking. According to the Town of Milton, the design adds a pergola-covered patio with a louvered roof at the corner of Eliot and High streets and a second patio at Eliot and Adams streets, while incorporating pervious pavers and Dark-Sky-compliant lighting. The decision also notes a sliding outdoor window for patio orders and specifies that all proposed improvements will stay within the current lot boundaries.
Who’s behind it and what they will serve
The venture brings together property owner Joshua Wild and neighborhood operator Dan Kerrigan, with Executive Chef Alison Hearn leading the kitchen. As reported by What Now Boston, Hearn says the kitchen will focus on "seasonality, local farms, and thoughtful cooking" and is actively recruiting both cooks and front-of-house staff. Kerrigan’s roots in the neighborhood show through his restaurant Steel & Rye at 95 Eliot Street, underscoring how local the project’s backing really is.
Market offerings and community focus
According to project materials from the Town of Milton, the quick-service market is planned to offer farm-fresh produce, pasture-raised proteins, freshly baked breads, ice cream, flowers and grab-and-go meals, alongside a cafe serving locally roasted coffee and cold-pressed juices. The proposals highlight eco-conscious touches such as refill stations, composting bins and permeable pavers intended to limit runoff and cut light pollution. Inside the former bank vault, developers plan a curated retail "Vault" for gifts, wine, spirits and cigars, blending retail shelves with the rest of the market’s food offerings.
Kerrigan told What Now Boston that he is "very excited about bringing Two Pence Market to the Milton Village neighborhood," and the team says more details, including an opening date, will be released in the near future. For now, the project stands as a modest adaptive-reuse effort aimed at boosting walkability and day-to-day commerce at a central downtown corner. Residents interested in jobs or vendor partnerships are being directed to follow the market’s social pages and the team’s public statements for updates.
