Downtown Peabody’s former Century Bank building is getting a serious glow-up. ShoYu Restaurant & Bar is planning to open a new outpost at 12 Peabody Square, bringing its broad pan-Asian menu to the heart of the North Shore. The spot would be the chain’s fourth local location and a high-profile addition to the city’s main square.
Peabody Mayor Edward A. Bettencourt shared the news in a Facebook post, confirming ShoYu’s plans for the space. WhatNow reports that recently filed permitting documents back up the expansion and notes that the address is currently marked "temporarily closed" on its Google Business listing.
What to expect from the menu
ShoYu bills itself as a "pan-Asian banquet," the kind of place where sushi fans and stir-fry loyalists can peacefully share a table. Diners can expect creative sushi rolls, stir-fries, rice bowls and Thai-inspired plates all crowding the same menu.
According to the Shoyu site, standout dishes include Mayonnaise Shrimp with Walnut, Beef Brisket Chow Fun and General Gau’s Hot Chicken. The group already lists locations in Saugus, Andover and Boston’s Chinatown, so Peabody would be joining an existing North Shore-to-downtown circuit.
Who’s behind the expansion
Public licensing records tie local restaurateur Michael Mei to ShoYu’s Boston operations, suggesting the Peabody move is being steered by a player who already knows the Greater Boston dining landscape. Boston Licensing Board minutes list "Shoyu Boston LLC" with Mei as manager, a detail that tracks with previous reporting on the brand’s regional growth.
WhatNow has also noted that Mei is developing a separate concept, Culinary Pizza & Subs, in nearby Braintree, signaling a broader suburban push.
Where in the square
The Peabody restaurant is slated for 12 Peabody Square, a two-story property most recently occupied by a bank. Commercial listings describe the site as retail frontage at the signalized center of downtown, which gives ShoYu a prime corner to work with.
A LoopNet listing for 12 Peabody Square details the building’s retail footprint and positioning on the square, factors that will shape how the space is built out for restaurant use and how quickly permits move along.
Timing and next steps
So far, neither city officials nor the restaurant group have committed to an opening date. ShoYu’s website currently highlights its Saugus, Andover and Boston locations but does not yet list Peabody.
For now, the timing will come down to the usual gauntlet of permits, inspections and construction. Once those pieces fall into place, downtown Peabody will know when its former bank lobby officially turns into a pan-Asian dining room.
