Tavern in the Square is growing again, with plans to open five new Massachusetts locations in North Andover, Seekonk, Dartmouth, Norwell and Quincy. The North Andover restaurant is expected to open first, in September, while the other four sites will roll out sometime throughout 2027.
The expansion, announced via Instagram, comes as the chain also remodels its Burlington location at 100 District Avenue, with construction expected to start this month. As reported by MassLive, Tavern in the Square got its start in Cambridge's Central Square back in 2006 and now counts 16 locations in Massachusetts and 21 across New England. The Burlington restaurant holds a particular distinction in that history — per What Now Boston, it was the chain's first location built outside the immediate Boston urban core.
The North Andover restaurant will take over a former Bertucci's site at 435 Andover Street, where the town's Select Board approved the location's all-alcoholic beverages liquor license in March, according to a report from What Now Boston. That approval cleared a key hurdle for the September opening target. It is unclear whether similar municipal approvals are still pending in Seekonk, Dartmouth, Norwell or Quincy, and Tavern in the Square has not disclosed exact opening dates for those four locations beyond the general 2027 timeframe.
A Menu Built Around Comfort Food and Allergy Safety
Diners can expect the chain's familiar lineup of small bites, appetizers, handhelds, salads and bowls, including dishes like General Tso's chicken, Bayou chicken pasta and mac and cheese. The restaurant also offers nut-free, gluten-free and dairy-free options for diners with dietary restrictions. Tavern in the Square operates as a completely nut-free chain and maintains dedicated fryers for gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free and shellfish-free preparation across all of its locations, according to allergen information the company has published.
That emphasis on accessibility reflects how far the brand has traveled from its roots as a college-adjacent sports bar. In May 2024, Tavern in the Square shut its Allston bar for good after nearly two decades near Boston University, closing out one of its most recognizable locations even as the company pushed further into suburban markets.
Private Equity Backing Fuels the Growth Push
The current expansion follows a March 2025 recapitalization deal in which private equity-backed Authentic Restaurant Brands acquired Broadway Hospitality Group, the parent company of Tavern in the Square, bringing ARB's annual platform revenue to roughly $1 billion, according to Nation's Restaurant News. Tavern in the Square locations generate average unit volume of approximately $7.5 million in annual sales per restaurant, chief executive officer Stephen DeSousa disclosed at the time. DeSousa co-founded Broadway Hospitality Group alongside Joey Arcari and Renato Valentim and has remained CEO through the ownership change.
Broadway Hospitality Group also runs several other Greater Boston concepts beyond Tavern in the Square, including The Broadway, Tavitas, The Derby and The Playwright, according to Business Focus Magazine. Outside Massachusetts, Tavern in the Square already operates in Bedford and Salem, New Hampshire; Cranston and East Greenwich, Rhode Island; and West Hartford, Connecticut.
Building on Momentum From an Earlier Fitchburg Announcement
The five-location rollout builds on expansion momentum that was already underway in Central Massachusetts. Last October, Tavern in the Square revealed Fitchburg opening plans for 170 Whalon Street, the former home of Singapore Restaurant & Lounge. Between the Fitchburg site, the Burlington remodel and the newly announced North Andover, Seekonk, Dartmouth, Norwell and Quincy locations, the chain is signaling a sustained push into suburban and mid-sized Massachusetts markets well beyond its Cambridge origins.
