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A&B Burgers Boston location drops off city licence list

A&B Burgers Boston location drops off city licence list

Built World Boston, MA local

Missing from two consecutive readings of active food establishment licences as of October 25

October 25th, 2026: Licence missing from two consecutive readings

Overview

Updated Oct 27

The restaurant at 97 Beverly St. has been absent from Boston's list of active food establishment licences since October 23, two consecutive readings. A licence can lapse without a business closing, and no closure has been announced.

The Beverly Street spot has traded as A&B Kitchen • Bar since March 2021, when it reopened after a winter break with a new name and a New England pub menu. Its last recorded health inspection, on September 25, 2026, failed with five violations. A&B's Beverly location was still advertising dinners and fall cocktails in late October.

Why it matters

If the lapse becomes a closure, West End residents and TD Garden crowds lose a burger spot open since 2019.

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Key Indicators

2
Consecutive readings missing from licence list
The restaurant has been absent from two consecutive city licence list readings.
5
Violations at last inspection
The September 25, 2026 inspection recorded five violations, including no person in charge on duty and a back door propped open.

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People Involved

TH
Thomas Holland
Owner
Owner of A&B Burgers

Organizations Involved

BU
A&B Burgers
Restaurant
Boston licence missing from the city's active list since October 23; Beverly location still operating

Burger restaurant with locations in Beverly, Boston's West End (as A&B Kitchen • Bar) and Time Out Market Boston.

Timeline

July 2018 October 2026

8 events Latest: October 25th, 2026 · 2 weeks ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Licence missing from two consecutive readings

    Latest Licensing

    The restaurant is absent from the active licence list for a second consecutive check, indicating the licence has lapsed.

  2. Last appearance on city licence list

    Licensing

    A&B Burgers at 97 Beverly appears on the city's active food establishment licence list for the final recorded time.

  3. Boston location fails health inspection

    Health

    An inspection recorded five violations at 97 Beverly St., including no person in charge on duty, a back door propped open, no paper towels at the bar hand sink, and missing ceiling tiles near the walk-in cooler. The prior inspection, on February 13, 2026, passed with nine violations recorded.

  4. A&B Burgers opens at Time Out Market Boston

    Opening

    Owner Thomas Holland opens a third location inside the Fenway food hall at 401 Park Drive, joining the Beverly restaurant and the Beverly Street spot near North Station.

  5. Beverly Street location reopens as A&B Kitchen • Bar

    Rebrand

    After closing for the winter, the Boston restaurant reopens under a new name and a menu of elevated New England pub fare, keeping its burgers. The change came two years after the Beverly brand expanded to Boston.

  6. Both A&B locations close temporarily after COVID exposure

    Health

    A worker tests positive, forcing the Boston and Beverly restaurants to close for sanitization and testing.

  7. A&B Burgers opens in Boston's West End

    Opening

    The Beverly-based burger spot opens its second location at 97 Beverly St., near TD Garden.

  8. City issues licence to A&B Burgers at 97 Beverly

    Licensing

    Boston grants a food establishment licence to the address, dated July 16, 2018.

Scenarios

1

A&B Burgers Boston permanently closes

Likely Resolves by Jan 25, 2027

Discussed by: Local food media and residents tracking the licence list

The licence lapse reflects an actual closure. The restaurant either announces it, or the Beverly location also disappears from the list. The pattern of two missing readings suggests operations ceased.

2

Licence lapse is administrative; restaurant reopens

Unlikely Resolves by Jan 25, 2027

Discussed by: City licensing officials

The city may have missed renewing the licence, or the restaurant filed for an extension. If so, the licence will reappear or a new one will be issued.

3

Restaurant relocates within Boston

Unlikely Resolves by Apr 25, 2027

Discussed by: Eater Boston and food industry watchers

A&B Burgers may have closed its current space to move to a new West End location, pending a new licence.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

May 2020

COVID-19 shutdown (2020)

A worker at A&B Burgers tested positive for COVID-19, forcing both the Boston and Beverly locations to close temporarily for sanitization and employee testing.

Then

The restaurants closed for about two weeks and reopened in June 2020.

Now

Demonstrated the business's ability to handle crisis and its commitment to employee welfare.

Why this matters now

Shows that the current licence lapse could be temporary, not permanent, as the restaurant previously recovered from a forced closure.

February 2019

Expansion from Beverly to Boston (2019)

After years in Beverly, A&B Burgers opened a second location in Boston's West End near TD Garden, its first expansion.

Then

Broadened its customer base and gained a prime location.

Now

Established the brand as a regional burger destination.

Why this matters now

The Boston location was a major growth step; its possible loss would be a reversal of that expansion.

Sources

(6)
+1
City of Boston Eater Boston NBC Boston RestaurantHealthInspections.org Boston Restaurant Talk NBC Boston