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Old Friend Pizza brings Detroit-style squares to West Roxbury

Old Friend Pizza brings Detroit-style squares to West Roxbury

Rule Changes Boston, MA local

The 10-seat shop is serving Wednesday through Sunday evenings while its requested noon-to-9 license remains unresolved.

4 days ago: Old Friend lists regular West Roxbury hours

Overview

Updated Yesterday

Old Friend Pizza opened its first permanent shop at 5272 Washington St. in West Roxbury on Oct. 28 and now lists regular hours there: Wednesday through Sunday, 5 to 8 p.m. The 10-seat room serves Detroit-style square pizza made with three-day fermented dough, Jersey tomatoes and cheese spread to the pan edge.

The Boston Licensing Board was scheduled to vote on Caldwell's request to serve noon to 9 p.m. daily. No outcome had been reported as of Nov. 7, and the posted hours are shorter than that window. Old Friend also keeps a residency at The Substation in Roslindale, usually Thursday through Saturday from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Why it matters

A new pizza option is open in West Roxbury, but its full daily schedule depends on a license vote whose result hasn't been made public.

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Key Indicators

4
Prior restaurant concepts at 5272 Washington St.
Cristelle's, two Central American eateries, and How's Your Meat preceded Old Friend Pizza at the address.
3 days
Dough fermentation time
The three-day fermented dough is the style's signature, per the shop's menu approach.
10
Seats in the new shop
The small space holds ten seats, according to the license request.

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People Involved

AC
Alden Caldwell
Cook behind Old Friend Pizza
Opened the West Roxbury shop Oct. 28; it lists Wednesday-Sunday 5-8 p.m. hours. The licensing board vote outcome was not reported as of Nov. 7.

Organizations Involved

Old Friend Pizza
Old Friend Pizza
Restaurant (new)
Opened Oct. 28; lists Wednesday-Sunday 5-8 p.m. hours. License vote outcome not reported as of Nov. 7.

Detroit-style pizza shop at 5272 Washington St. in West Roxbury, open Wednesday-Sunday 5-8 p.m.
Boston Licensing Board
Boston Licensing Board
Municipal licensing authority
Was scheduled to vote on Old Friend Pizza's request to serve noon to 9 p.m. daily; outcome not reported as of Nov. 7.

City board that approves food-service licenses for Boston restaurants.

Timeline

October 2026 November 2026

4 events Latest: 4 days ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Old Friend lists regular West Roxbury hours

    Latest Business update

    The shop's website lists Wednesday-Sunday 5-8 p.m. service at 5272 Washington St., shorter than the noon-9 p.m. daily window in its license request.

  2. Boston Licensing Board vote scheduled

    Regulatory

    Board was scheduled to consider Caldwell's request to serve noon to 9 p.m. daily in the 10-seat space. No outcome had been reported as of Nov. 7.

  3. Old Friend Pizza holds soft opening

    Opening

    Boston Restaurant Talk reported the shop was holding a soft opening that day. The business is the first brick-and-mortar location for Caldwell's pop-up operation.

  4. Universal Hub reports Old Friend Pizza opening this week

    Opening

    Universal Hub reports the Detroit-style shop will open at 5272 Washington St. that week. A soft opening follows Oct. 28.

Scenarios

1

Boston Licensing Board clears Old Friend Pizza's license

Likely Resolves by Nov 30, 2026

Discussed by: Universal Hub, which notes no hearing was required for the already-licensed address

The board was scheduled to vote Thursday, Oct. 29, on Caldwell's request to serve square slices noon to 9 p.m. daily. Because 5272 Washington St. already carries a restaurant license, the application is routine. Approval would let the shop run its planned schedule in the 10-seat space.

2

License delayed or limited for Old Friend Pizza

Possible Resolves by Nov 30, 2026

Discussed by: Board procedure and local news coverage

The board could defer the vote, request more information, or restrict service hours or seating. Any of those would push back the shop's planned daily schedule, though denial is unlikely for a site already licensed for restaurant service.

3

Old Friend Pizza becomes another Washington Street goodbye

Possible Resolves by Oct 31, 2027

Discussed by: The address's own history — four prior concepts shuttered or moved

Cristelle's, two Central American restaurants, and How's Your Meat all left 5272 Washington St. The same churn could claim Old Friend Pizza within a year if the tight 10-seat room can't sustain daily service.

Historical Context

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

May 2019

Emmy Squared targets Boston (2019)

New York's Emmy Squared, a Detroit-style pizza chain from Emily and Matt Hyland, told Eater it was scouting Boston-area spaces for 2020 — 2,000 to 2,500 square feet, 75 to 100 seats, near college students.

Then

The announcement flagged Boston as a market for the growing style.

Now

Independent shops like Volo, Avenue, and Square Mfg. came to carry Detroit-style pizza across the metro.

Why this matters now

Shows Detroit-style pizza going from regional curiosity to a style Boston restaurants chase — the same wave Old Friend Pizza rides.

May-June 2019

The Avenue brings Detroit-style to Somerville (2019)

Avenue Kitchen and Bar opened in Somerville's Ball Square with five Detroit-style pizzas, including one with beef barbacoa, per Eater.

Then

Gave the Boston area a dedicated Detroit-style option.

Now

Helped seed the style's spread to neighborhoods like West Roxbury.

Why this matters now

Old Friend is the latest in that local build-out — a neighborhood spot rather than a chain outpost.

Sources

(11)
+5
Universal Hub Eater Boston Off the Beaten Path Food Tours NBC Boston Boston Restaurant Talk Hoodline Wisevoter The Boston Report Boston.com WhatsOpening Wicked Local