February
21,
2007
By Jill Casey
/ The Daily Item
A Charlestown restaurateur is reportedly in negotiations
to purchase the Oxford Street Grill and reopen it as a
sister location to his already established Boston-based
bistro, Navy Yard Bistro and Wine Bar.
According to sources, Nahant native John Moore has been
scouting locations in Lynn for several years to open up
a mid-priced bistro and wine bar and is now in negotiations
to purchase the Oxford Street Grill, which closed in January
2007 after just two years in business, from Internet mogul
Lowell Gray.
On Tuesday night, the Economic Development and Industrial
Corporation Board of Directors approved a $150,000 start-up
loan to reopen the Oxford Street Grill as Downtown Bistro
and Wine Bar. Moore is reportedly purchasing just the business
from Gray and will continue to lease the site from Gray,
who owns the building.
“We have heard so many good things about his restaurant
in Charlestown that we want someone like him in Lynn,” said
James Cowdell, executive director of the EDIC. “Lynners
will embrace this restaurant. I feel very confident about
that.”
The loan proposal Moore submitted
to the EDIC said his mission will be to “provide excellent food at moderate
prices and to become a leader in the community.” Entrees
will cost around $16 and will be standard bistro fare with
a twist.
“Downtown Bistro will become a destination spot
for the simple reason of offering recognizable favorite
dishes done very well at reasonable prices,” Moore
wrote in his loan proposal. “Downtown Bistro will
appeal to a broad range of diners. More importantly than
providing food and drink, we will provide a sense of community.”
*
A call was placed to Moore at his Charlestown restaurant,
but not returned as of press time.
According to his personal profile on Navy Yard Bistro
Web site, Moore grew up in Nahant, but has lived in Charlestown
for the last eight years.
The Oxford Street Grill was praised
by Boston newspapers for its fusion cuisine, but never
seemed to pick up a steady stream of business in the
couple of years it occupied its space downtown. Some
complained the high prices of the wine and entrees, and
not the food, are what led to the restaurant’s
demise.
“The prices of this restaurant will be more affordable,” said
Cowdell, who has met with Moore on a few occasions. “When
Lowell’s business closed, it certainly became a very
high priority for the EDIC to replace that business because
it ties into everything that is going on in the downtown.”
Cowdell said he was told that Moore would like to open
the restaurant by April.
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