Changes Ahead For Mary Ann's In Cleveland Circle

BOSTON, MA — If you know Cleveland Circle, you probably know Mary Ann's. The windowless sticky staple of a dive bar is best known as a classic Boston College hang out. When the owner passed away in January, the future of the place was thrown into question. Then a group snatched up the building where it sits for $1.5 million. And the new owners applied to add a manager known for quality food in JP.

This week an agenda notice for the Brighton Allston Improvement Association indicated that someone at the same address as Mary Ann's in Cleveland Circle is at least considering a possible transition to a pot dispensary, according to a Facebook post from the group.

But the owner of the building insists it isn't them. Any dispensary-related uses would be proposed or permitted by unaffiliated parties, according to the company.

"The bar will continue to operate as-is, serving the surrounding communities and 21+ student body, while any potential development opportunities are explored," a representative of City Realty the company that bought the building said in an email to Patch.

The neighborhood civic meeting is slated to take place Oct. 10 to discuss the possibility and give their opinion on the matter to the city.

In July, Mary Ann's (owned by Maryanne's Saloon,LLC) applied to have Keith Harmon, of Jamaica Plain's Casa Verde and the Centre Street Cafe, as manager.

On Oct. 11, the LLC is set to come before officials to get a new sign approved.

The building where Mary Ann's sits is one of three buildings that house bars in Boston bought out in July by the Greater Boston Bar Co., a company managed by City Realty Group. They also bought The Tam in the Theatre District and the Beacon Hill Pub. The Beacon Hill Pub closed abruptly last month.

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Photo By Jenna Fisher/ Patch Staff