Bickford's Grille Closes Suddenly

One day was serving turkey clubs and country waffles, and the next it was dark inside, the restaurant on Union Street in Braintree apparently closed for good.

Notices have been placed on Bickford's main doors telling customers it has closed and the large sign on a pole next to the establishment has been stripped of its facade. But the Braintree location still appears in the company's Internet database without notation and ownership in Brockton did not respond to several phone messages.

Furthermore, Bickford's did not reach out to the Board of License Commissioners, which approved its food and its beer and wine license, to say it was closing for renovations or permanently, as outlined in town regulations.

"That's both disappointing and frustrating," said Joe Powers, who is and chair of the license board. Powers said as of late Thursday afternoon he had not received any communication from Bickford's.

The Grille reopened in Braintree a year ago after closing in 2006 and installing a bistro called Capri Restaurant & Wine Bar in the building in 2009. That business failed after only four months, according to the Braintree Forum.

There are six other Bickford's locations in Massachusetts, including Brockton and Needham, listed on the company's website, plus two in New Hampshire and one in Vermont.

On Tuesday, a resident noticed that Bickford's was dark in the evening and inquired about its status. Someone answered the phone there on Wednesday morning and said the restaurant had closed permanently "the other day," but referred further questions to the corporate office.

Powers said he will suggest to the license board at its next meeting on March 22 that members schedule a hearing to determine the status of Bickford's beer and wine license.