This year, three long-running restaurants on Medford's High Street closed or came close to it. None of the three spaces sat empty while people wondered what would go in. Real Italian Gusto said who was taking over in the same statement that confirmed its closing. Snappy Pattys named the pub moving into its space in its own goodbye post. The Paul Revere Restaurant served what was supposed to be its last breakfast, and less than two weeks later it said it would keep going under new owners from Medford.
Between Medford Square and West Medford, that adds up to about 37 years of restaurant history handed off this year. The new tenants were lined up before the old ones were gone, and two of them come from inside the city.
Where things stand on High Street
| Address | Who left | Who's coming | Status as of Sept. 30, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 High St., Medford Square | Real Italian Gusto, 11 years | EBISUYA, Japanese–Italian restaurant and cultural space | Soft opening underway, grand opening planned for October |
| 447 High St., West Medford | Paul Revere Restaurant's longtime owners | Paul Revere Restaurant under new ownership | Continuation announced, no reopening date yet |
| 454 High St., West Medford | Snappy Pattys, 14 years | Rory O'Connors Irish Pub | Announced, no operator or date made public |
Medford Square: a familiar name comes back to town
Real Italian Gusto opened at 24 High St. in 2015. Owners Matteo and Francesca Ronzio had moved to the Boston area from Italy, and the restaurant became known for Neapolitan-style pizza, homemade pasta, and a long list of Italian wines and espresso drinks. In July, the Ronzios confirmed they were closing for good. They thanked customers for keeping the restaurant going through the COVID years, and in the same statement they said Ebisuya would take over the space.
Plenty of longtime Medford residents will know that name. For more than 15 years, Ebisuya ran a Japanese market at 65 Riverside Ave., known for Japanese groceries, sushi, ramen, and baked goods. Wicked Local reported in May 2025 that the market had to leave because the landlord planned to tear the building down, even though owner Kevin Hiromoto's lease ran through 2030. Its last day was May 31, 2025. Ebisuya didn't disappear after that. Patch reported in July that its bakery and kitchen were working out of 64 Summer St. in Malden while it got ready to come back to Medford.
That means the space on High Street is going to a business that already spent a decade and a half on Riverside Ave. It isn't a newcomer trying out the Square.
What 24 High St. turns into
The new Ebisuya is a different kind of place from the market. Kevin and Kyoko Hiromoto are opening a Japanese–Italian restaurant, with Chef Ryuichi Gray running the menu. The Kickstarter page lists dishes like Yuzu Shio Ramen and Miso Carbonara, and a brick oven for pizza made with Japanese ingredients. In its fall openings preview on Sept. 8, Eater Boston described Tokyo-style pizza and handmade pasta.
There's a nice bit of continuity in that. A room known for Neapolitan pizza and homemade pasta is getting a brick oven and fresh pasta again, this time from a kitchen that pairs Italian technique with Japanese ingredients.
The plans go beyond dinner. Ebisuya describes small workshops of about 20 people each, covering Japanese tea, wagashi, cooking, baking, and language. It also wants live music about twice a week, kept at a volume where tables can still talk. The music has a personal history behind it. Hiromoto says that more than 30 years ago he was a young drummer in Japan hoping to study with jazz drummer Alan Dawson in Massachusetts, and that's what first brought him here.
According to the restaurant, the health inspection is done, the liquor license is in hand, the kitchen is ready, and the soft opening has started. One thing is still missing. For now, live music is limited to one instrumental performer at a time, with no singing. The Kickstarter campaign is trying to change that. Of the roughly $22,000 it lists, about $15,000 is for the insurance needed to allow groups and vocals. Ebisuya's own timeline shows a September pre-opening and an October grand opening with solo instrumental music only. The campaign ends in November. Some of the reward text mentions an opening celebration in November, so October for the restaurant and November for the party is the best reading of the plan right now.
Ebisuya is opening into a Square that has already changed this summer. On July 1, Patch reported that the renovation of Riverside Plaza by City Hall was finished. The plaza now has shade structures, a low deck that's accessible, and a drinking fountain with a water station.
West Medford: the same pattern, twice in a few weeks
The West Medford stretch of High Street went through the same kind of handoff in September, at 447 and 454 High St.
Snappy Pattys at 454 High St. was a comfort-food spot known for burgers, fried chicken, and sandwiches. Its last day of service was Saturday, Sept. 26, after 14 years. The goodbye post ended by announcing what's next: "454 High Street welcomes Rory O'Connors Irish Pub." As of Sept. 30, coverage from Boston Restaurant Talk and MassLive hadn't named who runs the pub, whether it has other locations, or when it will open.
At 447 High St., on the corner of Canal Street, things went faster. The Paul Revere Restaurant had served breakfast for more than two decades with Revolutionary War decor and a menu to match, including the "Samuel Prescotts," the "Two Lanterns," and the "Benedict Arnold's." In mid-August, the owners posted a letter saying they would close on Aug. 30 because of an unexpected, serious medical hardship and retirement.
By Sept. 10, the restaurant was posting a different message:
"Paul Revere still rides! We're thrilled to announce...Paul Revere Restaurant will continue under new ownership!"
The announcement said the outgoing owners were happy "to pass the lantern to a longtime Medford resident who will carry on the spirit and legacy of this special place." Boston.com described the buyers as two longtime Medford residents. Whichever count turns out to be right, the business is staying with people from Medford, and there's no new name to get used to.
Dates to watch, and what's still unknown
Here's where each change stands now, starting with the one furthest along.
- EBISUYA, 24 High St. The soft opening has started and the grand opening is planned for October. Ebisuya's own campaign says permits, construction, inspections, or vendors could affect the timing. The official site lists the address and contact information but no hours yet.
- Paul Revere Restaurant, 447 High St. New ownership has been announced. A reopening date hasn't, and the new owners asked customers to stay tuned for updates.
- Rory O'Connors Irish Pub, 454 High St. So far it's been announced and nothing more.
There's one more change just off High Street. Near Tufts, Pavement Coffeehouse is taking over the former Starbucks at 177 College Ave. in the Joyce Cummings Center. A Boston Restaurant Talk report from Aug. 6 said it was tentatively planning to open sometime in November. Patch had confirmed the address a few days earlier but said no opening date had been announced. That's another space where the next tenant was named before the old one finished leaving.
Losing Real Italian Gusto and Snappy Pattys means losing 25 years of meals at two addresses. In all three cases, the next tenant was public within days or weeks of the closing news. A Medford market that lost its building in 2025 is reopening as a restaurant at 24 High St., and the Paul Revere Restaurant is staying with longtime Medford residents.
At Flow Realty, we pay close attention to how High Street changes, because these storefronts are part of what our clients mean when they talk about their Medford neighborhood. If you have questions about Medford Square, West Medford, or a property near either one, contact us. We're glad to talk it through, with no pressure.
