West Roxbury's restaurant and retail news this year is concentrated along two familiar corridors: Centre Street and VFW Parkway.
A new burger restaurant opened next to its owners' existing Vietnamese restaurant. A Thai restaurant added alcohol service, a Greek-inspired coffee and juice shop opened on Centre Street, and a new Italian restaurant is planned for the former Mission on Fire space on VFW Parkway. A liquor store is changing its name to Kappy's while keeping its longtime manager. One familiar business did close: Bruegger's at 667 VFW Parkway.
Yeanie’s Takes Over Christo’s Corner
Christo's, a Greek-style pizzeria at 1761 Centre St., served its last pies on July 26, 2025. In a farewell note, it said it had to close "due to circumstances beyond our control." Whatever the reason may be, it's a oood reminder to support and eat local!
Yeanie's opened at 1761 Centre St. on September 20, 2026, with a jukebox and swivel seats! The owners are Yeanie Bach and her husband, Phi Pham, who run Bánh Mì Æ i next door at 1759 Centre St. This is their second Yeanie's. The first is in Dorchester.
They've been on this block for a while. Bánh Mì Æ i took over the former Bánh Mì Ngon space in July 2020, so the "new" burger place is a six-year-old Centre Street business moving one door over.
Two upgrades a few doors apart
At 1894 Centre Street, Klin Thai received approval in September for a beer, wine and liqueurs license. The restaurant's existing 16-seat setup remains the same.
A few blocks away, Centre Squeeze is operating at 1785 Centre Street as a takeout coffee and juice bar. The 474-square-foot shop was approved for coffee and juice service, with hours listed by the city as 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Its menu includes fresh juices, smoothies, espresso drinks, matcha and Greek-style Freddo coffee.
On the parkway, one address keeps trying again
At 1430 VFW Parkway, another restaurant is planned for the former Mission on Fire space at Spring Street. Leonardo's Bar Ristorante is being developed by Leonardo Testa, son of restaurateur Vinny Testa. The concept is described as family-style Southern Italian cooking with updated versions of his father's recipes. The address has previously been home to Mission on Fire, Sofia's, Vintage and Fontaine's. No opening date has been announced.
The space remains one of the neighborhood's more recognizable restaurant addresses, even as the names on the door keep changing.
New Name, Same Manager
At the corner of Centre Street and La Grange Street, Blanchard's has been sold and is becoming Kappy's Fine Wine & Spirits. The Boston Licensing Board approved the sale in September, and longtime manager Michael Pignone, who has worked there since 1999, is staying on. The new owner said the store will otherwise operate much as it has in the past.
At the other end of the story, Bruegger's at 667 VFW Parkway has closed after at least two decades in West Roxbury. There is currently no replacement announced for the storefront.
West Roxbury Address Watch
Business | Address | What's happening |
|---|---|---|
Yeanie's | 1761 Centre St. | Opened September 20 in former Christo's space |
Centre Squeeze | 1785 Centre St. | Open; coffee, juice, smoothies and Freddo |
Klin Thai | 1894 Centre St. | Alcohol license approved |
Kappy's Fine Wine & Spirits | Centre St. & La Grange St. | Former Blanchard's; new ownership, longtime manager retained |
Leonardo's Bar Ristorante | 1430 VFW Pkwy. | Planned for former Mission on Fire space |
Bruegger's | 667 VFW Pkwy. | Closed |
The changes are happening at familiar addresses. A restaurant has replaced a restaurant. A small coffee shop has filled another Centre Street storefront. A familiar liquor store is changing names while keeping its manager. That's the neighborhood!
At Prism Real Estate Group, we follow these community hub changes alongside the housing market. If you're curious about what is changing around your home and what it could mean for its current value, request a free market valuation and we'll walk you through it.
