Cambridge, MA, (May 29, 2019) – DivcoWest announced today that Puritan & Co. Chef and Owner Will Gilson will expand his presence to Cambridge Crossing (CX), the new and connected neighborhood at the intersection of Cambridge, Somerville, and Boston. By Q1 2020, nearby employees, residents and visitors will experience Gilson’s creative, flexible space comprised of an all-day café, full-service restaurant, and cocktail bar with a rooftop terrace overlooking the Common at CX in a new retail building referred to as The Shed that is now under construction.
“We couldn’t be happier to welcome Will Gilson, whose award-winning culinary talent and active role in the local community makes him a perfect fit to introduce the first restaurant and kick off the public spaces at Cambridge Crossing,” said Mark Roopenian, Managing Director at DivcoWest. “His innovative concepts embody the kind of creative East Cambridge spirit we inspire to have at CX, and further our goal of creating a diverse and authentic place that attracts people from throughout the community and keeps them coming back again and again.”
Building on his success in nearby Inman Square with award-winning Puritan & Co. and the new Café Beatrice pop-up in the Zone 3 Project Lower Allston, Gilson will add to his portfolio with the delivery of three new concepts at CX. For the growing number of employees, residents, and commuters on the move seeking a quick and casual option at all hours of the day, the all-day café will offer baked goods, breakfast sandwiches, and a variety of healthy options, supplemented by a grab-and-go component. Adding to Cambridge’s rich variety of dining options, there will also be a 60-seat full-service restaurant featuring tables for an additional 20 diners seasonally on the patio adjacent to the Common. An approachable menu will embody a neighborhood feel and offer a combination of main and small plates. And at night, those looking to grab an after-work drink, a quick bite with friends, or host large parties can enjoy crafted drinks and a locally-sourced food menu at the second-story cocktail bar with its large terrace overlooking the park.
“We are proud to introduce the first dining experience to Cambridge Crossing, which is designed to be not just a restaurant but rather a destination within a growing and inclusive community,” said Gilson. “We want to build a place that accommodates everyone from morning commuters grabbing a coffee, to residents and tenants in need of a quick bite, to friends enjoying a night out.”
Guests will experience Gilson’s new concepts within one of CX’s most distinct and approachable buildings. Designed to foster community connections and to be a gathering place, The Shed is a stand-alone retail building centrally located at the heart of Cambridge Crossing and is surrounded by green space, a waterway with granite blocks (reused from the 150-year old seawall excavated at the site), a picnic grove with grills available to the public, and outdoor games like bocce ball. “We believe that this new place with something for everyone will create a unique community where the vibrancy of East Cambridge radiates and the new experience inspires people of all ages. Will’s concept is just the start of what we believe will be one of the most diverse destinations in Greater Boston and we are thrilled to have Will join the CX community,” said Roopenian.
The restaurant is slated to be complete by early 2020 when Philips brings its North American Innovation Center to 222 Jacobs Street. Will Gilson is a two-time James Beard semi-finalist and Puritan & Company was listed on Bon Appetit’s “50 Best Restaurants” shortly after it opened in late 2012. More details on his newest concepts will be released later this year.