West Medford Square's High Street Is Changing Hands, One Address at a Time

"We couldn't be more excited to pass the lantern to two longtime Medford residents who will carry on the spirit and legacy of this special place." That is how the outgoing owners of Paul Revere Restaurant put it in September, as Patch reported. It was not the ending they had announced a few weeks earlier.

The phrase fits more than one diner. Between 447 and 501 High Street, near the West Medford commuter rail station, three businesses have changed course since August. Two of them announced an ending. Both then named who comes next. The third is new to the block, and it chose Paul Revere for its wall art.

447 High Street: The Closing That Didn't Happen

In August, Paul Revere Restaurant said it would close for good on Sunday, Aug. 30, after more than 25 years under its current owners. On Sept. 10, the restaurant said on Facebook that it would stay open under new ownership, MassLive reported.

The restaurant's message to customers was short. "We're thrilled to announce Paul Revere Restaurant will continue under new ownership," it said, according to Patch. The new owners have not been named publicly. Patch and Boston.com describe them as two longtime Medford residents, but the post quoted by Boston Restaurant Talk uses the singular. The restaurant has told customers to stay tuned for updates from the new ownership.

What carries over is a long history. MassLive, citing the restaurant's Instagram bio, reports that it opened at 447 High St. in 2000. Patch, citing the Medford Historical Society and Museum, says the business dates back to the 1930s. The menu carries its name further. Dishes are named for John Hancock, John Adams, King George III, Crispus Attucks and the Two Lanterns, alongside eggs, pancakes, French toast, omelets and sandwiches. The restaurant's website still lists breakfast-and-lunch hours, opening at 6:30 a.m. on weekdays and closed Mondays. The page has no date, so check for word from the new owners before planning a Sunday breakfast around it.

454 High Street: A Room That Has Been Several Things

At 454 High St., the story runs the other way. The ending is final, and the successor is already named.

Snappy Pattys served its last meal on Saturday, Sept. 26, after 14 years, Patch reported. "After 14 incredible years of serving this community, we have made the difficult decision to close our doors," the ownership said. Boston Restaurant Talk covered the closing as well.

The space has turned over before, which supports the larger point about this block. Snappy Pattys opened in August 2014 in a space that had been Pompei and Company Stained Glass. Its name came from mini patty melt sliders on brioche. It opened with 36 seats, announced plans for a patio of about 50 seats in 2015, and later expanded into a neighboring space that had been a women's gym. That roughly doubled the indoor footprint and brought capacity to 82 seats, with a bar and a separate dining room. A stained-glass studio became a 36-seat slider counter, which grew into an 82-seat restaurant with a bar. Every one of those changes happened inside the same walls.

Next is Rory O'Connor's Irish Pub, which Patch reports is slated to take over the space. An opening date and other details have not been announced. One more thread links this restaurant to the rest of Medford. Chef Nicholas Dowling, who opened Snappy Pattys with restaurateur Adam Gazzola, later became executive chef at The Lantern inside the Great American Beer Hall, according to Patch.

458 High Street: The Storefront That Keeps the Calendar

Moon & Back Bookstore is the fixed point on this stretch of High Street. Its own site places it at 458 High St., within two blocks of the West Medford station. While the restaurants on either side change hands, the bookstore runs the square's shared calendar.

The Moon & Back events page lists the West Medford Square business trick-or-treat for Friday, Oct. 30, from 3 to 5 p.m. "Put on your costumes and pop down to West Medford Square for business trick-or-treat!" The listing invites visitors to stop by local businesses but does not name which ones are taking part.

The bookstore's November schedule leans on Medford authors:

• Saturday, Nov. 7, 10:30 a.m.: a launch for Medford author Jan Heng's fourth book, Who Has a Pet Guinea Pig?, with the founder of Piggy Overnight Camp, a nonprofit guinea pig rescue.
• Saturday, Nov. 7, 2:30 p.m.: storytime with the Medford author and founder of Comfort Cuddles by Erin, reading The Brave Blanket Crew.
• Wednesday, Nov. 11, 10:30 a.m.: storytime and a craft with local author Ellen Mayer and her granddaughter, a Medford student, featuring Flutter, Flap, FLY!

On this block, the events come from the storefront that has stayed put.

501 High Street: The Newcomer Borrowed the Block's Story

The only fully new arrival this fall is at 501 High St. Everett Co-operative Bank opened a branch at 501 High St., near the West Medford station, and held a ribbon-cutting attended by Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn, Patch reported on Oct. 16. It is the bank's fourth branch, after Everett, Lynnfield and Woburn, and the bank first announced the plan in January.

Inside, the branch has a custom mural by Blind Fox Art inspired by Medford's connection to Paul Revere's Revolutionary War ride. Up the street, Paul Revere Restaurant's owners described their handoff as passing the lantern, and its menu has a dish called the Two Lanterns. A newcomer to the block chose the same image for its first wall.

The Block, by Date

Here are the changes in order.

Both restaurants that announced an ending this fall have said what comes next. Paul Revere's successor was announced 11 days after its planned closing date, and Rory O'Connor's had been named by the time Patch reported the Snappy Pattys closing. Paul Revere's new owners have not been named publicly, and the pub's owners and opening date have not been announced. Those are the next updates to watch for on this block.

Before the Trick-or-Treat, a Stop at Wright's Pond

If your Halloween week reaches beyond High Street, the City of Medford has two events at Wright's Pond, 140 Elm St. The Pumpkin Carving Party starts at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22, costs $5, and the pumpkins carved there go on display at the festival two days later. The 6th Annual Halloween Festival and Pumpkin Float runs this Saturday, Oct. 24, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The following Friday, the costumes can come back out for West Medford Square, where the walk from Moon & Back past 447 and 454 to the new branch at 501 takes in every change on this list.

If you own a home within walking distance of these High Street storefronts and want to know how this fall's changes on the block might affect what it's worth, Vita Group can help. Request a complimentary home valuation, and we'll walk through the recent sales near West Medford Square with you.