There’s a plan afoot to create an outdoor dining experience that would include a Tall Ship and large patio along East Boston’s waterfront.
Massport’s Anthony Guerriero said that the proposal, dubbed “Eastie Landing”, came about last year between Massport, Roseland and the Navy Yard Hospitality Group(NYHG), which owns the Reel House in Eastie on New Street.
“Roseland and Massport have been trying to activate the southwest corridor area around Pier I,” said Guerriero.
Massport and Roseland were approached by the NYHG with the idea of docking a 242 ft. steel hull Tall Ship at Pier I to create a unique dining experience for Eastie residents.
“The NYHG would operate a restaurant and bar on the Tall Ship as well as create and manage a large patio area on the pier,” said Guerriero. “The hope to operate between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m. and while the ship would include food and drinks the patio would include pop-up shops that sell goods like souvenirs.”
The patio on the dock could also include food trucks, activity spaces, special event spaces, and seasonal activities.
“They are looking for a license to dock there for two years with the hopes that if everything goes well they can remain as Roseland finishes the Portside at Pier I project,” said Guerriero. “NYHG wants to not only gear this proposal to adults but to children and families as well with seasonal activities like a pumpkin patch in the fall or movie nights in the summer.”
Like the Reel House, the NYHG would provide free water shuttle services between the proposed restaurant and the other two NYHG restaurants in Eastie and Charlestown.
“They started the permitting process already and hope to be up and running by July 1,” said Guerriro.
This is not the first time someone has proposed a floating restaurant in Eastie. Eight years ago Boston Harbor Cruises’ Principal Owner Rick Nolan wanted to anchor a floating restaurant off Eastie’s shores. However, after community support Nolan delayed the idea before finally abandoning it all together.