Forum, Closed Since the Marathon Attack, Previews New Look
After the Boston Marathon bombing on April 15, the Forum restaurant on Boylston Street shut its doors due to damage it sustained from the second explosion—and, to date, is the only business that hasn’t reopened since the attack.
But on Tuesday, the restaurant gave a glimpse of what customers can expect when the restaurant and bar reopens later this summer, and according to the owners, they are coming back “stronger and better than ever.”
Below, a rendering drawn up by the restaurant’s designer from Morris Nathanson Design, shows what the first floor will look like, bar and all. “Can’t wait to see you all there,” the company said on their Facebook page, when offering a “sneak peek.”
In May, the company released a photo of what the restaurant’s facade would look like once everything was finished. Currently, the outside of Forum is still covered with black wood, and people passing by can’t see inside the eatery and bar. But once the facade comes down, this is what the new exterior will look like:
In a press release, the owners of Forum said that the rebuilding will just be part of their upgrades once they welcome back the public. Part of the rebuilding efforts will also include changes to the menu, headed up by new executive chef Matthew Barros, formerly of MARKET by Jean-Georges inside the W Hotel. Barros plans to introduce a new menu influenced by his years of cooking French, Asian, and new American cuisine, they said.
The revamped concept is a way for the restaurant to start anew, the owners hope. On Marathon Monday, Forum became “ground zero,” according to the owners, as the second bomb exploded right on their patio, injuring several guests, bystanders, and some of their staff. Cameras hanging outside of the establishment captured the alleged bombing suspects on video, and eventually helped to bring the alleged suspects to justice. “The images of horror and pain that some of us witnessed will be hard to forget,” the restaurant posted to Facebook in May. “… We will prevail.”
