Frank Pepe’s Opening in Chestnut Hill

Photo via Frank Pepe’s Pizza/Facebook

Update, March 12: A source tells Boston Restaurant Talk that the rumored “metro Boston” area Frank Pepe’s location is now confirmed to be in the former Papa Razzi space at The Mall at Chestnut Hill. This backs up a rumor first reported by Eater Boston, after receiving information from an unidentified tipster back in February. The source for Boston Restaurant Talk also went on to say that the target opening time for Pepe’s in Chestnut Hill is sometime in August.

Previously: The on-again, off-again drama of a certain Connecticut-based pizzeria continues. As we reported in March, Frank Pepe’s has been diligently looking for real estate in order to expand into the Boston market. That search seemed to have come to an end in July when The Fireplace’s Jim Solomon was on the verge of transferring his Brookline restaurant lease and liquor licenses to the iconic New Haven-based chain. But after further consideration, Solomon backed out of the deal and we were all left sans Pepe’s famous white clam pizza.

Now the rumor mill has started back up, thanks to a recent article in The Connecticut Table blog (part of Connecticut Magazine) that casually mentions Frank Pepe’s seventh satellite location opening in “metro Boston.” Pepe’s publicists haven’t commented on where that location might be, but Boston Restaurant Talk says the undisclosed space will be opening later this year.

In The Connecticut Table blog, Frank Pepe’s president and CEO Ken Berry does go onto say that if the initial Boston location does well, the company will be looking to open others within the Boston metro area.

199 Boylston St., Chestnut Hill; pepespizzeria.com.