Newton Highlands eatery reopens

Newton Highlands eatery reopens

Ten months after a kitchen fire shuttered the Buttonwood Restaurant, located at 51 Lincoln St. in Newton Highlands, the eatery has reopened.

Co-owners Shane Smyth and chef David Punch are back up and running after an electrical fire on May 29, 2018 damaged the kitchen and caused smoke and water damage throughout much of the restaurant.

“The neighborhood response to our reopening has been amazing, and we are truly grateful for their support after a tough 10 months,” said Smyth. “It seems the neighborhood was just as excited for our re-opening as were to get back open.”

Buttonwood Restaurant has two “sister” restaurants in Newton: Sycamore, located at 755 Beacon St., and Little Big Diner, located at 1247 Centre St.

Buttonwood leases its building at 51 Lincoln St. from the Hamilton Company, headquartered in Allston. Hamilton purchased 43-51 Lincoln St. in 2007 for $6.5 million. In addition to Buttonwood, current Hamilton tenants include AER Nail Salon and 30/10, a weight loss management center. Each of the three units contains 1,950 square feet of rental space and 1,900 square feet of basement space.

Neal Campbell, senior property manager for the Hamilton Company, which worked with the insurance company and oversaw the Buttonwood renovations, said the fire caused $275,000 in damages. Both Campbell and Smyth noted that the damages could have been worse, if not for the quick response of the Newton Fire Department.

Hamilton hired T&C construction as general contractors to perform the renovations. Campbell said the $275,000 was used to totally renovate the kitchen and bathrooms, as well as for new mechanical and HVAC equipment, paint and finish.