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But did they reserve a table for the Chessmaster?
By adamg on Tue, 09/25/2018 - 3:24pm
The Harvard Gazette reports on the recent opening of the Smith Campus Center in Harvard Square, which oldtimers might remember as the Holyoke Center. The brutalist concrete structure has been updated with more color and more hipsterish fare than the old Au Bon Pain.
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Comments
Harvard did a good job here
The newly renovated building has a large amount of open seating available to all members of the public until midnight, on three or four separate levels including an outdoor 'roof garden' (which is not really on the roof, just on the third floor). I heartily approve.
Pavement Coffeehouse looks like a good replacement for Au Bon Pain, too
(And yes, the chess tables are also back, both outdoors and indoors).
Not to be a cold blanket but
Not to be a cold blanket but how do they handle the issue of homelessness in this situation? Some of the groups in Harvard Square have been known to camp out in large groups...
I do not know the answer to this
I just asked "when does this close to the public" and was told midnight, every night. Some parts such as the 'roof garden' may closer earlier, such as at 8 or 9 pm.
Closing hours
I went back today and paid closer attention to signs. The front part, where Pavement is, closes at midnight, or 1 am on Saturday night. But the further back parts of the building (including the five-level Harvard Commons, Bon Me, Blackbird, and Swissbakers) close at 10 pm. The 'roof garden' closes at sunset.
Thanks
Thank you for the info! Was unsure if it was open to the public.
ABP
Wasn't that the original Au Bon Pan? Also, anyone else remember in the 80s going there and all of the servers speaking french?
Not the original Au Bon Pain
but one of the very early ones, having opened in 1984.
Faneuil Hall Marketplace!
Surprisingly, ABP started in Faneuil Hall Marketplace, selling bread ovens. I guess after a while they realized they were burying the lede!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Au_Bon_Pain
Cafe small?
The Pavement franchise looks very small. Does Harvard want a smaller flow of traffic? I am surprised that they will allow the public in so much space of the building. Hopefully that will remain.
Pavement is on both first and second floors
I'm not sure why, but they have two counters, one on each floor. I think the first floor is full-service while the second floor sells only coffee and pastries.
Pavement is also just one of six restaurants that are or soon will be open in this building.
Local Companies
Harvard wanted local companies in the new Smith Center . Sure ABP started here, but that ship sailed a while ago.