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Longtime employee to buy Jamaica Plain's only bar with a door outfitted with a working trolley headlight

Gjura

The Boston Licensing Board today approved a request by Galway House owner Edward Lanzillo to sell the Centre Street landmark to 12-year employee Albi Gjura, who says he is planning absolutely no changes.

Gjura's attorney, Tyler Henseler, said Gjura will keep "everything the same as it is now and has been for years," including the menus, the drinks, the distinctive interior and the door with an Arborway-trolley painting with a working headlight - of the sort that once passed by the bar on its way between Forest Hills and Huntington Avenue.

Henseler said Gjura will meet with the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council at 7 p.m. on Tuesday to discuss his purchase.

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Comments

Love the Galway and very glad to hear he doesn't intend to make any changes to the bar.

That said, I wouldn't mind if he built 2-3 stories of housing on top of it, a la Costellos across the street.

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I've seen old photos where evidently there *used to be* another few stories on the building that houses the Galway, always wondered what the story was behind that.

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with the headlight shining.

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I really should have one myself, but until I finally take one, go to the Galway House Web site and scroll down a screen or so.

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Way cool!

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a troubling amount of Branca Menta there. That stuff is the devil’s mouthwash.

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Not Branca Mentha! Cmon!!

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potion beloved by all right-minded people for its miraculous digestive properties, but its mutant, execrable cousin Branca Menta.

Don't take my word for it: ask a bartender next time you're in what they pour more of there. Freakish, I know!

Albi! You're rich now!!

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The place is overpriced and the food is lousy.

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I like it just fine.

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Overpriced ? Have you been to any of the new restaurants in JP ? $25 for a sandwich, $7.99 for a fancy soda ? Reservations required. The Galway, Same Old Place and The Purple Cactus are the only restaurants that didn't raise their prices while JP slowly became gentrified. The beef and fish at The Galway House are superb. And the new owner ? He knows Jamaica Plain. He is a great chef and has often given "struggling people" opportunities to work for the restaurant. And helped them find housing. I think the new owner will do great!

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I usually frequent Same Old Place and Real Deal, but JP House of Pizza and Purple Cactus are reasonably priced.

I will check out the Galway, though.

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Overpriced! YGBSM

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To each their own about the quality of the food... I think it's fine.

But overpriced? That is just OBJECTIVELY false. Cheapest food and booze in JP by a WIDE margin.

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Yeah the food used to be super good and I definitely notice changes have been made so I haven't been back.
I think for the people drinking and getting intoxicated the food quality doesn't necessarily matter but I don't go in there to drink so I recognize the lack of quality.

Back in my drinking days, the Galway House was my spot. Albi is a good dude, and I wish him all the success in the world. The Galway House is one of the few remaining portals to the JP of old.

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Galway House is HANDS DOWN the best value for a restaraunt in Boston. We've been going for decades, and even my conservative baptist inlaws LOVE it and inbsist we visit every time they come. It's a perfect old school pub. No changes needed-except maybe a bigger window. LOVE the staff too! Shout out to Denise-our favorite server!

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