Richard Dalton

Papa Razzi's corporate parent, Back Bay Restaurant Group Inc., signed a 20-year lease for the Newbury Street space with the owner, Exeter Theatre Corp., several months ago said Richard Dalton, executive vice president of the Back Bay Restaurant Group.

"We thought it was a great location and we decided it offered an upgrade because it gave us a lot more exposure being right on Newbury Street," said Dalton.

In addition to a brand-new contemporary restaurant, the Newbury Street location will allow the restaurant to expand its take-out service, build a bakery visible to restaurant guests and offer outdoor patio seating.Little of the original Papa Razzi theme -- black and white photographs of international personalities -- will be present at the Newbury Street restaurant, said Dalton.Dalton is in the process of buying a liquor license from the now-closed Armani Cafe.The Back Bay Restaurant Group has hired Boston-based Sousa Design Architects to design the Papa Razzi's Newbury Street space.The cost of project was still being determined.

Dalton said he is considering opening another Back Bay Restaurant Group concept at 271 Dartmouth St. and is in discussions with the landlord.Papa Razzi's lease at 271 Dartmouth does not expire for several more years, Dalton said.

The street level space that T.G.I. Friday's previously occupied has sat vacant since early 2006 when the restaurant moved out.Houston's Restaurant Inc. was negotiating a lease for the Newbury Street space this summer but it fell through, confirmed Dalton.Shortly after Papa Razzi began having discussions with the landlord, said Dalton.

Papa Razzi is also opening a new location in Framingham off of Route 9 where Bennigan's restaurant previously operated.Bennigan's reportedly closed in January.Dalton said the Framingham location will open in late spring pending approvals from the town and the transfer of the liquor license.

There are 34 Papa Razzi restaurants on the East Coast, 23 of which are in Massachusetts, said Dalton.

Work on gutting Bennigan's will start within the next five business days, according to Dick Dalton, Back Bay's executive vice president.Only the building's four walls and roof will be spared.Construction is expected to begin in mid- to late-January and typically takes 14 to 16 weeks to complete.

"A target (opening) date is late spring," he said.

The gutting is taking place because "pretty much everything in there is useless," said Dalton.
...
Several reasons factored into the restaurant group's decision to open a Papa Razzi in Framingham, according to Dalton.

"At the selectmen's meeting, one of the selectman asked if I could go to the podium," said Dalton, referring to Selectman Jason Smith.
...
"It was a market-term lease," said Dalton without revealing the dollar amount.

Papa Razzi gets its name from the Italian word "paparazzi," referring to celebrity photographers.The eatery's original decor featured black-and-white photographs of celebrities.

Dalton describes the restaurant as "an Italian concept based on original recipes and all fresh food.
...
We feel if you have a good location, and within the four walls you control what you can, and that's the quality of the food and the service, you'll get more than your share of the market," Dalton said.
...
The menu will be similar to other Papa Razzis, according to Dalton.Antipasti dishes range in price from $5.99 to $10.99, soups and salads from $4.99 to $10.25, panani from $8.99 to $13.99, signature pizzas from $8.75 to $9.99, signature pasta dishes from $9.99 to $16.99 and entrees from $11.99 to $23.99.

Richard Dalton EVP

According to Richard Dalton of the Back Bay Restaurant Group, the locally owned chain of restaurant concepts has executed a lease with the owners of the property at 26 Exeter Street to lease the former TGI Friday's restaurant space and they intend to renovate or replace the existing attached greenhouse that was added to the Newbury Street side of the building on the Newbury Street side many years ago.

According to Dalton, the company was scheduled to appear before the Back Bay Architectural Commission (BBAC) at its meeting last night (September 15 - after the Back Bay Sun deadline), to discuss the glass-sided addition that has vexed the neighborhood for so long.

"We will be reviewing how we plan on treating what I will refer to as the ugly black box that is on the side of the building," said Dalton, "and what we think is an attractive alternative that will fit in better with the rest of the street."

Dalton did not go into detail about the company's plan for renovating the addition, but he did say that BBRG had already met with members of the Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay (NABB) Architecture Committee to make a presentation.

"From my perspective, I thought the meeting went well and our proposal, overall, was well-received," said Dalton.