One of Boston’s most prolific chefs is ending her footprint in the city.
Barbara Lynch is closing all of her remaining restaurants in Boston, Eater Boston reported on Wednesday. The Rudder is now shut down, No. 9 Park will shutter at the end of the year, and B&G Oysters will close at a to-be-determined date.
“I am very proud of what I have achieved over three decades, creating these much-loved entities where so many of you chose to celebrate your special occasions,” Lynch said in a statement shared with Eater. “The harsh realities of the global pandemic and the many difficulties faced calls for significant investment, which neither myself nor my fellow shareholders are positioned to do.”
Since the 1990s, Lynch has been at the forefront of Boston’s culinary scene, with several James Beard Award nominations—and a few wins—under her belt. Following the debut of No. 9 Park in 1998, Lynch went on to open several more restaurants in the city, spanning from fine-dining spots to cocktail bars. However, she started closing up shop earlier this year, shutting down Sportello, Menton, Drink, the Butcher Shop, and Stir back in January.
In recent years, Lynch has also been at the center of some controversy. Last year, more than a dozen former employees came forward with allegations that Lynch oversaw a toxic workplace environment at her restaurants. And she’s also been sued for withholding tips during the pandemic, a lawsuit that is still ongoing, according to Eater. (Lynch denies the allegations in both cases.)
As the remaining three restaurants shut down, Lynch’s restaurant group is looking for buyers. Lorraine Tomlinson-Hall, the chief operating officer, told Eater that there are currently advanced talks happening with a buyer for No. 9 Park, and that the hope is for no jobs to be lost in the process. “A lot of hard work has been undertaken to find a buyer who is interested in developing that iconic space with a desire to build upon the legacy that has seen No. 9 Park operate for 26 years,” Tomlinson-Hall told the outlet in an email.
The current plant is for No. 9 Park to end service on December 31, following one last holiday season. Renovations would then begin on January 2. As for Lynch’s other restaurants, the future remains unclear—except for the fact that they’re all closing their doors for good.
