According to reports this week, the Ground Round is making a comeback, at least in Shrewsbury.

MassLive shared a photo of a Ground Round sign above the recently closed Bauhinia Restaurant sign near Route 9 on Friday, reporting confirmation of the opening from new owners Nachi and Joseph Shea.

The restaurant chain, similar to fellow chains Applebee’s and Chili’s, started in Massachusetts in 1969 and served American comfort food such as boneless chicken wings, hamburgers, prime rib, fajitas and chocolate cake. The restaurant was also known for handing out peanuts, with customers throwing the shells on the ground.

The Worcester Telegram & Gazette reports that there were more than 200 locations of the Ground Round chain at its peak, including one at another Shrewsbury location that closed in 2004 – the same year the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Now only four remain, one in Ohio and three in North Dakota, according to MassLive.

The owners, who said they had restaurant experience, had eaten at a Ground Round before and said others in their community wanted it back.

“The idea is to apply current efficiencies to the best of the ‘old’ Ground Round,” Nachi Shea told MassLive. “We listen carefully to our community to ensure we help families share their memories with the next generation and build new memories for generations to come.”

It will reportedly open the week of January 25 with lunch, dinner and a bar. The restaurant’s address is 271 Grafton Street.

Katelyn Umholtz

Food and restaurant reporter

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Katelyn Umholtz covers food and restaurants for Boston.com. Katelyn is also the author of The Dish, a weekly food newsletter.

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