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    • Shrewsbury businessman wants to revive faded Ground Round restaurant
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    Shrewsbury businessman wants to revive faded Ground Round restaurant

    Vaseline Posted on

    SHREWSBURY – A Shrewsbury businessman is trying to revive the Ground Round, the faded chain restaurant that appealed to families with its tolerance for messy eaters.

    Floors covered in peanut shells and popcorn were part of the decor, it seemed.

    Joseph Shea, owner of Pure Source Water Systems in Shrewsbury, has drawn up plans to convert the former Bauhinia restaurant along Route 9 into the Ground Round. A temporary sign announcing ‘The Ground Round Coming Soon’ has fueled speculation and memories.

    Shrewsbury, like many other communities, was home to a Ground Round for many years – at Route 9 and Harrington Avenue, a neighbor of Spag’s. The spot is now filled by a Walgreens.

    The Shrewsbury Ground Round, run for many years by restaurateur Bob Bonin, closed for good in 2004 after a twenty-year run. The Ground Round chain once had more than 200 locations. All but a handful closed long ago. There are three in North Dakota

    According to Shea, he purchased the trademarks and owns the Ground Round brand. He has a lease with the owner of 271 Grafton St., which until recently was Bauhinia’s home.

    “Those who love the Ground Round will remember it being the place where they gathered for family dinners, and which we hope will become a regular fixture again,” Shea said in an email to the Telegram & Gazette. “We make this the place to go before or after events, training, competitions, meetings and work. Where you feel at home when you walk in and see familiar, smiling faces.”

    Shea said the menu will include some items from the original Ground Round. He notes that one staple, ice cream in miniature baseball hats, will be among the offerings.

    In August, Shea received the green light from the city to transfer Bauhinia’s liquor license to the Ground Round. The new restaurant is expected to open in the coming months.

    He said he expects the restaurant to be a destination for family and group gatherings.

    Part of the appeal of the original Ground Round was its kid-oriented themes, with clowns and movies being part of the experience. Peanuts and popcorn were popular meal starters, with the floor being an acceptable place for discards.

    Ground Round was founded in 1969 by the Howard Johnson’s chain. The original location in Shrewsbury Ground Round was once home to a Howard Johnson’s, a place whose customers included John F. Kennedy. There was also a ground round in Lincoln Street in Worcester.

    The Bauhinia restaurant, once home to Golden’s Pizza and Steakhouse, recently closed for good.

    “After 19 years of serving our community, it is time for us to retire, and with that we have made the difficult decision to close our doors on November 5, 2024,” Bauhinia’s website said.

    Archive Do you remember these places? Restaurants of Central Massachusetts’ Past

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