Lovat Square Debuts in Chestnut Hill with Retail Wine Shop, Full Restaurant and Bar to Follow
Chestnut Hill’s dining and retail landscape is entering a new chapter with the arrival of Lovat Square, a multi-phase culinary project at 184 East Evergreen Avenue. The establishment has officially opened its doors as a retail wine shop, offering hundreds of curated bottles, with ambitious plans to expand into a wine bar and full-service restaurant.
The Vision and Players
The driving forces behind Lovat Square are Damien Graef, a former wine director for the Four Seasons, and his partner, a podcast producer. Their concept is grounded in an “unfancy and unfussy” philosophy, aiming to provide a high-quality yet accessible experience. The current retail component showcases a diverse selection of wines, leveraging Graef’s extensive sommelier background. The upcoming phases promise to transform the location into a social hub featuring outdoor dining and a fine dining menu, designed to be a “day-into-evening” destination for the neighborhood.
Background
Lovat Square occupies a strategic spot just off Germantown Avenue, the commercial artery of Chestnut Hill. The building at 184 East Evergreen Avenue has been the subject of recent zoning discussions to solidify its mixed-use status, blending residential and commercial purposes. This opening comes at a critical time for the neighborhood’s dining scene, which has seen a significant reshuffling. Long-standing favorites like Campbell’s Place and Iron Hill Brewery have recently closed, creating a vacuum that new ventures like Lovat Square and the forthcoming Blue Warbler at 8001 Germantown Avenue aim to fill. The project reflects a broader trend in Chestnut Hill of modernizing historic spaces to attract a new generation of diners while maintaining the area’s village charm.
Objections and Challenges
Despite the excitement, the project faces the typical headwinds associated with development in this historic enclave.
Parking and Traffic: Residents in Chestnut Hill frequently cite parking scarcity as a primary concern. The addition of a full-service restaurant and wine bar in a residential-adjacent zone like Evergreen Avenue could exacerbate congestion, potentially drawing ire from immediate neighbors worried about noise and street parking availability.
Market Viability: Skepticism remains regarding the sustainability of new high-end dining concepts. With inflation squeezing profit margins and a track record of recent closures in the area, some community members question whether the local market can support another ambitious hospitality venture.
Zoning and Preservation: The property has previously navigated zoning variance applications to legalize its multi-family and commercial mixed use. Continued scrutiny from the Chestnut Hill Community Association is likely as the project transitions from a quiet retail shop to a bustling restaurant, with strict attention paid to preserving the historic character of the building and mitigating impact on the surrounding “green community.”
