Ex-city councilor's upscale Taunton 'speakeasy' closing for good. Why, what'll replace it?
TAUNTON — Another business is saying goodbye to downtown Taunton very soon.
The upscale cocktail bar National Charter 957, located at 9 Taunton Green, will be closing its doors permanently on July 13, after about a year and half of being in business.
As stated on its Facebook page, 957 will be closed this 4th of July week, but will be open the following weekend, for the last time, the evenings of July 11 – July 13.
Why is it closing?
Owner Christopher Coute told the Gazette the decision is based on his current life and doing what’s best for his family.
He explained that business had been pretty good, except for the summertime, which was very slow.
“It’s slow for a lot of restaurants in the city,” during summertime, he explained, adding that last summer he closed Charter 957 for the months of July and August because of this.
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Cool concept and atmosphere
National Charter 957 opened up in November 2022 to much hype. To get inside the speakeasy-style bar and lounge, you have to enter through its side alleyway entrance, located down Knotty Walk, off Taunton Green/Main Street.
Aside from the red velvet ropes at the entrance, or the mandated emergency exit facing Main Street, the bar gave off an old-timey nostalgic vibe of a 1920s prohibition-era underground “hooch-selling” club, but with a modern flair.
End of an era
This is the second of Coute’s hospitality businesses to close down within a year. Last September, popular downtown landmark Liberty & Union Alehouse closed down after 5 ? years.
Coute cited similar reasons for the closing then, saying while business was good, staffing shortages became frequent, and the amount of “time, effort, energy and commitment” he and his wife Kari were putting into “covering all the shortfalls” and “filling the voids” were “having a negative effect on the family.”
With Charter 957, this is likely the end of Coute’s personal involvement in the hospitality industry, he said, elaborating that the amount of time and effort put in for the return on investment “wasn’t good for someone like me with a young family.”
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Won't be closed for long
Coute said his focuses are on being a landlord for other businesses, in addition to his real estate and redevelopment company Brownstone Realty Group.
He already has a new owner and business lined up to lease the space for Charter 957.
While Coute isn’t disclosing what the business will be, he said the owner will “open up with a new concept” and it should open in a few months after a minor retrofit of the space.
This is the same arrangement for Liberty & Union; before it closed down Coute already had it lined up to be what is now the Union Straw restaurant on Trescott Street.
Said Coute: “I don’t take these decisions lightly. It’s an amazing proprietor with a great concept lined up. I think you’ll be happy with the new venue.”
This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Upscale speakeasy cocktail bar on Taunton Green closing. What's next?
