Shrewsbury businessman wants to revive faded Ground Round restaurant

On November 10, 2024By Littum

SHREWSBURY — A Shrewsbury businessman is looking to revive Ground Round, the faded chain restaurant that appealed to families with its tolerance of messy eaters.

Floors covered with 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 on Route 9 into Ground Round. A temporary sign announcing “The Ground Round Coming Soon” has spurred 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 to Spag’s. The space is now filled by a Walgreens.

The Shrewsbury Ground Round, run for years by restaurateur Bob Bonin, closed for good in 2004 after a 20-year run. The Ground Round chain once numbered more than 200 locations. All but a handful closed long ago. There are three in North Dakota

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

“Those who love the Ground Round remember it as the place they gathered for family dinners and which we hope will become a staple again,” Shea said in an email to the Telegram & Gazette. “We’re making this the place to go before or after events, practice, games, gatherings and work. Where when you walk in, you feel at home and see familiar, smiling faces.”

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

In August, Shea got the go-ahead from the city to transfer Bauhinia’s liquor license to 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 child-focused themes, with clowns and movies as part of the experience. Peanuts and popcorn were popular meal items, with the floor being an acceptable place for discards.

Ground Round was started by the Howard Johnson’s chain in 1969. The original Shrewsbury Ground Round location was once home to a Howard Johnson’s, a location that boasted John F. Kennedy as a customer. There was also a Ground Round on Lincoln Street in Worcester.

The Bauhinia Restaurant, home of Golden’s Pizza and Steakhouse, which recently closed for good.

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