Ground Round is coming to Shrewsbury after closing 20 years ago

Reports this week suggest the Ground Round is making a comeback, at least in Shrewsbury.

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

The restaurant chain, similar to fellow Applebee’s and Chili’s chains, was founded in Massachusetts in 1969 and serves American comfort foods such as boneless chicken wings, burgers, sirloin, fajitas and chocolate cake. The restaurant was also known for handing out peanuts, the shells of which customers would then throw on the floor.

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

According to MassLive, only four remain now, one in Ohio and three in North Dakota.

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 today’s efficiency advantages to the best of the ‘old’ Ground Round,” Nachi Shea told MassLive. “We listen closely to our community to ensure we help families share their memories with the next generation and build new ones for future generations.”

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