Is New York Part of the Ground Round Restaurant Comeback?

A new Ground Round Restaurant has opened its doors near Boston, MA, leaving many New Yorkers wondering if the new owners are planning a return to New York.

In its heyday, Ground Round was one of the most popular family restaurants in the country, with over 200 locations nationwide. Most people who grew up in the 70s, 80s, or 90s have at least one memory of enjoying a meal at one of the numerous Ground Round locations, including locations in Poughkeepsie, Kingston, Middletown, and Newburgh, NY.

Pay What You Weigh?

Its menu featured steaks, burgers, sandwiches, and more, but was mostly remembered for being the restaurant that lets kids "pay what you weigh" and the place that gave guests peanuts at each table and allowed them to throw the shells on the floor.

Ground Round Closes

Sadly, by the late 90s, early 2000s, Ground Round faced financial issues, and before long, almost all of its restaurants closed. In 2024, there were only four left in the U.S.( North Dakota and Ohio), but rumors began to spread late in the year that another new location might be opening soon near Boston, MA.

Thankfully, the rumors were true!

New Ground Round Opens

A new Ground Round has officially opened in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, and new owners are overwhelmed by the community's response. According to NBC Connecticut, Joe and Nachi Shea have officially opened the first new Ground Round in years.

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The restaurant, located at 271 Grafton Street in Shrewsbury, MA, held its "soft opening" earlier this month, and it's been packed ever since. Nachi Shea told NBC,

"Nothing soft about it. As soon as we opened those doors, it was like the flood gates were open. People have been coming in every night. We have a full house every night. We've been sold out in reservations. It's been amazing."

 

The restaurant will offer Ground Round staples, including free, unlimited popcorn and the "pay as you weigh" deal for kids on select nights. The official grand opening is set for April 30th, but will more locations follow?

Ground Round Returning to New York?

With the successful return in Massachusetts, many fans of Ground Round have asked the Sheas if they have plans to expand into other states.

"It would definitely take the right partners to do something like that, and we're not even exploring something like that at this time," Shea said.

I'm reading that as it COULD happen, right? I think the Hudson Valley would be a perfect spot for the rebirth of Ground Round. How about you? We have a ton of vacant restaurants that would be a perfect fit for a Ground Round.

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Would you welcome a Ground Round near you? Where do you think it should be located? Let us know through our station app (above), and who knows, maybe the right person sees this, and before long, Ground Round will return to New York.