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Roger Berkowitz: Downtown Crossing Isn’t Ready for Me!

Plenty of illegal activity used to occur in Downtown Crossing back in the day (RIP Combat Zone), and honcho Roger Berkowitz says the area still isn’t quite ready for his Legal Sea Foods. The Herald reports that he’s worried about the dearth of foot traffic in the area, a statement that has roiled some downtown denizens. Officials at the Boston Redevelopment Authority say that, au contraire, 35 restaurants have opened downtown since 2008 and more than 200,000 people work in the area. And, of course, Wegmans is eyeing the spot, which makes it totally legit.

As for Berkowitz, well, he’s been “tempted” at times to open a branch downtown, and he just might reconsider after Millennium Partners builds its proposed 606-foot skyscraper, with housing and retail, at the former Filene’s site.

Chris Damian, who plans to open Sip in the former Bina space in the coming weeks, thinks that the neighborhood is already on the rise; his restaurant will include a raw bar and serve seafood, so downtowners will their fish fix no matter what.

Downtown Crossing not quite ‘Legal’ [Herald]

Related: Will Wegmans Legitimize Downtown Crossing?
Sip and Artisan Provisions Replace Bina in Downtown Crossing, With Affordable Wines, Sushi, Breakfast, and Ceviche

Roger Berkowitz: Downtown Crossing Isn’t Ready for Me!