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Old Friend Pizza brings Detroit-style squares to West Roxbury

Old Friend Pizza brings Detroit-style squares to West Roxbury

Rule Changes Boston, MA local

A 10-seat shop with a three-day dough tests a Washington Street address that has churned through four prior restaurants

Today: Old Friend Pizza opens in West Roxbury

Overview

Updated 2 hours ago

Old Friend Pizza opens this week at 5272 Washington St. in West Roxbury, serving Detroit-style squares on three-day-fermented dough. The cook is Alden Caldwell, known from popups at Exodus Bagels and the Substation.

The 10-seat room sits in an address with a fast-churning history: at least four concepts have come and gone, from pizza-and-sub shop Cristelle's to two Central American restaurants to the recent How's Your Meat. The Boston Licensing Board votes Thursday on a license to serve noon to 9 p.m. daily — no hearing required, because the location already holds a restaurant license.

Why it matters

West Roxbury gains a Detroit-style pizza option — if Boston's licensing board approves the new shop's noon-to-9 license this week.

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Key Indicators

4
Prior restaurant concepts at 5272 Washington St.
Cristelle's, two Central American eateries, and How's Your Meat preceded Old Friend Pizza at the address.
3 days
Dough fermentation time
The three-day fermented dough is the style's signature, per the shop's menu approach.
10
Seats in the new shop
The small space holds ten seats, according to the license request.

Voices

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People Involved

AC
Alden Caldwell
Cook behind Old Friend Pizza
Awaiting Boston Licensing Board vote on his license request

Organizations Involved

OF
Old Friend Pizza
Restaurant (new)
Opening this week; license pending

Detroit-style pizza shop at 5272 Washington St. in West Roxbury.
Boston Licensing Board
Boston Licensing Board
Municipal licensing authority
Reviewing Old Friend Pizza's license request

City board that approves food-service licenses for Boston restaurants.

Timeline

2 events Latest: Today

  1. Boston Licensing Board weighs license

    Upcoming Regulatory

    Board considers Caldwell's request to serve noon to 9 p.m. daily in the 10-seat space.

  2. Old Friend Pizza opens in West Roxbury

    Today Opening

    The Detroit-style shop opens at 5272 Washington St.; its licensing vote is set for Thursday.

Scenarios

1

Boston Licensing Board clears Old Friend Pizza's license

Likely Resolves by Nov 30, 2026

Discussed by: Universal Hub, which notes no hearing was required for the already-licensed address

The board votes Thursday on Caldwell's request to serve square slices noon to 9 p.m. daily. Because 5272 Washington St. already carries a restaurant license, the application is routine; approval lets the shop run its planned schedule in the 10-seat space.

2

License delayed or limited for Old Friend Pizza

Possible Resolves by Nov 30, 2026

Discussed by: Board procedure and local news coverage

The board could defer the vote, request more information, or restrict service hours or seating. Any of those would push back the shop's planned daily schedule, though denial is unlikely for a site already licensed for restaurant service.

3

Old Friend Pizza becomes another Washington Street goodbye

Possible Resolves by Oct 31, 2027

Discussed by: The address's own history — four prior concepts shuttered or moved

Cristelle's, two Central American restaurants, and How's Your Meat all left 5272 Washington St. The same churn could claim Old Friend Pizza within a year if the tight 10-seat room can't sustain daily service.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

May 2019

Emmy Squared targets Boston (2019)

New York's Emmy Squared, a Detroit-style pizza chain from Emily and Matt Hyland, told Eater it was scouting Boston-area spaces for 2020 — 2,000 to 2,500 square feet, 75 to 100 seats, near college students.

Then

The announcement flagged Boston as a market for the growing style.

Now

Independent shops like Volo, Avenue, and Square Mfg. came to carry Detroit-style pizza across the metro.

Why this matters now

Shows Detroit-style pizza going from regional curiosity to a style Boston restaurants chase — the same wave Old Friend Pizza rides.

May-June 2019

The Avenue brings Detroit-style to Somerville (2019)

Avenue Kitchen and Bar opened in Somerville's Ball Square with five Detroit-style pizzas, including one with beef barbacoa, per Eater.

Then

Gave the Boston area a dedicated Detroit-style option.

Now

Helped seed the style's spread to neighborhoods like West Roxbury.

Why this matters now

Old Friend is the latest in that local build-out — a neighborhood spot rather than a chain outpost.

Sources

(3)
Universal Hub Eater Boston Off the Beaten Path Food Tours