Heights Pub 'Almost Ready' To Open In Arlington

ARLINGTON, MA — A highly anticipated pub moving into Arlington Heights is homing in on an opening date.

According to a post on The Heights Facebook page, the pub is "almost ready" to open.

"We can't give a date yet [because] we are not sure when our Occupancy Inspection and Board of Health Inspection will be," the post, dated Oct. 11, continued. "As you can see we are ready once we get those inspections."

Photos from inside the pub show the refurbished space, with a nod to its predecessor Balich 5 & 10 hanging on both sides of the door. The Heights started hiring cooks in late September.

The road to opening a pub in Arlington Heights has not always been smooth. Owner Jim O'Rourke faced pushback from a pair of nearby business owners last year when it was determined the plan would violate a zoning bylaw pertaining to the number of parking spaces. The opposition was ultimately withdrawn, but the pub needed to secure a variance on the town bylaw.

Plans stalled once the pandemic hit, delaying the licensing process and the redevelopment of the space.

The Heights Pub is located at 1314 Massachusetts Avenue.