Milk Bar, '&pizza' To Open in Harvard Square

CAMBRIDGE, MA — The back and forth between New York City's Milk Bar, and Washington's "&pizza" and the City of Cambridge seems to be over, as Cambridge Board of Zoning Appeal approved the companies’ special permit Friday.

In July, the Cambridge Planning Board voted to approve the proposed restaurant, a partnership between &pizza and Milk Bar, a dessert bakery based in New York. The new venture will be run out of 1394 Massachusetts Ave. in Cambridge’s Harvard Square, formerly the Tory Row and Crimson Corner spaces.

Currently, there is no official opening date, but it is expected to open some time in early 2018.

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&pizza, which offers rectangular, personal pizzas, made-to-order via a conveyor belt system, has 19 locations around greater Washington, Maryland, Virginia, and then in Pennsylvania and New York City.

The startup, founded in 2012 by Michael Lastoria, says it's progressive: It sources organic dough and non-GMO produce. A company spokesperson said they were looking bring something new to the square.

"We will continue to be conscientious in our approach to what we can offer the square to add to its rich cultural identity," they said in a &pizza press release.

The owners of the pizza shop-meets-bakery concept said they have aspirations to increase the variety of their shop's offerings and provide "a positive, inclusive gathering place for all citizens."

Milk Bar, a Momofuku offshoot specializing in baked goods, ice cream and pies is helmed by Christina Tosi and currently operates dozen locations in New York, Washington D.C., Vegas, and Toronto.

In January, &pizza were rejected by the Historical Commission or a trellis deemed historically inappropriate and incongruous by removing the trellis.

In April, it failed to meet the required four-vote supermajority from the Zoning Board of Appeals, with board members citing traffic concerns and a potential change to the "character of the neighborhood." After the rejection, the restaurant chain decided to re-apply with the proposed Milk Bar partnership.

After an approval in July from the Planning Board, the Zoning Board of Appeals granted the company's request to delay the hearing until September, which would allow &pizza to consult with the city’s urban design staff.

In a press release issued in July, &pizza Chief Executive Michael Lastoria announced the partnership between the pizza chain and Milk Bar.

"We’re thankful for the endorsements from the Harvard Square Advisory Board and Planning Board and look forward to sharing our new plans with the Board of Zoning Appeals. Along with Christina Tosi and our friends at Milk Bar, we're excited about the opportunity to create a one-of-a-kind food, beverage, and community gathering experience that’s worthy of calling Cambridge home."

Plans call for 36 seats in the new shared space, down from 48 to create space for a Milk Bar area on the side that once held the Crimson Corner newsstand.

Courtesy Photo by Milk Bar NYC