Zon’s closes


John Ruch

HYDE SQ.—Zon’s, the “comfort food” restaurant that helped anchor the Hyde Square business district for nearly a decade, closed down last month without notice.

The closure of the restaurant at 2 Perkins St. puts another hole in the west side of the square, where the former Bella Luna Restaurant and Milky Way Lounge still sits vacant after those businesses moved out six months ago.

No one answered the phone at the shuttered Zon’s last week, and a Gazette e-mail to the business got no response. The space is already for lease by landlord Mordechai Levin, who declined to comment to the Gazette for this article.

There were signs that Zon’s was struggling in recent months. It closed briefly at least twice, with notes on the door attributing the shutdowns to emergencies or holidays.

Zon’s opened in late 2001 and quickly became a popular, well-reviewed Jamaica Plain fixture. It was operated by Ken Tilton and the late Frank Zontini, who also owned Pluto, a gift shop that is credited with helping create the eclectic feel of the central JP business district. Zontini died a few years ago, and Pluto closed shortly afterward.

While Levin is still seeking tenants the former Zon’s and Bella Luna/Milky Way spots, the strip of storefronts on that side of Hyde Square remains lively with Ultra Beauty Salon as the anchor.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *