Built in 1757, the Josiah Smith Tavern (JST) is one year shy of its 270th anniversary. Its long history is detailed on our History page. In 1838, after 81 years, it stopped operation as a tavern and the JST would spend its next 120 years as a family home. At the turn of the 20th century, its barn hosted a carriage painting and trimming business by Theodore Jones. Eventually, in the 1950s, the JST was donated by Alice and Ellen Jones to the Society for Preservation of New England Antiquities and in 1983, it was donated by SPNEA (now Historic New England) to Weston, subject to preservation restrictions, beginning a decades-long effort to reinvigorate the space with new uses.
With strong support from Weston residents, the Town is poised to host its first-ever restaurant in an historic building. Work is steadily moving forward to open The Woods at Josiah Smith Tavern in November 2026. The restaurant will feature 140 indoor seats and an additional 49 seats outdoors. One of the most anticipated seating areas is the horseshoe-shaped bar, located where the horses once paused to catch their breath. Soon, that same spot will welcome a new generation of drinkers and thinkers – much like the tavern-goers who once gathered in the tavern centuries ago.
Boston Urban Hospitality and owner Brian Piccini are no strangers to the challenges of putting restaurants in historic buildings – they’ve done it before. The Boston Chops location on Temple Street was formerly a bank. Converting that space into a restaurant came with its own set of challenges and surprises, which are similar and different from those at Weston’s The Woods location.
“The bank space on Temple Street was a structure that was originally designed for security and permanence (thick walls, fixed layouts, and architectural details that couldn’t simply be removed) so there was a lot of problem-solving around how to create warmth, flow, and hospitality within those constraints. It forced us to be thoughtful about what we preserved, what we adapted, and how we gave the space a new purpose without erasing its history,” said Brian Piccini.
“That experience has definitely informed how we’re approaching the Josiah Smith Tavern. With historic buildings, you’re constantly balancing respect for the past with the practical realities of running a modern restaurant – kitchens, accessibility, mechanical systems, and guest experience all have to work, even if the building was never designed for them. It’s challenging, but also incredibly rewarding, because the building itself becomes part of the story.”
Renovating the Josiah Smith Tavern and Barn to include The Woods restaurant is a labor of love – made possible by the steadfast support of our community. The Friends of Josiah Smith Tavern has shepherded a process decades in the making, from the Town Meeting vote that approved the new use, to the countless committee meetings that have steadily moved the project toward its next chapter. The Town’s significant investment has been essential in breathing new life into one of Weston’s most treasured historic assets.
As with any adaptive reuse of a landmark building, this effort has brought real challenges – from navigating complex regulatory requirements to preserving the Tavern’s historic character. Yet the outcome promises to be well worth the effort. The Woods will be more than a place to dine; it will be a connection to Weston’s past, and promises to be a memorable experience for every guest who walks through its doors.