The Woods Restaurant

By Addison Antonoff in The Weston Observer.

Brian Piccini, CEO of Boston Urban Hospitality, the company behind The Woods restaurant slated for the Josiah Smith Tavern, told the Weston Select Board on Nov. 25 that his team has received preliminary approvals on several aspects of the project from Historic New England, allowing them to move ahead on completing construction documents.

“This is going to bring The Woods to life,” Piccini said. “The next phase of work, which includes intensive efforts by the design team and coordination among my consultants, is expected to continue through February.”

He added that the schedule will continue to change as plans develop.

Piccini has been an official part of the search for a restaurateur for the Josiah Smith Tavern since 2023, when his bid for the space was accepted. The question of what to do with the tavern has been a topic of discussion for Weston for almost 20 years. A restaurant was proposed in 2009, but restoration funds were voted down that year. The current reuse plan was proposed in 2016.

The Select Board and the Planning Board requested construction documents from Piccini, but he held off, saying if his proposals were not approved, redoing the documents would cost additional time and money.

“I tried to take the strategy of checking the big items of concern so the town and Historic New England aren’t surprised,” he told the Observer.

According to Piccini, he and his team have been able to plan the seating and bar area, but have not been able to design where refrigeration would go until Historic New England confirmed that they would likely approve the installation of an air handler outside the building.

In a November email to Town Manager Leon Gaumond and the Friends of the Josiah Smith Tavern, Historic New England confirmed they had approved several changes to the tavern, including ‘mechanical changes, such as the installation of exhaust vents’ and ‘construction of an addition and associated loading dock.’

It also stated the organization is prepared to approve the position of a makeup air unit and changes to the windows at the rear of the barn.

“Now that we know what area we have to work with, we can really start filling it with important systems,” Piccini said.

Leslie Glynn, chair of the Planning Board, told the Observer the planning process for The Woods has not followed the usual order of things.

“For them to come to us without construction documents is like, ‘close your eyes and imagine what it looks like,’” she said. “I’m very happy to hear Brian is continuing with construction documents because that’s where you find out if the vision you have can actually be built … I think we have moved past the roadblock.”

Piccini said that he hopes to have construction documents ready by February. Once necessary approvals are in place, he estimates construction will take about six months. He is targeting fall 2026 for opening.

“I’m working as diligently and as fast as I can and learning the process of the town,” Piccini said.

The Friends of the Josiah Smith Tavern are pleased to share an update on the progress of The Woods restaurant and Brian Piccini’s ongoing work to advance the project. In November, Mr. Piccini received formal design approval from Historic New England (HNE), the organization that holds the preservation deed restriction on the property. This approval marks a significant milestone and reflects months of collaboration and detailed design review.

In parallel, Mr. Piccini’s project team attended their fifth meeting with the Weston Planning Board, where they presented additional information requested by the Board. Additional coordination with HNE and the Planning Board will continue as the project moves into later phases.

Most importantly, with the support and guidance received from HNE and the Planning Board, Mr. Piccini is now proceeding with the completion of full construction documents—a major next step in bringing The Woods to life. As one measure of his commitment, he has invested approximately $163,000 to date, primarily in legal and professional design services. This next phase of work—which includes intensive efforts by the design team and coordination among all consultants—is expected to continue through February. The project team is actively refining the schedule to accommodate input from structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and kitchen-design specialists.

The Friends remain encouraged by the continued progress and by Mr. Piccini’s commitment, investment, and persistence. Each step moves the Tavern closer to opening its doors as a welcoming restaurant and a vibrant gathering place for Weston.

We are grateful for the community’s ongoing support and look forward to sharing future updates as work continues.

About the Friends of the Josiah Smith Tavern

The Friends of the Josiah Smith Tavern was selected by the Town of Weston to oversee the management and support the long-term preservation and activation of the property.