Food News

Redbones in Somerville will be sold after decades of same ownership

Diners can expect some changes from new ownership, like extended hours and building updates.

Redbones in Davis Square is being sold to new owners. David Lyon for The Boston Globe

July 17, 2025

1 minute to read

Redbones, the Somerville barbecue restaurant and home of event venue Underbones, is changing hands, news confirmed at a public Somerville Licensing Commission meeting in June that approved the transfer of the business’ licenses.

Its new owners, listed as CRG Redbones LLC, said they have no plans to close the business and want to keep Redbones as a barbecue restaurant.

“Our goal is to bring the restaurant back to the version so many in the community remember fondly: pre-pandemic standards of hospitality, excellence in service, a reinvigorated beverage program, and a refreshed culinary approach that honors its roots while elevating the experience,” said Sasha Nisenbaum, the proposed manager and Cypress Realty Group’s chief operating officer, in an e-mail to Boston.com.

BBQ at Redbones in Davis Square in Somerville. *(Aram Boghosian for The Boston Globe)*

Nisenbaum said some expected small changes include bringing back the catering program and some building updates. New ownership is also extending the restaurant’s hours, keeping Redbones open until 12:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday and until 10:30 p.m. on Sunday and Tuesday through Thursday.

A LinkedIn hiring post from Nisenbaum four months ago said he was looking for a director of operations to “oversee a rebrand” at a barbecue restaurant, and there were “plans to create a franchise model.” But in an e-mail, Nisenbaum said ownership has “no immediate intention of franchising the business or redeveloping the site.”

Underbones will also “remain as is until we have the ability to fully understand all aspects of the current business.”

The sale of the Davis Square restaurant is between CRG Redbones LLC and Rob Gregory, who opened Redbones back in 1987.