As World Cup fans party outside, a downtown bar sits empty

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, June 25, 2026

The Pine Bar at Boston Public Market has remained closed since March due to an ongoing legal battle over alleged lease breaches and rent payments between owner Philip Frattaroli and the market management. This dispute continues despite increased foot traffic from World Cup events, with a court hearing scheduled for July to resolve the conflict.

As World Cup visitors descend on Boston, drawing crowds to the Boston Public Market, one of the market’s longstanding vendors remains shuttered amid a protracted legal dispute. The Pine Bar, which opened in 2022 and occupies a central stall in the market, has been closed since March despite the surge in foot traffic and fan gatherings.

Philip Frattaroli, the Pine Bar’s owner, has publicly accused the market of attempting to unlawfully evict his business with more than a year still remaining on his lease. The conflict began earlier this year when the Boston Public Market (BPM) filed suit in municipal court seeking to remove the Pine Bar for alleged contractual breaches. A judge ruled in Frattaroli’s favor in April, but the market has appealed and maintains that the eviction is lawful under the terms of the lease.

The root of the dispute centers on rent payments and sales reporting. Frattaroli signed a lease with BPM after the pandemic, agreeing to pay a base rent equivalent to 20 percent of gross sales—a higher rate than other tenants, justified by the bar’s unique liquor license and expected draw of additional patrons. Frattaroli invested approximately $120,000 to set up the bar and has regularly submitted monthly sales figures since opening. However, in mid-2024, tensions grew following the market’s introduction of a new point-of-sale system, which Frattaroli opposed citing security concerns, and after a data breach exposed sensitive tenant information.

Court documents indicate that BPM’s former CEO, Cheryl Cronin, raised doubts about the accuracy of the Pine Bar’s reported sales and criticized Frattaroli’s failure to submit timely operating statements. BPM initiated eviction proceedings in the fall of 2024, claiming breach of contract, and set a vacate deadline of May 23 under a 180-day notice clause. Frattaroli countersued, arguing that the market’s removal of his name from the bar’s liquor license—effectively barring him from selling alcohol—is a form of constructive eviction, invalidating the notice period.

In the wake of the dispute, the market opened two satellite bars nearby. Julia Leja, who took over as BPM CEO earlier this year, emphasized the importance of contractual compliance for tenants, stating that the market aims to remain a supportive environment for small businesses.

Frattaroli has expressed frustration at being sidelined during a period when the market has been hosting World Cup watch parties and extending hours, activities he advocated for to boost traffic. Meanwhile, BPM’s legal representative, Abigail Lafontan, has characterized Frattaroli as a problematic tenant and urged him to vacate the premises.

A status hearing to address the legal battle is scheduled for July. Until then, the Pine Bar remains closed, with the dispute highlighting ongoing challenges between the market management and one of its key vendors amid a period of increased visitor activity.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.