When graduating journalism school with seemingly no future at all, I inquired about a job in the Pewter Pot management trainee program. Some slick, aggressive guy with a pencil-thin mustache told me that working at the Pewter Pot was my future. He stated the usual pep rally stuff like it's hard work and you'll struggle at times, but, ultimately, that I would love working there 65 hours a week at an anemic salary.
It was then and there that I decided to stick with journalism and just be a customer at the Pewter Pot. I soon secured a job at a local newspaper -- not only editing the paper at 10K a year with no benefits, but also delivering it in my Ford Escort to the local stores. Better career days eventually evolved, but sometimes I wonder what life would have been like working at the Pewter Pot. Ultimately, I often came to the conclusion that it was a nice to place to visit, but not to live there!
There was a Pewter Pot in Andover, MA. It was exactly as you have described it. On Route 114 along with a lot of stores around it. I graduated 8th grade Summer School in Topsfield, not my regular school. My mom took me to Pewter Pot and I remember having the muffin. Down the road was SPREE toy store. That gone too. Sorry to see it gone.
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ReplyDeleteWhen we skipped classed at Lexington High we would go to the Pewter Pot on Mass Ave.
ReplyDeleteI think the Lemongrass Thai restaurant stands where the Lexington Pewter Pot used to be located. Never got to that one because of the luncheon Chinese buffet at Peking Garden!
DeleteI visited the Pewter Pot restaurants in Harvard Square and in Beverly while my wife and I were students at Gordon-Conwell Seminary in the mid 1970's. We loved them - the muffins were delicious, and utterly unparalleled, far above any we have had elsewhere. We left MA for other areas, returning in the early 1990's in the Worcester area. I think there may have been some PP locations still in existence then, but none handy to us. I suspected their demise, and I am sad to learn that they have indeed gone out of business.
ReplyDeleteCharlie - Great post, thanks! Wonder why the Pewter Pot went out of business? They were so good. I didn't know there was a Pewter Pot in Harvard Square!
DeleteCan anybody tell me? I remember the old Walpole Mall location on Route 1,but does anyone recall a Pewter Pot in the Dedham/Roslindale/West Roxbury area?
ReplyDeleteYes there was one in the Dedham mall!!
DeleteYes, I would go shopping at the mall with my mom and grandma and go to Pewter Pot for a muffin.
DeleteI can remember going to the pewter pot nrar Wakefield when visiting My Aunt & Uncle & family. Loved the muffins & coffee
DeleteI remember very well the old Walpole Mall location on Route 1A(I went there with my dad as a kid),but can anyone tell me if there was a Pewter Pot anywhere in the West Roxbury/Roslindale/Dedham area?
ReplyDeleteThanks
The Walpole Mall could sure use a Pewter Pot now! Not sure about the other locations you mention.
DeleteI used to go to Pewter Pot in Leominster MA by the movie theater. I just found a Pewter Pot muffin recipe book among my moms cookbooks. Unfortunately, each recipe for the muffins starts with "Pewter pot muffin mix" that I assumed you purchased at the restaurant.
ReplyDeleteI think that is right -- that they sold a mix.
DeleteI worked as a dishwasher at Pewter Pot Vinnin Square in high school, around 1977-1978 or so. We did not make muffins on premises. They came in flat boxes frozen. We thawed overnight and served them the next day.
ReplyDeleteInteresting they came in frozen. The taste suggested homemade.
DeleteI use to frequent the Pewter Pot in Vinnin Square in Swampscott when I was in high school. I worked at JM Fields.
DeleteI loved the one in Vinnin Sq!
DeleteI used to hit up the one in Revere. I loved the hot apple pie with ice cream.
ReplyDeleteThe Pewter Pot served all the good stuff!
DeleteYou mentioned Burlington, editing a local rag and distributing it to local stores. Would that per chance have been the Burlington News?
ReplyDeleteHi Jim - Yes, it was! I worked for Fredi and Peter Blume. They were very nice people to work for and it gave me a great foot in the door to establish a career in the journalism and mass communications field.
DeleteI loved the Pewter Pot chain.
ReplyDeleteMy very first junior high school "date" took place at a Pewter Pot. We stopped in for tea and muffins after school. So many years ago!
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone remember if the murals were wallpaper or hand painted? To my recollection they were all different, and hand painted. Am I wrong?
ReplyDeleteI loved PP (and the bottomless pot of coffee) so much, sloughing High School, that the place is featured in a novel (now seeking an agent). Trying to remember as much as I can about the place, and the locations. If anyone has links to pictures to share, than would be awesome!
Spent much High School time in Pewter Pots (esp the Dedham Mall). I remember my very first time.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone remember if the murals were wallpaper or hand painted?
To my recollection they were all different, and hand painted. Am I wrong?
I'm trying to remember as much as I can about the place, and the locations. If anyone has links to pictures to share, could you let me know?
I loved PP (and the bottomless pot of coffee), so much so, it's featured in a novel I'm writing. Eric H. Thanks for your posts! They're great resources.
does anyone remember where the Pewter Pot restaurant in downtown Boston used to be?
ReplyDelete101 Arch Street and one on Tremont street as well PP alum 1976-1996
DeleteExcept for PP Revere location, I was fortunate enough to see every PP on the drawing table before they were built. My Dad was an independent restaurant designer/architect and designed every PP except for Revere. Privately owned, the owner eventually sold the chain to a large corporation. The owner then moved to the Cape and my Dad designed his new venture restaurant, The Hearth n’ Kettle in 1973.
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