Boston Licensing Board Approves Cisco Seaport Expansion, Fields Corner Bakery

The Boston Licensing Board voted on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, to let Cisco Brewers raise the capacity of its Seaport venue at 85 Northern Ave. from 996 to 1,200 people, short of the 1,425 the company requested, and approved a new bakery and cafe license in Fields Corner, Universal Hub reported. The votes came at one of the last meetings led by chair Kathleen Joyce before a new chair takes over next week.

Key figures: Cisco capacity 996 to 1,200 · 1,425 requested · Bottega Cannuccia: 35 people, 20 seats · new chair starts Nov. 4

Cisco Brewers Seaport: A Smaller Increase Than Requested

Cisco Brewers had asked to raise its licensed occupancy to 1,425, a figure the city’s Inspectional Services Department and the Boston Fire Department had already approved, according to Universal Hub. The Seaport Neighborhood Association asked the board to hold off on a decision.

Brendan Doherty, speaking for the neighborhood association, told the board, “I think the neighborhood loves Cisco,” and said, “I don’t think we’re asking for 7 months here,” according to Universal Hub. Cisco’s attorney, Dennis Quilty, represented the company at the hearing. The hearing also touched on an on-site unloading area connected to WS Development, the Seaport developer, according to Universal Hub.

Chair Kathleen Joyce said the request was “a business detail that really needs to be sorted out and lined up in order to plan for next year,” and added, “I do believe Cisco will continue to work with the neighborhood association,” Universal Hub reported. The board then approved 1,200.

Fields Corner Bakery Approved

The board also approved Bottega Cannuccia, a bakery and cafe planned for 1448 Dorchester Ave. in Fields Corner, Universal Hub reported. The owners, Stefano Quaresima and Tsedenia Kiros, opened the Roman-style trattoria Via Cannuccia at 1739 Dorchester Ave. in 2023.

The new spot will use one of the city’s neighborhood-restricted all-alcohol licenses for the 02122 ZIP code, which cannot be sold and goes back to the board if the business closes, according to the board’s agenda. Plans call for 35 people, 20 seats, about 1,050 square feet and a 9 p.m. closing time. Attorney Tyler Henseler described the concept as a French cafe-style business, Universal Hub reported.

By the Numbers

The calculations below are by The Boston Report.

• Increase granted: 1,200 is 204 more people than the previous limit of 996, a 20.5% increase.
• Share of the request: the board approved about 84% of the 1,425 capacity Cisco sought, leaving 225 spots unapproved.
• If fully approved: 1,425 would have meant a 43.1% increase over 996.

Other Items on the Board’s Agenda

The board’s Oct. 29 voting agenda covered applications heard at its Oct. 28 hearing, listed in the transactional agenda. Among them:

• A proposed transfer of the license held for a planned Korean barbecue restaurant at 121 Harvard Ave. in Allston to a Taco Bell Cantina at 16 North St., with 37 seats and a 2 a.m. closing time, as Universal Hub reported. The outcome had not been reported in the coverage reviewed for this article.
• A change of closing hour from 1 a.m. to 2 a.m. for Flann O’Brien’s.
• A closing-hour change for Shake Shack in the Seaport.
• The transfer of the Blanchard’s Jamaica Plain store license to Kappy’s, which we covered in our story on the Blanchard’s to Kappy’s license transfer.

A Leadership Change at the Board

Ava Callender Concepcion becomes chair of the Licensing Board on Nov. 4, succeeding Joyce, as covered in our story on the new Boston Licensing Board chair. The change comes as Mayor Wu has proposed restaurant zoning changes aimed at shortening reviews for small food businesses.

Sources

• Universal Hub: Seaport brewery that’s now also an entertainment venue gets OK to expand (Oct. 29, 2026)
• Universal Hub: Couple who opened Roman trattoria on Dot Ave win approval for bakery (Oct. 29, 2026)
• City of Boston: Licensing Board voting agenda, Oct. 29, 2026
• City of Boston: Licensing Board transactional agenda, Oct. 28, 2026 (PDF)
• Universal Hub: Chain behind proposed Allston Korean BBQ sells license