Framingham BJ's Restaurant, Brewhouse Eyes 2022 Opening

FRAMINGHAM, MA — Beer and burger lovers still have a bit of a wait before a BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse opens in Framingham.

The Board of License Commissioners on Monday granted alcohol and victualer licenses for the BJ's. But a representative with the company told the commissioners the restaurant likely won't open until April 2022.

The brewhouse will replace the former British Beer Company location, which has been torn down. The BJ's restaurant was announced in early 2020 and construction was delayed by the pandemic.

The 7,600 square-foot BJ's will have seating for close to 300 people, and will employ about 180 people, according to the company. The brewhouse will be part of a larger redevelopment along Worcester Road with the former Magnuson Hotel being renovated and turned into a Hilton.

BJ's will also fill an American-fare brewhouse niche missing along Worcester Road. Over the past year, the Shoppers World-area Framingham Beer Works and John Harvard's Brewery & Ale House both closed.

BJ's was founded in 1978 in California, but began expanding in the 1990s. The chain only has one other Massachusetts location in North Attleboro, which opened in February 2020.