It would seem as though shopping centers are dying due to online shopping, but it looks like The Double Bull restaurant is breathing new life into the Northshore Mall.
The restaurant, which opened in May of 2021, advertises itself as a beer hall with over 50 different selections on tap, in addition to a diverse menu boasting pizza, tacos, burgers and snacks.
Jed Webber of Webber Restaurant Group used the COVID-19 pandemic as a chance to change the concept of a restaurant at the mall. The space had been previously operated by Bancroft & but when the steakhouse was forced to close due to the pandemic, Webber decided that it was a unique opportunity to shake things up.
“We decided to use the opportunity to completely change the concept and do something that we think the area really wanted,” said the owner. “I think spending a couple of years getting to know Peabody and getting to know the folks on the North Shore, we were super excited to do this concept.”
Webber also recognized that they had a large space to work with. With that in mind, the owner wanted to make sure that there was plenty to do at the restaurant.
“We’ve got 10 pinball machines upstairs, we’ve got shuffleboard, we’ve got bocce and cornhole outside on the patio,” said Webber. “We added this patio which we hadn’t had before for outside dining, not just for COVID reasons but also just for a sort of more casual, beer-hall vibe.”
The owner of The Double Bull also added that they are using the space to hold a variety of events on various days. Webber mentioned that they have already held some pinball tournaments; dart tournaments will begin in the restaurant soon.
Another COVID-related issue seen by the restaurant industry is lack of adequate staffing. Webber said that the restaurant is actively hiring for multiple positions and wishes to bring jobs to community members.
“We are actively hiring and trying to find more staff so that we can have more seats,” said Webber. “It’s a very big restaurant so we’ve got a lot of seats that we just can’t open them all right now because we’re still scrambling for staff like everyone else in the restaurant business.”
