Burren Duo to Purchase Porter Square’s Toad and Christopher’s, Transforming the Latter into McCarthy’s

The husband-and-wife duo behind a popular Somerville Irish pub is expanding their footprint to Cambridge .

According to a Boston Restaurant Talk source and confirmed by Cambridge Day , Tommy McCarthy and Louise Costello of The Burren will soon acquire both Toad and Christopher’s Restaurant & Bar in Cambridge’s Porter Square . This development comes after a previous sale fell through in the fall of 2023.

Toad—a nightclub, live music venue, and eatery connected to Christopher’s at 1912 Massachusetts Ave —will retain its current identity. Christopher’s, on the other hand, will transform into McCarthy’s at 1920 Massachusetts Ave , featuring a revamped look with a new entrance, larger windows, an updated bar, and a vibrant color scheme. Renovations are slated to begin in May.

The $2.9 million purchase is currently pending approvals from the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission and Cambridge building officials, with an estimated completion timeline of three weeks. If all goes as planned with construction starting in May, McCarthy and Costello aim to unveil McCarthy’s to the public by September 2024.

Charles Christopher , the current co-owner of Christopher’s and Toad, expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming changes, telling Cambridge Day , “It feels right. I’m very pleased that these folks could come in. I’ve always liked their joint.”