WCAC

A Moody Street restaurant and bar that struggled under new ownership will become a new place called Shiki Shabu.

 

In December, Shiki Shabu owners appeared before the Waltham License Commission to transfer the liquor license for Playmakers at 342 Moody. That transfer was finalized by state licensing officials last week.

 

The owners, who also operate Kung Fu Tea and Bonchon on Moody, did not tell the commission about the concept and they could not be reached for comment on the projected opening date.

 

Playmakers restaurant and bar closed last Friday after opening and closing sporadically in recent years.

 

 

Its original incarnation was a sports bar. It ran for a few years, got into trouble and closed in spring 2018, with back taxes owed to the landlord.

 

Tim Burke, known for his booming breakfast place In a Pickle, planned to reinvent the business, renovating and recreating the menu. It opened in early 2019.

 

But Playmakers 2 struggled to take flight after a basement flood, COVID and chronic staffing challenges.

 

“When we first took over Playmakers we had a lot of great aspirations,” Tim said, “but it started off on the wrong foot from the beginning.”

 

“We were never really able to get any momentum there.”

 

He expressed confidence in the current buyers to put the space to good use.