Chef Brochu Closes PlayWright Amid City Chaos

Chef Steve Brochu is shutting down his beloved downtown restaurant PlayWright, citing a brutal combination of rising costs, city construction chaos, and building neglect — all while feeling abandoned by the very institutions meant to support him. The nine-ninth street roadwork, which he says was never disclosed during lease talks, wrecked his business with jackhammering, boarded windows, and delivery nightmares. His other ventures, MilkCrate and GhostLight, followed suit, leaving him with no choice but to close after years of growth. He’s furious the city and Citadel Theatre ignored the construction’s impact — and he’s not alone: nearby restaurant Khazana also folded due to similar disruptions. For Brochu, it’s not just bad luck — it’s a systemic failure that’s crushing small business dreams in the heart of the city. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/6fbdd7f27476f26d