Top of the Hub

Top of the Hub opened in December 1965 on the 52nd floor of Boston's newly completed Prudential Tower. The restaurant's launch followed the completion of the 749-foot skyscraper in 1964 and established a hospitality use at the top of one of New England's most prominent buildings. Its elevation and position in the Back Bay gave the venue a distinctive selling point: diners could combine a full-service meal with elevated views of Boston's skyline and surrounding neighborhoods. The restaurant was operated initially by the Stouffer Corporation and later by Select Restaurants Inc. The latter was associated with several restaurants using “Top of” names, while the Boston venue developed a strong local identity through its Prudential Tower location. Its business model relied on destination dining, tourism, corporate entertaining and celebrations. Unlike a conventional neighborhood restaurant, Top of the Hub was marketed primarily through the atmosphere created by its height, views and formal setting. Over the years, the venue became known for live jazz and for seafood-focused offerings, including seafood towers. These features complemented the panoramic setting and helped distinguish the restaurant as an experience-oriented destination. It was commonly associated with special occasions and high-visibility visits to Boston. The adjoining Skywalk Observatory strengthened the building's role as a visitor attraction, although the restaurant and observatory were separate operations. Top of the Hub continued operating for more than fifty years. During that period, the Prudential Center around it expanded into a major mixed-use complex with offices, retail, hotels, convention facilities and transit connections. This broader development supported the restaurant's customer base by bringing tourists, business visitors, shoppers, convention attendees and local diners into the same area. The restaurant's final period coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic. Top of the Hub and the Skywalk Observatory were scheduled to close permanently on April 18, 2020, but ceased operations earlier in March as public-health restrictions and the collapse in tourism disrupted the hospitality industry. The restaurant did not reopen under its original brand. In June 2023, the top three floors of Prudential Tower reopened as View Boston. The new attraction included an enclosed observation deck and gift shop on the 52nd floor, an indoor-outdoor bar and terrace on the 51st floor, and a bistro on the 50th floor. This redevelopment restored public access and hospitality functions to the top of the tower, but it represented a new concept rather than a continuation of Top of the Hub.

• 2023

  View Boston replaces the former upper-floor attraction

  [1]Prudential Toweren.wikipedia.org

  The upper three floors of Prudential Tower reopen as View Boston, ending the former Top of the Hub and Skywalk Observatory configuration.

• 2020

  Restaurant closes during the pandemic

  [1]Prudential Toweren.wikipedia.org

  Top of the Hub stops operating in March, ahead of its planned permanent closure in April, as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupts hospitality and tourism.

• 1965

  Top of the Hub opens

  [1]Prudential Toweren.wikipedia.org

  The restaurant begins operating on the 52nd floor of Boston's Prudential Tower, offering panoramic views and full-service dining.

A premium destination restaurant built around panoramic Boston views, live entertainment and special-occasion dining.

• Fine dining restaurant · 1965

  Top of the Hub restaurant

  The core Top of the Hub offering was an upscale, full-service dining experience on the 52nd floor of Prudential Tower. Its appeal centered on panoramic Boston views, polished hospitality and a setting suited to celebrations, business meals and tourism. The restaurant was associated with seafood, including seafood towers, and with live jazz performances. It operated from 1965 until 2020.

• Entertainment offering

  Live jazz program

  Live jazz was a prominent part of the Top of the Hub experience. The music program helped position the restaurant as an evening destination rather than simply a high-floor dining room, adding entertainment value to meals and special occasions.

• Menu offering

  Seafood towers

  Seafood towers were among the dishes associated with Top of the Hub in descriptions of its dining concept. They reflected the restaurant's upscale seafood orientation and its role as a celebratory and special-occasion venue.

• 2023

  Replacement by View BostonStrategy

  Background

  After the closure of Top of the Hub and Skywalk Observatory, the top three floors of Prudential Tower were redeveloped as a new visitor and hospitality destination.

  Action taken

  View Boston opened with an observation deck, an indoor-outdoor bar and terrace, and a bistro.

  Aftermath

  The tower regained a public observation and dining use, but Top of the Hub remained discontinued.

  Source

• 2020

  Permanent closure of Top of the HubStrategy

  Background

  Top of the Hub and the Skywalk Observatory were scheduled to close permanently in April 2020 after operating for decades. The operations ended earlier in March during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  Action taken

  The restaurant ceased trading and was not reopened under the Top of the Hub name.

  Aftermath

  The upper floors of Prudential Tower were later redeveloped for View Boston, a new observation, bar and dining attraction that opened in 2023.

  Source

1. 1Prudential Toweren.wikipedia.org