Twisted Tree Cafe coming to site of the former Whistle Stop, Trail’s End

From whistle to trail to tree… C.J. and Christine Doherty in front of the future Twisted Tree Cafe.

The Mall at Lincoln Station will have a new breakfast and lunch spot this fall when the Twisted Tree Cafe debuts in the former Trail’s End Cafe space.

Lincoln residents C.J. and Christine Doherty (no relation to the founders of the longtime Lincoln service station) recently signed a lease for the cafe space, which has been vacant since Trail’s End closed in March. This is their first foray into the food service business, though “it’s an area we always wanted to get into,” said Christine. “It’s a passion project for us. We spent the last five or six years creating a vision, and we were really just waiting for the right opportunity to present itself.”

C.J. Doherty owns a water/sewer excavation business and Christine works in pharmaceutical sales, and the couple also owns a property development company, she said. The former Medford residents, who now have three young children, “fell in love with Lincoln as we drove in minivans to get kids to sleep while had a cup of coffee,” and bought their Reiling Farm Road house in 2015, C.J. said.  

In naming their new business, “we wanted to incorporate what we think it an iconic aspect of town” — the twisted catalpa tree in front of the library… hopefully the cafe that bears its name will be a landmark in its town right,” he said.

The new owners described a vision in which their cafe “can serve the role of what a British tavern does in a rural town—a place where people come together, share a drink and some food and the events of the day, and get to know each other—a gathering place for the community where everyone can feel at home,” C.J. said.

Day-to-day operations at the Twisted Tree will be handled by an experienced general manager and assistant manager, the Dohertys said. Assuming they apply for a beer and wine license, alcohol won’t be served until at least a year after the cafe opens while they await the required town and state approvals, they said.

The menu will span a variety of styles and tastes, aiming for both fresh, local ingredients as well as convenience. Customers will be able to order everything from an egg and cheese sandwich on an English muffin to “more trendy items like cheddar and arugula on a brioche bun, or chia pudding,” he said. “There might be a $2 sandwich or a $9 sandwich, with food diverse enough to meet the needs of everyone, whether it’s a CEO or an electrician on their way to work,” C.J. said.

In a departure from the business’ last change of hands when there was minimal renovation, the Twisted Tree will have a very different look inside. “it’ll be as though it’s a brand-new place,” C.J. said. The Dohertys are also installing a range, griddle and ovens, which the Whistle Stop and Trail’s End lacked.

If all goes well with contractors and town approvals, the Dohertys hope to have a soft opening at the end of August and be up and running when everyone gets back to the school year routine in September.