The stone and brick medieval structure was constructed in 1891 and originally served as the headquarters for the First Corps of Cadets. The building has been on the National Historic Register since 1973. The first floor gunroom, social hall and museum floor, which is comprised of 18,000 sf of space, will be converted to the main dining room and will seat approximately 300 people. The mezzanine will be used for cocktails and dining overlooking the space below and there are plans for a fourth floor banquet hall.

"We are very excited to be opening a Smith & Wollensky in Boston, a city known for its great history and discriminating taste for fine cuisine," says Alan Stillman, chairman and CEO of Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group. "The old Armory is an outstanding location that will provide Bostonians with a terrific dining experience."

The restaurant's interior is to be designed by Connecticut-based Haverson Architecture. The company emphasizes that many of the Armory's existing historical light fixtures and artifacts will be restored and incorporated into the design.

The Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group develops, owns and operates high-end, high-volume restaurants in major cities across the country. The original Smith & Wollensky, a traditional New York steakhouse, opened in 1977 and is currently the largest-grossing a la carte restaurant in the country, according to the company. There are currently 16 restaurants in the chain including locations in Miami Beach, Chicago, New Orleans, Las Vegas, Washington, DC, Philadelphia, Columbus, OH, Dallas and Houston. The firm also operates seven other restaurants in New York including Cite, Maloney & Porcelli, Manhattan Ocean Club, ONEc.p.s., Park Avenue Cafe and the Post House.