Those giant turnstiles at each end of Wellesley were busy this year letting businesses in and out of town.
MOVING IN
Wellesley gained its 4th Dunkin’ Donuts, this one opening on Rte. 9 east almost across from another one. A CVS is slated to move in next door. A restaurant was threatening to set up shop as well, but plans dissolved.
Papa Gino’s Pronto moved in this summer to keep Wellesley swimming in pizza joints. Its take-out approach might be just the thing that will work at the notoriously difficult 254 Washington St. location. Earlier in the year, Upper Crust Pizzeria moved into Wellesley Square at 99 Central St. and they even have a pizza called The Swellesley.
Parlor Salon & Apothecary took over Wellesley Kitchens’ space at 400 Washington St. Another place to get nails, etc., done– Lux Spa & Nails, is also moving into Wellesley where the Home Design Center used to be at 555 Washington St. in Wellesley Square.
A real estate firm led by three ex-Coldwell Banker VPs is filling the old Kaps spot in Wellesley Square.
Linden Square filled up with an Ace Hardware and Petco Unleashed.
Waterstone at Wellesley, a senior housing complex, broke ground at the old Grossman’s lot in Lower Falls, though the complex isn’t slated to open until 2012.
Meanwhile, a brief scare regarding Wellesley Booksmith being on the block was all for naught when a local family bought it.
MOVING OUT
Whole Foods took over the space previously occupied by Star Market and Chinese restaurant Tian Fu, which left in October. Tian Fu’s owners hope to relocate in or near town. It remains to be seen what will become of the current Whole Foods space at 278 Washington St. in Wellesley Hills.
Whole Foods’ current neighbor, Blockbuster Video, is closing in December in light of a companywide belt tightening.
Gelato Cafe mysteriously cleared out of Linden Square in September. Earlier in the year, Linden Square lost A Little Yoga, one of a handful of yoga studios in town.
College Square Pizza closed down in late spring under unsavory circumstances. A new family-style pizza-plus shop called Old School is slated to move in during 2011.
Wellesley also lost Bobby’s Grille in December, a little more than a year after the establishment opened.
Ski Market/St. Moritz slid out of town after the parent organization filed for bankruptcy. Sweet Beads rolled out of town in January, focusing on its Lexington location.
Tails, a pet store, closed down its unique space squeezed in an alley of Wellesley Square, though the owner is hoping to find another spot in town.
In an eye-for-an-eye move, Optical Designs moved in at 72 Central St., replacing Wellesley Optical, which closed last year.
The Body Shop closed in November (making room for J.P. Licks, which also might impact your body).
J.S. Waterman & Sons & Waring closed up mid-year, leaving the town with two main funeral homes.
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When will Wellesley’s storefronts fill up?
