Our latest round-up of Wellesley, Mass., and nearby business news:
New tanning salon in Church Square
Wellesley will soon have another spray tanning outfit, this one in Church Square. Like seemingly every other business in town, from dry cleaners to eateries, Pure Glow touts its organic-ness.
I dragged my pasty self over to Church Square to snap the photo above.
The business plans to open in the former Sloane & Ivy space this spring.
Linden Square Starbucks gets makeover
The Starbucks in Linden Square re-opened on January 13 after a 12-day renovation project that freshened up the place. The 19-seat coffee spot, in town since 2007, upgraded the the seating, gave the walls a fresh coat of paint, and re-tiled the backsplashes.
Store manager Brandon Lewis said, “We just made everything a little newer to keep the Linden Square Starbucks looking like a place where a Wellesley customers want to keep coming. Our customers here expect things to look nice. We will keep giving everyone the same great service.”
Gibson Sotheby’s buys Benoit realty group
Boston real estate firm Gibson Sotheby’s International has acquired longtime Wellesley firm Benoit Mizner Simon & Co., for an undisclosed sum. The buyer is excited about the “discerning clientele” of its acquisition and drops the term “luxury” four times in its press release. The deal gives the Boston firm further reach into the ‘burbs, and the Benoit group, formed in 2010, gets more resources to support its business.
Moving and shaking
As we reported last summer, the Babson College and Commonwealth Shakespeare Company (CSC) partnership, designed to bolster the College’s efforts to enhance the natural synergies between entrepreneurship and the arts, came to an end after seven years. Now we have learned that CSC, the organization that each summer brings free Shakespeare on the Boston Common to the masses, has officially moved out of Wellesley. The theater group now is located near the Boston Commons at 101 Arch Street.
Jesamondo Salon welcomes new talent
Sponsored content: Congratulations to long-time Swellesley supporter Jesamondo Salon as the Natick beauty business welcome Jenna Pasquale aka Jenna Rose to the Jesamondo family. Jenna has been doing hair for eight years in the MetroWest and San Francisco Bay areas. While she can handle any of your hair care needs, she specializes in blondes, foils, balayage, fantasy hair, and modern hair-cutting. Please call (508) 907-7171 or go online to schedule your appointment.
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The Verve re-imagined in Natick
We stopped into The Verve in Natick last week to check out the 251-room hotel’s new retro-style 1970s-stye decor. The property has recently joined the Hilton portfolio of brands, which has led to major overall upgrades throughout the Route 9 eastbound-side property. Groovy flourishes include the wall of lava lamps in the front entrance; the Barbie doll tableaux at the registration desk; album cover art throughout the first floor; vintage telephone booths; video games (No need for quarters. Just play.); and more. The Pantry Restaurant is still open for breakfast and lunch, and the chic and moody Violet Thorn serves dinner, small plates, and craft cocktails.
“The Verve’s concept is created based on a love of American pop culture from the 1960’s to the 1990’s,” said Lou Carrier president of Distinctive Hospitality Group. “It’s exciting to share this vision in such a multi-media and multi-sensory experience at The Verve Hotel. I invite everyone to relive some memories or create some new ones.”
The hotel’s 17,000sq. ft. of function space keep an eye toward an expanded social event and meetings business. Its proximity to both Boston and major businesses as well as the premier Natick Mall shopping center, offers guests easy access to the best of the Boston and MetroWest.
Hotel features and amenities include:
Dining:
Meal options abound, both from the area’s numerous eateries as well as on-property offerings Pantry and Violet Thorn. Pantry offers American cuisine for breakfast and lunch, set within a design scheme reminiscent of Julia Child’s iconic kitchen, including classic milk bottles, rolling pins and TVs replaying popular cooking shows. Violet Thorn is a chic lounge serving dinner, small plates and premium hand-crafted cocktails, with an impressive interior featuring a water wall, fireplace and a media wall, accentuating the venue’s vibrant atmosphere.
Amenities:
Guests seeking exercise or relaxation have a variety of options, including a 24/7 fitness center with cardio equipment and free weights, in-room dining available daily, a 24/7 convenience store on-site, laundry services and more.
Meetings and Events:
With 17,000 square feet of meeting space, The Verve is the perfect venue for business meetings, weddings and other corporate and social gatherings. Offering three ballrooms, three self-contained board rooms and four additional meeting rooms, the hotel can accommodate a wide range of meetings and events, including conferences, galas and wedding receptions for up to 250 guests.
Specialty events and live entertainment
Culinary events at The Verve allow locals to create timeless memories on special occasions. Easter, Mother’s Day, Thanksgiving and Santa Brunches at The Verve all feature creative chef-driven menus. The hotel is a local participant and multi-year winner
in the annual Taste of MetroWest food and beverage showcase event. Additionally, The Verve celebrates music across the decades and its impact on our culture with live entertainment held throughout the year. In 2020, The Verve will host Dueling Pianos featuring Savage Piano, weekly live entertainment in Violet Thorn featuring musicians such as Jim Devlin and re-introduce Lobby Concerts.
