The latest Wellesley, Mass., and nearby, business news:
Karma restaurant & Van Leeuwen Ice Cream signs up in Linden Square
Karma, the big tease Asian fusion restaurant that’s been threatening to open in Linden Square since late 2022, may really be getting closer. A new sign has been affixed to the front of the building.
We regularly get emails from readers like “Went to Dryft the other night and tried to peek into Karma. Looks like sign is down and the inside has been abandoned. Wonder if they’ve permanently pulled the plug???” After a few pile up, we reach out to Karma or Linden Square or the town.
Though I’ll admit we’ve grown a bit sheepish about bugging town employees about Karma’s status (“I believe Karma is still in the renovation stage,” one said this week, while we heard from the Health Department last month that “I have been continuously reaching out to Karma. My understanding is that they should be ready to open soon, but I can’t say for sure.”
Linden Square lists Karma on its website as “Coming Soon,” which could be true at some point…
We’ve been to Karma in Burlington, Mass., and the restaurant would definitely be a welcome addition to Wellesley.
Across Linden Street, a new sign and awning are also up on Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, which according to its website and Linden Square’s is—all together now—coming soon!
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Nine East Wine Emporium closes
Following its inventory-clearing sale over the weekend, Nine East Wine Emporium on Rte. 9 has closed its doors after 25 years in business. Owner AJ Moran sent along this photo of his family: “Twenty five years, hard to believe (our children) were only 1 when I purchased Lilja’s Liquors,” he wrote.
While Wellesley has loosened up its alcohol sales rules in recent years, allowing grocery stores to sell booze, traditional liquor are only found just over the town line in Newton and Natick. Nine East has been located, as the name suggests, on Rte. 9 east, just west of the Wellesley line in Natick.
Spring Seasonings event to celebrate taste of Wellesley, nearby communities
The Charles River Regional Chamber has begun promoting its Spring Seasonings: A Taste of our Towns event, which will be held at the Newton Marriott on Monday, April 7 from 5:30-8 p.m.
Forty local restaurants from Newton, Needham, Watertown and Wellesley will showcase their cuisine, with beverage exhibitors pouring
samples to pair with the bites. Over 500 attendees are expected to attend.
A portion of the 27th annual event’s proceeds will benefit Three Squares New England, a nonprofit that raises funds and awareness to support hunger relief organizations across Eastern Massachusetts.
Tickets: $75 for chamber members / $85 for non-members. Tickets are available at www.charlesriverchamber.com/spring-seasonings. No tickets will be sold at the door.
Know of Wellesley businesses coming or going? Let us know: theswellesleyreport@gmail.com
What Wellesley really needs is a few more fitness studios and nail salons! There is a pathetic shortage of both!!