The latest Wellesley, Mass., business news:
Wellesley Night gives credit where it’s due
The Charles River Regional Chamber last week honored three deserving Wellesley nominees: Wellesley Historical Society’s Peter Mongeau (Community Impact Award), Sustainable Wellesley (Nonprofit Impact Award), and Captain Marden’s Seafoods (Business Excellence Award).
The feel-good event, whose honorees were nominated by members of the public, was held at Babson College’s Knight Auditorium.
Wellesley Historical Society President Mongeau’s accomplishments since taking on his role in 2022 included recently bringing the organization’s long-envisioned Wellesley History & Exhibit Center to completion. It opened recently.
Select Board Chair Marjorie Freiman introduced Mongeau at the event, and said “Peter’s impact goes far beyond bricks and mortar. The new Center will be a true community hub—hosting exhibits, programs, and events that celebrate the people and spirit of Wellesley.”
Quentin Prideaux accepted the Nonprofit Impact Award on behalf of volunteer-run Sustainability Wellesley, whose Skip the Stuff initiative approved earlier this year at Annual Town Meeting provides both business and environmental benefits.
Select Board member Tom Ulfelder, in introducing Prideaux, said “These are neighbors—people who give their time, energy, and expertise to educate, to advocate for those most affected by pollution, and to turn good ideas into real progress.”
Longtime family business Captain Marden’s was honored for, among other things, being “a cornerstone of Wellesley—providing year-round jobs for generations of local residents and supporting New England’s coastal fisheries and small distributors through its local sourcing.” Needham Bank’s Maria Ramos presented the award to Roy Marden.
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Sara Campbell moves to Church Square
Sara Campbell has officially opened its new store at 8 Church St., after thirteen years in Linden Square. Different location, same timeless women’s fashions, accessories, and style.
The Wellesley location is one of 22 including Nantucket, Chatham, Naples, and Newport.
Stepping Stone Studios to hold grand opening
Stepping Stone Acupuncture & Wellness is holding a grand opening on Saturday, Oct. 25, 4-6pm at 316 Washington St., for its new Stepping Stone Studios that opened in Wellesley Hills in early October.
Tour the studios, meet instructors and practitioners, enjoy refreshments, and enter raffles for classes and other prizes. The studios boast yoga and other wellness offerings.
You’ll find many of the familiar faces from recently closed Laughing Dog Yoga teaching at the new Stepping Tone Studios.
Jumbo Capital continues to make the rounds
Jumbo Capital reps continue to make the rounds at Wellesley government bodies, briefing the Select Board this week on early plans to redevelop the roughly 6-acre property at 888 Worcester St.—former temporary Town Hall on Rte. 9 east—into a senior living complex (see Wellesley Media recording of Oct. 21 meeting, about 20 minutes in) offering independent living, assisted living, and memory care units. It was basically a repeat of a recent pitch to the Planning Board.
They’re going to need zoning relief to realize this project, which is still at the “proof of concept” stage though could amount to about $100m in total construction costs to support possibly a couple hundred units. They’re marketing the plan as a way to help address Wellesley’s housing needs. Jumbo reps said they’re arranging meetings with neighbors in coming weeks and months.
Questions raised by board members had to do with everything from gussying up the Rte. 9 property to . Board member Tom Ulfelder described the location as “pretty gritty” and in thinking about nearby senior living facilities that have strong aesthetics, asked about whether this might be a “transformative project” in terms of site improvement, such as more open space.
Wellesley Executive Director Meghan Jop said a development agreement would likely be needed, and like with the Waterstone complex in lower falls, could involve rules for ensuring affordability of a certain number of units.
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