More than you really want to know about Wellesley, Mass.
(Revised 1/19/17): Century Bank, the family-run institution that came to Wellesley Square in 2012, is now relocating from its Wellesley Square location to a space in Wellesley Hills at 258 Washington St. The office sits in between H&A Jewelers to its west and Axiom Learning to its east.
Impulse by Adamas Fine Jewelry, the sparkly new Wellesley store in Linden Square that we previewed back in September, is having its grand opening this Friday through Sunday. You can check out the store’s new designer jewelry showroom, plus get free cupcakes, frozen yogurt, meet local media people and win fabulous prizes from local businesses (details here).
Separately, Century Bank (“the largest family controlled bank in New England”) is celebrating its opening in Wellesley Square over where Citizens Bank used to be at 75 Central St. Cocktails and hors d’ouevres are on tap Dec. 5 for those on the invite list.
UPDATED: 6/30/12
Century Bank this week has posted a series of job ads online seeking employees in Wellesley, as the town readies for another new bank. The postings are for jobs such as head teller, branch manager and assistant branch manager.
The bank will be located at 75 Central St., in Wellesley Square, once home to a Sovereign Bank. Barry R. Sloane, the bank’s president and CEO, says Century Bank will be opening by year-end in town.
“While there are many banks in Wellesley, it is a community of significant deposits and investable assets. We believe we bring a special brand of banking, as the largest family controlled bank in New England, and a contrast to most of the existing bank branches of global and out-of-state institutions currently in Wellesley,” Sloane writes.
Medford-based Century was formed in 1969 in Somerville and has branches in nearby communities such as Brookline and Newton, where an economic development advisory group is seeking to limit the influx of new bank branches.
Thanks to reader CT for the heads up.
RELATED: Yes! Wellesley to get another bank
Our roundup of the latest Wellesley MA business news:
Papa Wheelies is moving its bike shop from 1400 Worcester St. (Rte. 9) in Natick to 8 Church Square in Wellesley. Sunday was a busy day, as moving trucks were stuffed at the Rte. 9 location, and the former Lyn Evans space started to fill with bikes and accessories. The Natick store closed this weekend, and the Wellesley store is slated to open this week.
Papa Wheelies also has locations in the Back Bay and Portsmouth, NH, where it offers bike sales, rentals, services and accessories.
The shop offers road, mountain, electric, and other bike styles, with prices starting at less than $1,000 and ranging up to 5 figures. Kids’ bikes start at about $125.
We’ve shot a few questions to the business about why it is moving, etc., and will update this past if they get a chance to answer us between the move.
The business did post on its Facebook page that: “We are moving in order to be in a more community oriented location. & Plenty of parking in the FREE lot behind us.”
In the wake of Eastern Bank announcing plans to gobble up Century Bank earlier this year, the Century Bank branch at 258 Washington St., in Wellesley Hills is becoming an Eastern Bank branch.
As with all bank mergers, the institutions say everyone’s a winner, everyone gets access to more services, and family values survive.
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The Babson Graduate Experiential Learning program is seeking proposals for its spring 2022 semester. The Wellesley-based school is looking forward to returning to an in-person model of student consulting kicking off in January. If interested, submit a proposal by Oct. 1.
In an unusual twist for a town that boasts banks galore, a branch is actually leaving Wellesley Square. Cambridge Trust execs have notified account holders that as of July 12 the 40 Central Street branch will close for good. A branch in Portsmouth, NH will also be shuttered. Both the Linden Square and Lower Falls offices will remain open, along with the rest of the bank’s approximately two dozen locations.
Cambridge Trust came to Wellesley Square last June as the result of a merger with Wellesley Bank. As a Central Street fixture for 45 years, many in town will recall Wellesley Bank as a place where the candy flowed freely and friendly tellers were always ready to update a young person’s passbook savings account. Many of the Wellesley Bank staff stayed on once the merger went through and became Cambridge Trust employees. So now what?
Senior VP Kerri Mooney in a letter said, “I am pleased to let you know that our Wellesley Square team will continue to serve your banking needs from other locations within our banking office network.”
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this post made mention of safe deposit boxes at 40 Central St. That branch, in fact, does not have safe deposit boxes. We apologize for the error.
As we reported late last year Chase Bank, which burst onto the Wellesley scene in 2019 at 294 Washington St. (which used to house a Santander ATM), will be expanding its presence in town when it moves into the recently closed Peet’s Coffee & Tea location.
In the interest of balance or karma or something like that, we’re thinking a coffee and tea house would be just perfect in the Cambridge Trust spot.
Century Bank, which has a location on Washington Street in Wellesley Hills, has agreed to be acquired for $642M by Eastern Bank, which has clearly been feeling left out without a Wellesley presence. Expect to see the signs change on the family-owned Century Bank branch in Wellesley and be replaced with Eastern Bank signs once this deal is finalized.
We are still celebrating Women’s History Month with a nod of respect to some of the town’s women-owned businesses. Fun fact: Swellesley’s a women-owned business, too. Here’s a partial list below, with more to follow in our next Business Buzz:
Owner: Gretta Monahan
Fashion and beauty.
94 Central Street, Wellesley Square
Owner: Jill Sudman
101 Central Street, Wellesley Square
Owner: Cynthia Tsang
576 Washington St., Wellesley Square
Owner: Mary Marie Barrett
Clinic. Laser. Skincare.
31 Central Street, Wellesley Square
Owner: Shani Defina
200 Linden Street, Linden Square
Got tips on business openings, closings or whatever, feel free to email us here: theswellesleyreport@gmail.com
Also email us if you’re interested in sponsoring our weekly Wellesley Business Buzz roundup.
Wellesley is home to 16 banks, some with up to three branch locations, most located up and down the town’s main drag of Washington St. While many residents wring their hands when a storefront comes up for rent (“Oh no, I hope a bank doesn’t go in”), that doesn’t stop landlords from welcoming such stable tenants. And at least it’s easy enough to pit banks against each other over rates, fees and more.
The last time a new bank made its presence known in town was in September 2019, when a Chase Bank ATM moved into 294 Washington St., which used to house a Santander ATM. Lately banks seem to have moved away from scooping up Wellesley storefronts and toward sprucing up the spaces they already inhabit. Both Wellesley Bank in Wellesley Square and Needham Bank at 458 Washington St. underwent extensive renovations in 2019.
Don’t see your Wellesley bricks-and-mortar bank on this page? Contact deborahcb100@gmail.com for inclusion.
458 Washington St.
Thanks to Needham Bank for their long-time Swellesley Report, and their sponsorship of our Wellesley Banks page. Needham Bank is everywhere including Wellesley.
342 Washington St.
185 Linden St.
336 Washington St.
5 Washington St.
448 Washington St.
258 Washington St.
294 Washington St.
182 Linden St.
390 Washington St.
284 Washington St.
278 Washington St.
200 Linden St.
330 Washington St.
277 Linden St.
65 Central St.
380 Washington St.
84 Central St.
40 Central St.
197 Linden St.
29 Washington St.
Our round-up of the latest Wellesley, Mass., business news:
Mark’s Pizza & Subs, greatly missed since summer 2018 when the popular eatery’s building was torn down to make way for the expansion of another business, is back in action at 10B Washington Street in Wellesley Hills at a former salon space. All the old favorites are still on the menu — their famous broasted chicken dinners, chicken broccoli alfredo, subs, wraps, and of course, pizza. The menu has expanded to the point where if they’re not serving it at Mark’s, you probably don’t need it.
Mark’s Pizza & Subs has been operating in Wellesley since the 1970s, as one look at the former interior could have told you. The new decor is fresh and updated, with a modern vibe, seating for about 25 at ten tables and a high-top area, and a big ol’ flatscreen on the wall. The sense of relief that an old favorite is back in town was palpable from the steady stream of customers there for a good lunch.
Welcome back, Mark’s.
Cheesy Street Grill, which will have a captive audience at the new Boston Sports Institute (Rte. 9 skating and swimming complex), has opened.
The grill, which has two locations at Mass Pike service plazas, will serve up gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches and other comfort foods, including tater tots and mac & cheese. Salads, soups and more are also on the menu.
Cheesy Street Grill had its humble beginnings as a food truck in Connecticut.
With Prospero’s Shoe Repair closing down its 294 Washington St., location at the end of August, the speculation began over what might replace it.
A bank? Or a bank? Or maybe a bank?
Well, close. More likely the dental office next door would expand into that space, but just down the block a ways, next to Maugus, is newcomer Chase Bank. One of the world’s few banks without a Wellesley location yet, Chase is slated to slide into 294 Washington St., which used to house a Santandar ATM. Conveniently located within a quarter of a mile of Century Bank, Middlesex Savings Bank and First Republic Bank.
Wayland resident Joan Cohen will be a Wellesley Books on Saturday, September 21, 4pm – 6pm to read from her new book, Land of Last Chances. It tells the story of a successful woman who has always been focused on her career, meticulously preparing for every challenge in her life. When she’s faced with an unplanned pregnancy in her late 40s (the father is one of two men in her life) she learns she must face the possibility of carrying a rare gene for early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Joan’s writing style is dramatic, engaging and, at times, heartbreaking.
Marillac Residence, the non-profit Wellesley Hills facility that originally served retired Sisters of Charity, is now opening its doors to all seniors looking for a residential care home.
Marillac will host an open house on Sunday, Oct. 20 from 2-4pm. For more information, please visit us at: www.marillacresidence.org, or call 781-237-2161.
You can also email us if you’re interested in sponsoring our weekly Wellesley Business Buzz roundup.
