The Swellesley Report

More than you really want to know about Wellesley, Mass.

Beyond Wellesley: Wegmans to close its Natick Mall store later this summer

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It’s been a fun five years, but Wegmans announced on Thur., June 1, that it will close its Natick Mall location later this summer, with an exact date TBD. The 146,500 sq. ft. multi-level food market opened with great fanfare in 2018, only to find that, according to Brien MacKendrick, human resources director, Wegmans New England division, “Unfortunately, with this non-traditional location we are unable to attract enough customers for our business model to work.”

A memo on the Wegmans corporate website said that the store’s 365 employees (142 full-time and 223 part-time) were notified of the decision throughout the day and were assured that their positions with the company are secure, albeit at other area Wegmans’ locations.

Wegmans has five additional stores in the Greater-Boston area, and approximately 2,700 employees. Corporate says Wegmans does not have plans to close any other stores.

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Linden Square, Wellesley
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Write Ahead, Wellesley

Wellesley Business Buzz: The Bar Method hosting June 3 open house; Hospital raises $1M for good cause; Goodbye Park 9, hello Wellesley Gateway South

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The latest Wellesley, Mass., business news:

The Bar Method Wellesley hosting open house on June 3

The Bar Method Wellesley is turning 9, and will celebrate on Saturday, June 3 with a day of free classes, snack, drinks and giveaways. Those of all fitness levels are welcome to come and work out.

Location: 66 Central St., Suite 16 (2nd floor)

Class times: 8:20am, 9:30am & 10:45am

What to wear: tank top, leggings + socks

What to bring: water, socks + a large towel

Email: wellesley@barmethod.com

Bar Method Wellesley Interior

Hospital raises $1M for good cause

Newton-Wellesley Hospital raised over $1 million at its 23rd annual gala held in Boston earlier this month. The money raised will support the hospital and the Community Collaborative, an initiative that expands the hospital’s services in ways that directly impact and support the local community.

The collaborative serves the residents of Natick, Needham, Newton, Waltham, Wellesley, and Weston.  Current areas of focus include cardiovascular health, domestic and sexual abuse, elder care, maternity services, youth mental health, substance use, workforce development, and palliative care.

The Gala host committee was spearheaded by Co-Chairs Julie Marriott of Wellesley and Carol McMullen of Weston.

Gala Co-Chairs Carol McMullen of Weston and Julie Marriott of Wellesley
Gala Co-Chairs Carol McMullen of Weston and Julie Marriott of Wellesley (Photo credit: Kristie Dean)

 

Steve Sullivan, Trustee Emeritus, of Wellesley and Ben Gomez, Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees, of Wellesley
Steve Sullivan, Trustee Emeritus, of Wellesley and Ben Gomez, Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees, of Wellesley (Photo credit: Kristie Dean)

 

Alicia Abad of Wellesley, Lauren Lele of Sudbury and Michael Jellinek, MD of Newton
Alicia Abad of Wellesley, Lauren Lele of Sudbury and Michael Jellinek, MD of Newton (Photo credit: Kristie Dean)

Speaking of fundraisers…. Please help fund our Swellesley Report summer internship

Goodbye Park 9, hello Wellesley Gateway South

Beacon Capital Partners has gobbled up gobs of office space on either side of Rte. 9 at Rte. 95 in Wellesley in hopes that the bio lab boom won’t bust before it can get tenants into retrofitted lab space in sections of those properties. The company’s design reps recently presented their pitch to the Wellesley Design Review Board to rebrand the properties as Wellesley Gateway North and Wellesley Gateway South, the latter of which will replace the Park 9 branding and refresh its Sun Life signage.

park 9 wellesley
This signage is getting a refresh

Please send tips, photos, ideas to theswellesleyreport@gmail.com

Page Waterman, Wellesley
London Harness, Wellesley

Wellesley business buzz: Town well represented on new Leaders of Color lists; Church Square turns 100

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The latest Wellesley, Mass., business news:

Town well represented on new Leaders of Color lists

Those who live or work in Wellesley are well represented on the new 50 Most Influential Business Leaders of Color and 20 Emerging Leaders of Color lists for the Charles River Metrowest region. The lists were compiled via public nominations and through a partnership between the Charles River Regional Chamber and Colette Phillips and Get Konnected!

The lists are designed to “shine a light on the leaders and future leaders of color who are making a positive contribution to the economic and social fabric of our west suburban businesses and nonprofits.” The Chamber also says the lists can spark deeper conversations about work left to be done in supporting diversity.

The lists includes these Wellesley residents and/or employees:

Most Influential

  • Alexis Avila (Founder/CEO, Prepped & Polished Tutoring & Test Preparation)
  • DaQuall Graham (Chief People Officer, Insource Services)
  • Paula A. Johnson (President, Wellesley College)
  • Sheilah Shaw Horton, Ph.D. (Vice President and Dean of Students, Wellesley College)
  • Lawrence P. Ward, Ed. D. (Vice President and Dean of Campus Life, Babson College)
  • Gardy Desrouleaux (Founder/Owner, Craft Food Halls)

Emerging

  • Lucas Machado (Owner and CEO, Curbs Studio)

Congrats to all of those named to these lists.

influential list

Church Square turns 100

Members of the family that started Church Square 100 years ago and still operate it today turned out to celebrate the shopping center adjacent to Wellesley Square. A ribbon cutting took place outside E.A. Davis, the first occupant of the square. Pauline Elms, granddaughter of  Church Square founder Charles E. Holman, did the honors of cutting a bright red ribbon to mark the occasion.

Pauline Elms readies to cut the ribbon for Church Square's 100th anniversary
Pauline Elms readies to cut the ribbon for Church Square’s 100th anniversary

 

Select Board Chair Lise Olney presents citation to the Church Square family
Select Board Chair Lise Olney (black top) presents citation to the Church Square family

 

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Refined Renovations, Wellesley

Wellesley Business Buzz: Karma likely coming in ’24; Restaurants doing Bakes for Breast Cancer; Patty Chen honored at NYSE; Dog food firm shows compassion; Babson partners on mental health

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The latest Wellesley, Mass., business news:

Karma restaurant thinking ’24

The Wellesley Select Board on Monday held a public hearing for common victualler, all-alcohol, and entertainment licenses for Karma, an Asian fusion restaurant that initially looked to open in Linden Square last year (all licenses were approved). The Karma team is now is aiming for pre-Christmas at best, though more likely early 2024 (we visited the Burlington Karma late last year as a sneak peek). “We’re working hard, because you can’t make money if you’re not open,” an attorney for Karma said.

Karma, Wellesley
Karma, progress as of January 2023

Restaurants doing Bakes for Breast Cancer

Fiorella’s Express, Papa Razzi, Roche Brothers, and Tatte in Wellesley are participating in Bakes for Breast Cancer Massachusetts through Thursday, May 18, to help raise funds and awareness for breast cancer research. Papa Razzi will dedicate 50% of the sales from its entire dessert roster back to the cause. Fiorella’s, Roche Brothers, and Tatte will give back 100% of sales from one of their featured desserts.

Proceeds raised will support the research of Dr. Rachel Freedman, whose clinical trials will focus on treatment for older breast cancer patients, an area of research that has been under-subsidized.

Since its inception in 1999, Bakes for Breast Cancer has raised over $2 million.

Patty Chen honored at NYSE

Patty Chen, a Wellesley resident who runs PattyC Property Group, was recently invited to celebrate Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month at the New York Stock Exchange.

Chen had the opportunity to meet notable AAPI figures, including Bonnie Hyun, who was most recently the head of enterprise tech capital markets at the Exchange, and R’Bonney Gabriel, a fashion designer who was crowned Miss Universe 2022 and Miss USA 2022.

Patty Chen with Bonnie Hyun
Patty Chen with Bonnie Hyun

Top Shelf Dog partners with Compassion Animal Project

Wellesley’s Top Shelf Dog, which sells all-natural dog food, has announced it is donating 10% of sales through July to Compassion Animal Project, which provides financial relief to families unable to afford lifesaving emergency or specialized care for their pets. Compassion Animal Project also brings pop-up pet food pantries to communities (Top Shelf is looking into getting one in the Boston area).

Use code COMPASSION at checkout on Top Shelf Dog’s website to support the project’s mission—and receive 30% off the base price.

Babson College partners with Uwill on student mental health

Babson College has partnered with Uwill, which will complement the school’s counseling capabilities with a service that matches students experiencing trauma with therapists online based on their immediate needs.

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Call and Haul, Wellesley

Church Square to celebrate 100 years in Wellesley

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Church Square, the shopping center adjacent to Wellesley Square that has been home to dozens of classic businesses from the Blue Ginger restaurant to E.A. Davis and from Dover Saddlery to the Wellesley Market grocery store, will celebrate its 100th anniversary on Friday, May 19 at 3:30pm with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

The public event, being held in conjunction with the Charles River Regional Chamber of Commerce, will take place in front of 579 Washington St.

The square got its start in the 1920s when Charles E. Holman, who had a dry goods store in the Allston/Brighton area, bought the Wellesley property on Washington Street at the urging of his son, who saw opportunity in the ‘burbs. Holman’s sister-in-law Emma A. Davis founded the E.A. Davis department store in the eastern end of Wellesley and it was moved to what would become Church Square by her nephew Clarence, according to a Church Square history page. The family bought property on Church Street that created the Holman Block and provided for parking that remains an attractive amenity for shoppers.

Corner-of-Washington-St-and-Church-St_Undated-post-1907_Wellesley-Historical-Society-Postcard-Collection
This undated postcard is likely from around the time that the block was constructed in 1922 (Photo courtesy of Wellesley Historical Society)

 

Other retailers along the way have included Corkum’s hardware store, the Wool Shop for knitters, the Camera Shop, and the Oriole Restaurant. Dover Saddlery has been a huge success story, growing from a single shop in Church Square in the 1970s into what it now refers to itself as “the leading omni-channel retailer of equestrian products.”

Corner-of-Washington-St-and-Church-St_12-12-1973_B-Bucknam_Wellesley-Historical-Society-Photograph-Collection
Photo of Church Square from 1973 (Photo courtesy of Wellesley Historical Society)

 

Linda Kimbrell, great granddaughter of Charles E. Holman, fondly recalls playing in the toy section of E.A. Davis, and says that Church Square has remained in the family throughout its existence. It is overseen by a board of family members, and some family members still live locally, including a great, great granddaughter who handles some video promotion work for the square.

While there are no big plans for property updates, Church Square has been investing in landscaping to keep the property inviting (it doesn’t hurt having NatureWorks as a tenant). “Our goal is to have an interesting mix of retailers and service providers for the community, what Wellesley wants and needs,” Kimbrell says.

Dennis Di Schino has been involved with Church Square since the early 1990’s, doing the leasing and the property management. “I have seen a trend away from apparel to more service-orientated tenants. Church Square is one of the last few retail blocks in Wellesley that is still family owned. They are onto their 4th generation of ownership, which is remarkable in these times of large corporations and Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT’s),” he writes.

Di Schino credits the owners for investing a lot of money in maintaining and improving the property over the years. “All of the stone façade above the Washington Street building had to be replaced. It looks like real granite, but you will also find that material on a Hollywood back lot! Over the years some of the stores have been used as scenes in several movies.” “Daddy’s Home 2” was filmed in part at E.A. Davis in 2017.

Another bit of history from Di Schino: “The original E A Davis sign that hung for decades perpendicular to the sidewalk actually crashed to the ground in the middle of the night luckily!”

Church Square has plans to partner with local charities and organizations this year as part of its anniversary celebration.

Photo of Church Square
Photo courtesy of Church Square

 

church square
Photo courtesy of Church Square
Rumble Boxing, Natick Mall

Asaro Bakery & Cafe ‘Coming soon’ signs are gone

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Perhaps the most asked question we’ve received over the past year, since Asaro Bakery & Cafe’s “Coming Soon” signs appeared at 32 Church St., was “How soon is soon?” After a reader gave us a heads up that the signs are now down, we swung by to take photos, revealing a whole lot of nothing behind the windows.

32 church 32 church

We first reported on Asaro in February of 2022, and temporary signage was installed not longer after in space occupied by Lyn Evans before it moved to 87 Central St. Asaro would have been a welcome addition to Church Square, home to a slate of retailers selling clothes, bikes, and more.

But converting the retail space into a restaurant would prove to be a challenge, with word that getting a grease trap installed was a big obstacle in meeting the town’s food codes and bylaws.

There were signs of hope as recently as December, when we checked out the plans submitted to the Health Department and heard Asaro’s lawyer had been in contact with the department. What’s more, a firm called Matz Collaborative Architects touted its vision for what Asaro might look like. This included outdoor seating along the side and rear of the building, and Matz dared to hashtag it #comingsoon in its Instagram post.

While we were not able to reach the team behind the planned bakery and cafe, we checked in regularly with the town about the plans. When we last inquired a month ago, we were told “Crickets from Asaro, again.” We hoped the insects wouldn’t be on the menu, though understand they are highly nutritious.

People looked forward to a new bakery option, though fortunately Wellesley’s not starving for treats. We’ve still got offerings from Tatte, Quebrada, Wellesley Bakery, Truly’s, Starbucks, the supermarkets, Jejes, and more.

asaro

Wellesley business buzz: Prepped and Polished expands; Refined Renovations opens studio; Jesamondo extends welcome to new stylist

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The latest Wellesley, Mass., business news:

Prepped and Polished has moved within Wellesley

Prepped and Polished has moved to a larger Wellesley location at 462 Washington Street (near Mathnasium and the Barber Chair). With six private classrooms, the new space is about four times larger that that at its former 18 Grove St. location, allowing the tutoring and test prep business to meet students in a more comfortable environment. Prepped and Polished has been delivering educational services for almost 25 years and has three locations (Wellesley, Sudbury, and Newton Centre).

Award-winning design-build firm opens Wellesley studio

Refined Renovations has been refining homes in Boston’s north shore for the past 20 years. Now the company has a new Wellesley design studio at 184 Worcester St., Wellesley (near Great Wok), to better serve clients in the Metrowest area and downtown Boston.

The full-service design-build firm handles everything and is ready to take your project from inspiration to completion. The team of designers works with the in-house build team to ensure your project comes out beautifully. Refined Renovations specializes in kitchen remodels, complete home renovations, custom homes and furnishings and interiors. The company also provides a full suite of interior design services.

Refined Renovations, Wellesley
Beautiful and elegant kitchen.

Refined Renovations has been featured in the Boston Globe, regional magazines, and has earned eleven Best of Houzz awards over the past eight years, with over fifty 5-star reviews.

Refined Renovations has distinguished itself as a premier full-service design-build company in the Boston area, building dream homes and transforming dozens of kitchens to fit the personality and unique style of each client. The company’s growth is the result of repeatedly delivering on its promises. The focus is always on customer satisfaction and beautiful style. Whether you are renovating your existing home, or building your dream home, Refined Renovations would love to partner with you!

Currently booking design projects for fall and winter renovations. Limited openings exist for 2023.

Jesamondo weaves new stylist into its team

Jesamondo Salon & Spa has added Whitney Taylor, stylist and hair extension expert, to its team of salon professionals. Whitney specializes in extensions by Bellami, Harper Ellis, and Bombshell—let her weave something extraordinary with hair extensions that’ll leave you looking and feeling more youthful and vibrant with voluminous locks. Book an appointment.

Jesamondo, Natick

 

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Shop Roche Bros. on Monday, April 24 to benefit Wellesley High Class of 2023 All Night Party

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all nigh party logoThe All Night Party for the Senior class is a time that the whole class can get together and connect one last time and keep them safe the night of graduation. The annual Roche Bros. shopping day to benefit the WHS Class of 2023 All Night Party will be on Monday, April 24, from 10am to 2pm. Roche Bros. in Linden Square will donate 5% of the value of the collected register receipts (including Roche Bros. gift cards purchased) during the WHS Shopping hours. Look for the All Night Party volunteers in their red caps and gowns at the end of the registers collecting receipts at the front of the store. Please mark your calendars and remember to do your big shop that day!

European Manor in Wellesley Square to close this summer

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European Manor, a popular shopping destination for over 35 years in Wellesley Square, will close its doors this summer, according to an email sent to loyal customers. Laurie Mettler, who has owned the home furnishings and gifts boutique for the past 11 years, said in the missive that “the decision to close the store was not made lightly, and the thought of disappointing all of you weighed heavily in that decision. In the end I’ve come to know in my heart that this is what is best for me at this juncture in my life.”

European Manor storefront

Naturally, Mettler is going out with a bang so if you have room in your beautiful Wellesley home for high-quality decorative accessories, tabletop items, furniture, lighting, jewelry, wall decor, and baby items, visit the 556 Washington Street store soon for the best selection. Signs in the window note that a storewide sale is going on, and a sandwich board outside the front door boasts savings of 25% off on all full-priced items. All sales are final.

Deland, Gibson, Wellesley
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