Wellesley Business Buzz: StretchLab spreads its wings in Linden Square; The Shulkin Wilk Group launches

December 18, 2019 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Our weekly round-up of Wellesley, Mass., business news:

StretchLab, Wellesley StretchLab had its grand opening early December in Linden Square. The national franchise is on a mission to provide one-on-one assisted stretching to help clients increase their range of motion and flexibility and decrease pain and muscle tension. Additional benefits of regular, targeted stretching include improved sports performance, reduction of stress, muscle, and joint pain, and improved posture and relaxation. Their appointment times are flexible.

Real estate brokers, Traci Shulkin and Jared Wilk have announced the launch of The Shulkin Wilk Group, a full-service realty team opening its doors at Compass. With over $520 million combined career sales in MetroWest, Shulkin and Wilk are proud to bring their realty expertise and team of nine to the Compass office in Wellesley, Massachusetts. The group’s focus is on middle-to-luxury market residential buyers and sellers in Weston, Wellesley, Wayland, Needham, Newton, Natick and beyond.

Got tips on business openings, closings or whatever, feel free to email us here: [email protected]

Also email us if you’re interested in sponsoring our weekly Wellesley Business Buzz roundup.

Thanks to Wellesley Merchants for their long-time support. Check out our swell Wellesley Merchants directory that lists all member restaurants, shops, and services such as B.Good, Cocobeet, and JP Licks.

Wellesley waffle truck gets go-ahead from Board of Selectmen

December 17, 2019 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

The Wellesley Board of Selectmen on Monday gave their blessing to a food truck that plans to sell waffles (“Let’s hope Wellesley doesn’t waffle too much about giving okay to this food truck”). Board of Health approval awaits.

Josh Fink’s Liege Belgian Waffle Factory lists Wellesley Hills as its home and says on its website that it’s available for private parties and events. The Belgian waffle truck will be one of the few food trucks allowed to hunker down in Wellesley.

The Waffle Factory’s menu includes an Original Liege Belgian Waffle dusted with powdered sugar, a Lief Waffle with melted Nutella, and an Amai Waffle with molten dark Belgian chocolate and strawberries, among other treats.

Wellesley raffle winners to have Happy Holidays, indeed

December 16, 2019 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Wellesley Gardeners’ Guild has announced the winners for its annual “Deck the Halls” raffle. A maximum of 300 raffle tickets at $20 apiece were available for the fundraiser, and three winners were randomly drawn on November 13th. Drum roll please:

The grand prize winner was Collette AuFranc of Wellesley. Colette had the exterior of her home decorated for the holidays by Nature Works Landscaping.

Wellesley Gardeners' Guild, raffle — As Wellesley Gardeners’ Guild’s first-prize raffle winner, Wellesley resident Collette AuFranc didn’t have to lift a finger this year to make her home Christmas festive. Photo credit: Beth Shedd photography

The second-prize winner was Chrisine Ward of Newton. Christine won two exterior holiday planters by A Blade of Grass.

The third-prize winner was Sandy Slodden of Wellesley. Sandy won a holiday table centerpiece by Posies of Wellesley.

All raffle proceeds support WGG’s civic projects in town. WGG was established in 1968 and is a non-profit organization that contributes to the beautification of Wellesley. The club funds, plants, and maintains the window boxes and containers at the Post Offices and Main Library; funds seasonal plantings for both the Town Square Clock Garden and the Fells Market sitting area; and participates in the Museum of Fine Arts “Art in Bloom” event.

Wellesley Square Holiday Stroll Scavenger Hunt winners

Congratulations to the lucky winners of this year’s Wellesley Merchants’ Association Holiday Stroll Scavenger Hunt. Four winning families came away with $1,000.00 worth of gift cards good at over 40 Wellesley Square stores. No wonder they’re all smiles.

Wellesley Merchants, raffle winners — The Ford Family from Wellesley: Tom (Dad), Pippa (Mom), with Burt, Quinn and Seth

Let’s hope Wellesley doesn’t waffle too much about okaying this food truck

December 13, 2019 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

A business looking to bring a Belgian waffle food truck to Wellesley is slated to seek the Board of Selectmen’s blessing next week.

The arrival of the Liege Belgian Waffle Factory, which lists Wellesley Hills as its home, would be something of a breakthrough in Wellesley, which has permitted few food trucks to roam its busy streets (Wellesley’s rules). Exceptions include the occasional ice cream truck, Captain Marden’s truck back in the day and Sam’s Hot Dog Cart.

Rice Burg, which got its start in the food truck business and continues to operate on the streets, pulled a reverse and opened its first brick-and-mortar store in town.

The Waffle Factory’s menu includes an Original Liege Belgian Waffle dusted with powdered sugar, a Lief Waffle with melted Nutella, and an Amai Waffle with molten dark Belgium chocolate and strawberries, among other treats. This should provide a nice alternative to Wellesley’s newer eateries, which tend toward greener stuff or dainty servings.

Wellesley has not been waffle-free until now, though you’ve had to sit down in a restaurant to get hot ones. The Local has an $8 Belgian waffle on its juniors menu, Maugus has waffles running from $7-$10, and Captain Marden’s has waffles going for between $5.50 and $10.

Business spotlight: Wears Woody has popped up in Wellesley Square, that’s where

December 11, 2019 by admin Leave a Comment

SPONSORED POST: Wears Woody, drivers of a funky Grand Wagoneer and makers of bold coastal style, returns to Wellesley Square at 35 Central St. in the former NRO space.

The upscale yet casual retailer has grown quite impressively over its seven-year journey, now proudly manufacturing most of its expanding collection just north of Boston in Everett. It also donates 10% of its net profits to help find a cure for diabetes since the company’s founder has lived with Type 1 since childhood.

The Wears Woody crew crafted a poem that perfectly describes the vibe and purpose the brand conveys to its fans and clientele across the country, especially here in Wellesley where so many support their effort:

Wears Woody

Be sure to stop in! Great product and an even better cause. Open daily at 35 Central St. in Wellesley Square, 10am – 6pm until Christmas Eve.

Wellesley Police log: Power air fryer is hot; house cleaner, trash collectors under suspicion; DUI alleged on Upwey

December 10, 2019 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Wellesley Police log for the week of Dec. 2-7:

Arrests

On December 4, 2019 at 2:27 p.m. Officer Mankavech was conducting traffic enforcement on Worcester Street when he noticed a Honda sedan with a rejection sticker. He stopped the vehicle and spoke with the operator. He asked the driver for his license and registration. He stated his license was suspended. A query of his information confirmed that his license was suspended. He was taken into custody, transported to the station, booked in the usual manner, afforded all rights and later released on personal recognizance.

On December 4, 2019 at 5:55 p.m. Officer Griffin was on patrol on Worcester Street when he observed a Ford pickup and conducted a random query of the vehicle’s registration. The query showed that registered owner had active warrants. Officer Griffin stopped the vehicle and spoke with the operator and owner. Officer Griffin confirmed that there were three warrants for the operator’s arrest. The warrants were issued by the Woburn District Court for Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon, Motor Vehicle Offenses and Malden District Court for Motor Vehicle Offenses. He was taken into custody, transported to the station, booked in the usual manner, afforded all rights and later released on bail.

On December 5, 2019 at 11:49 a.m. Officer Cunningham was working with the warrant apprehension unit and responded to Westville Terrace in Boston to serve an arrest warrant. The suspect was taken into custody and transported directly to Dedham District Court. The warrants were issued by the Dedham District Court and Framingham District Court for Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol and other motor vehicle related offenses.

On December 6, 2019 at 4:19 p.m. Officer DiCenso was dispatched to the area of Worcester Street near Upwey Road for a vehicle into an embankment. Upon arrival she observed a Subaru station wagon in a snow bank on the sidewalk and a light pole that had been struck and was in the roadway. She spoke with the operator and noticed that his eyes were bloodshot and glassy and there was an odor of alcohol emanating from his person. When asked the driver stated he had

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Wellesley Business and Non-Profit Buzz: Salon news; Tollhouse Shop holiday hours; Volvo moves

December 9, 2019 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Our round-up of the latest Wellesley business news:

Sleek Salon coming; Nails Studio has new owner

A new business called Sleek Salon is heading to 245 Washington St. in the building where Yama serves up sushi and more upstairs. More details to come closer the salon’s opening, but the business takes over the spot formerly occupied by Id Salon.

sleek yama wellesley

Not far from there, at 451 Worcester St., Nails Studio has a new owner in Rachel Lee. It’s her first business. “I used to work in Newton Highlands then I heard about this business selling, that’s why I bought it,” Lee says. She understands that there are many salons in town, and pledges to provide good customer service. “At Nails Studio, we don’t do acrylics or anything that harms peoples’ nails. We do manicure and pedicure, and dip-powder, which is very healthy and organic,” she says. You can book reservations at the Nails Studio website.

Got tips on business openings, closings or whatever, feel free to email us here: [email protected]

Also email us if you’re interested in sponsoring our weekly Wellesley Business Buzz roundup.

Wellesley Historical Society Tollhouse Shop, holiday hours

Worried about finding that unique gift for your loved one or friend? Stop by the Wellesley Historical Society’s Tollhouse shop, Wellesley’s best-kept secret. The Shop offers an array of ever-changing treasures, and all proceeds from sales go to support the non-profit organization.

Wellesley Tollhouse Shop

Regular shop hours:
Wednesdays, 10am – 2pm (closed on Christmas Day)
Saturdays, 10am – noon

Special holiday hours for those last-minute gifts:
Monday, December 23, 10am – noon

Note: All donations are to be made during Tollhouse hours.

Volvo of Wellesley moves down Rte. 9

Volvo of Wellesley has moved west on Rte. 9 to Bernardi Volvo Cars in Natick. The new location at 910 Worcester St. is just a few minutes’ drive from the old site.

Skin center also moves along Rte. 9

Forever Young Laser and Skin Center has announced it is moving its main office in Wellesley to a larger facility. As of Jan. 1, it will be seeing clients at 170 Worcester St. (Rte. 9), just 3 doors down from the current facility. In addition to its main office, the business will continue to see clients at its satellite facility at Precision Pilates in Danvers.

Wellesley Bank to become Cambridge Trust following $122M deal

December 5, 2019 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Wellesley Bancorp, the parent of Wellesley Bank, has agreed to an acquisition by Cambridge Bancorp in a deal valued at $122M.

Once the all-stock purchase goes through, Wellesley Bank (started in 1911) would become Cambridge Trust (started in 1890). The Wellesley Bank branch in Wellesley Square just underwent a facelift over the summer, and it looks like it will be getting some more work down the road.

A press release announcing the transaction refers to it as a “strategically compelling merger” of private banking and wealth management firms. An accompanying presentation states that uniting the banks will “provide additional scale in the dynamic and affluent greater Boston market.”

Wellesley Bank has a little under $1 billion in assets, and the combined entity will be closer to $4 billion.

wellesley bank

All of which has me wondering whether The Swellesley Report should be reaching out to our counterparts at local news site Cambridge Day about joining forces.

After all, Wellesley and Cambridge have a long history of syncing up. Wellesley’s great benefactor H.H. Hunnewell was a Harvard man. Wellesley College and MIT have long bonded through their Toons a cappella group, and connected via a shuttle bus.

Wellesley Bank has expanded beyond its roots in recent years, both by opening a branch in Boston and by going public.

More: Wellesley Business Buzz

Happy holidays spotlight: London Harness and TUMI in Wellesley Square

December 5, 2019 by admin 1 Comment

SPONSORED POST: This holiday season shop at London Harness and TUMI, two independent and community-minded stores that help make Wellesley Square unique. London Harness has a rich history in Wellesley of offering fine luggage, briefcases, backpacks, wallets, travel accessories, corporate gifts, frames, photo albums, pens, jewelry boxes, calendars, and more. Their most popular services are monogramming and engraving — especially during the holiday season — and gift wrapping is always complimentary.

London Harness, Wellesley — Demian Wendrow, Amy Lynch, and their daughter Addison.

When Demian Wendrow and Amy Lynch first met in 2001 at London Harness, they had no idea how much they would discover they had in common. As they worked side-by-side, the two discovered a shared passion for serving customers in a retail business that has been in the Square since 1951. Now married and the proud parents of daughter Addison, they credit London Harness and TUMI as not just businesses that brought them together, but places that are an extension of who they are.

The TUMI Store happens to be the first family/independently woman-owned TUMI store in the United States, something that matters deeply to the couple. “Every time Wellesley residents shop this and other local stores, they’re strengthening this community,” says Amy.

London Harness, Wellesley

Demian and Amy are active partners with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). Demian is an adult survivor of leukemia he faced in his youth, and he and Amy donate a portion of the stores’ holiday proceeds to support the local LLS chapter. “As a survivor, l’m dedicated to supporting the mission of LLS, and we invite our customers to join us in doing the same,” says Demian, who serves as volunteer President of the Wellesley Square Merchants’ Association, which produces events such as The Holiday Stroll.

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