Wonder, the virtual food hall that serves up dishes from multiple restaurants, has filed an application to open a location in Wellesley Square. However, one source familiar with the situation said the plans are not a done deal, and that it’s possible Wonder may be looking at different locations.

A Wonder spokesperson says the company is aiming to open in Wellesley next year.

It sometimes takes people a few explanations to get their heads around what Wonder actually does. The business has agreements with a bunch of restaurants to prep their recipes and serve their dishes from Wonder locations for delivery, take-out, or dining in.

Wonder boasts of its use of robotics technology to transform food preparation, and even has a fully automated bowl-making system in its kitchens. It touts its ability to make “chef-inspired meals” more accessible. Partners include Streetbird (fried chicken), Yasas (Mediterranean), Bobby Flay Steak, and many more, including Wellesley restaurants such as Jin’s, Singh’s, and CK Shanghai.

Wonder has dozens of locations up and down the east coast, and broke into the Massachusetts market earlier this year, including in Natick just over the Wellesley line (at the Stop & Shop plaza). New locations are slated to open in Brookline, Millbury, and Tyngsborough, Mass., in the months ahead.

We’ve been to the one in Natick, and the beauty of Wonder is that you can get completely different types of food in one fell swoop for different members of your party. If someone in your party wants Indian food and someone else wants Thai or Mexican, you can go grab it all in one order.

Some in town may complain about yet another chain coming to Wellesley, but Wonder is something of a hybrid.

Wonder in its application is eyeing a restaurant with 18 seats for dining in, though Wonder is bigger on take-out and delivery. Long- and short-term parking is always a consideration for Wonder.

Wonder, which describes itself as a food technology platform, shows no sign of slowing down. Earlier this month it announced a fresh $650 million in venture funding at a pre-money valuation of $9 billion.

Note: We originally included an address in this story but have removed that because it’s unclear whether Wonder’s permits will go through for that address.

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The latest Wellesley, Mass., business news:

Lockheart to open restaurant at Newton Centre train station

Lockheart, the tacos-plus restaurant that opened in Wellesley Square four years ago, is readying a new location at the former train depot building at the green line’s Newton Centre stop.

The 1800s building has housed numerous restaurants in the past, including the Deluxe Station Diner.

To be clear, the Newton Centre location will be in addition to the Wellesley restaurant.

Lockheart has an online hearing with the City of Newton Board of License Commissioners on June 16, when it will seek all-alcohol, common victualler, and entertainment licenses. The location can accommodate 86 seats inside and 9 outdoors. Hours of operation sought are Monday-Saturday 11am-1am, and Sunday 10am-1am.

(Hat tip to the Newton Real Estate Forum and Boston Restaurant Talk, where we first saw mention of this.)

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The Painting Place readies for Father’s Day.

WBZ-TV paid a visit to The Painting Place in Wellesley (380 Washington St.) to explore Father’s Day gift ideas.

Update: Blank Street is open and lots of people have been lining up, and walking around the Square with green drinks in hand…

The much anticipated opening of Blank Street Coffee at 61A Central St., in Wellesley Square has now been confirmed by the company for Thursday, May 7.

We first reported in March of 2025 about the business’s plans to expand into Wellesley. Blank Street has dozens of locations along the east coast of the United States, including nine spots in Boston/Cambridge/Brookline, plus many sites in the U.K.

Anticipation grew late last year as a matcha green window covering appeared at the Wellesley Square space, which sits between Wasik’s Cheese Shop and J.P. Licks. Coffee and tea drinkers were already thirsting for a place to go downtown after Starbucks closed in the fall after 30 years in that space across from where Blank Street is opening.

The Linear Retail tenant wound up buddying up with one of its other neighbors, black & blue Steak and Crab to resolve a grease trap installation challenge, and now is set to go.

Blank Street Marketing Director Dibba Iran-Parasti says: “We chose Wellesley for a reason: its charming retail district and buzzing student community (shoutout to Wellesley College and Babson!) made it a natural fit for us. There’s a real energy here that we wanted to be a part of.”

The space is about 1,000 sq. ft. and boasts seating for 18-20 people.

“We really wanted it to feel like a place where neighbors could slow down and settle in, so you’ll find warm tones throughout and intimate seating areas that make it easy to linger over your latte,” Iran-Parasti says.

Various lattes, from Iced Daydream to Iced Blondie, are among patrons’ favorites. Assorted Matchas, from Iced Strawberry Shortcake to Iced Cherry Freeze, also also popular items (matcha drinks are made with finely ground powde from specially grown green tea leaves). Hot and cold coffee, teas, and more are also on the menu.

Blank Street got its start with a coffee cart in Brooklyn.

Blank Street is hiring in Wellesley.  

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What’s more, she and partners Aum and Auy have taken a deep dive into the Japanese cuisine they will serve at Charm, which begins its reservations-only soft-opening month on April 4 at 555 Washington St., the former longtime location of Lemon Thai. They all headed to California ahead of opening the restaurant to train with an experienced Japanese chef, and he in return paid the restaurant a visit before it opened to ensure the kitchen was set up properly to prepare ramen, gyoza, and other menu selections. The co-owners learned the importance, for example, of how precise measurements really do make a difference in how their food will taste.

Trahan and team found their Wellesley spot at the start of 2025 and have been readying for their opening since. One not-so-secret weapon for Charm is Trahan’s husband, Paul, a custom carpenter by trade who gutted the space and rebuilt the interior with unique, well, charm. Among the immediate eye-catchers at the nearly 50-seat restaurant, as we saw during a sneak peek in March, are display shelves populated with manga comic book figurines. Trahan says she has so many they plan to sell them to customers at some point.

Charm’s fun decor also features a mural that those in the know realize includes cartoon depictions of the owners’ pre-teen daughters. Trahan’s rascally son also makes a cameo in the painting, launching a paper airplane from above in the work done by one of her kids’ teachers.

All of this provides the backdrop for the food, which can be eaten there or taken out. As the name of the restaurant indicates, Charm serves ramen and rice—a plethora of rice bowls are an option for those on gluten-free diets.

Trahan has visited the Wellesley area frequently to see family, and was struck by a lack of ramen options available. That’s in large part what inspired her to focus Charm on the popular Japanese noodle soup dish. “We all love ramen,” she said about herself and her business partners.

My lunch mates gobbled down Tonkotsu Ramen, served in a thick broth with pork chashu, and Veggie Ramen, featuring seasoned tofu. Ramen bowls range in price from about $15-$20.

The ramen bowls were plenty filling, but the Charm team also shared a sampling of more and more appetizers. As something of a gyoza connoisseur, the first thing I did was ask for the pan-fried pork variety, while Iris opted for the veggie/greenish version. I loved the gyoza that Lemon Thai once served, but Charm’s edition was perhaps the best I’ve had, both light and flavorful. Iris loved the veggie option, and was surprised to learn it included cabbage, which they said they’re usually not a fan of.

Trahan made a point that Charm makes its gyoza fresh on site, whereas most such dumplings are bought frozen by restaurants and heated up, leaving them doughy.

For dessert, Charm offers a selection of mochi ice cream, including green tea, black sesame, mango, chocolate, and strawberry. Another fun finisher is taiyaki, a warm and crispy fish-shaped pastry with creamy custard inside, and served alongside ice cream.

Charm is offering a colorful roster of sodas, teas, an alcoholic beverages. A rainbow of Asian snacks are also displayed at the counter.

The restaurant brings something fresh and new to town, and we expect it to be a hit with locals, including college students.

More: Where to eat in Wellesley (sponsored by black & blue Steak and Crab)

The latest Wellesley, Mass., business news:
 

Wellesley restaurants on Spring Seasonings roster

 
The Charles River Regional Chamber’s annual Spring Seasonings: A Taste of our Towns event returns on April 13 at the Newton Marriott (5:30-8pm) and Wellesley restaurants will be well represented.

This year, forty local restaurants will come together to showcase their distinctive and diverse cuisines, and they will be complemented by beverage exhibitors showcasing their offerings.

This year’s Wellesley restaurant participants:

● Alta Strada
● black & blue Steak and Crab
● Captain Marden’s
● Fiorella’s
● Papa Razzi
● Playa Bowls
● Smith & Wollensky
● Truly’s

Tickets: $75 for chamber members / $100 for non-members. Prices increase on April 1. Tickets are available at www.charlesriverchamber.com/spring-seasonings. No tickets will be sold at the door.
 

Know of Wellesley businesses opening or closing? Fill us in: theswellesleyreport@gmail.com

Code Ninjas now in Wellesley Hills

 
Code Ninjas, a place for kids to learn coding, robotics and more in a fun environment, this week held a ribbon cutting for its new location at 386 Washington St.

There had previously been a Code Ninjas location in Linden Square that opened in 2019.

The new Wellesley Hills Code Ninja will celebrate with a grand opening on March 28 from 10am-2pm.
 

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