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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The latest Wellesley, Mass., business news:
 

Popovers to appear on Phantom Gourmet TV show this weekend

The Phantom Gourmet TV show is visited Popovers at Church Square in Wellesley in early November, and this weekend plans to air its segment on the restaurant.

Natick couple Parisien and Morgan Schaffrath opened the restaurant, specializing in popovers of all varieties, in the summer of 2024.

The segment on Popovers is slated to run on Saturday, Feb. 14, at 11am on WSBK myTV38 and then again at 11:35pm on WBZ CBS Boston. Itwill also run on March 29 on ABC 6 at 10am in Providence.
 

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Rebound Physical Therapy comes to Longfellow Wellesley; Plus, Splash time is near

 
Longfellow Wellesley has welcomed Rebound Physical Therapy to its club. Rebound has long been a partner at Longfellow’s Natick location.

Rebound offers everything from aquatic therapy to wellness screenings to gait analysis.

Also at Longfellow Wellesley, the business is making serious progress on its outdoor aquatics area, dubbed Splash. The business located at 140 Great Plain Ave., next to the Babson Skating Rink, has announced that the town has approved permits for its multiple outdoor pools. Construction has started and the target opening date is June 15.

“Many of you have enjoyed watching the demolition of the former outdoor aquatics center, and we think you’ll have even more fun peeking through the fence as Longfellow Splash starts to take shape!” according to the business.

Beyond Wellesley: Crowdfunding campaign to help Charlie’s Kitchen recover from water damage

 
When we venture beyond Wellesley into Harvard Square, Charlie’s Kitchen is a regular stop. Unfortunately, the restaurant has been shut down recently due to what they’re calling  “a catastrophic leak and extensive water damage.”

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support the staff, currently without work and income.
 

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

The Maugus Restaurant at 300 Washington St., in Wellesley changed hands late last year after being owned and operated by the Papakonstantinou family for nearly 45 years. The new owners said changes would come to the restaurant gradually, and now they are.

The name of the business is being changed from Maugus Restaurant to Maugus Cafe “to best reflect the concept of our restaurant business model and menu,” per new owner Kostas Saranteas.

Saranteas and his family owned and operated the Atlantic Sea Grill in Acton for the past 11 years, and Saraneas told us in October that the Maugus menu would inherit favorites from the previous restaurant’s menu.

Among newcomers to the menu: Cajun shrimp tacos ($20), Sweet potato bowl ($18), and Chorizo Burrito ($15). Plenty of Greek favorites remain or have been updated or added to.

The owners will seek the Select Board’s blessing on Jan. 20 for the name change, plus expanded hours. Maugus looks to stay open from 7am-5pm seven days a week (it currently closes at 2pm).

In addition to making these changes, the owners are improving front door accessibility, installing a new grease trap, and adding a second unisex restroom.

Future plans may include a full liquor license acquisition with possible further extension of the hours of operation.

Where to eat in Wellesley (visit our Wellesley restaurants page, sponsored by black & blue Steak and Crab)

The latest Wellesley, Mass., business news:
 

Another new bank is coming, but not really

 
Beacon Bank is coming to Wellesley at two locations, but actually, this is just a renaming of Brookline Bank at 35 and 448 Washington St.

Beacon Bank will seek the town’s OK next week to change the signage.

Beacon Financial last September merged with Berkshire Hills Bancorp and Brookline Bancorp, resulting in the planned name change, not to mention a $24b firm.
 

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Jejes expanding to Seaport next year

 
The team at Jejes Coffeehouse & Roastery in Wellesley and Jejes Coffee in Sharon posted on social media last March that they’d be expanding to the Seaport in Boston, complete with a photo that’s also front and center on the business’s website.

For whatever reason, the news has had new legs recently, with headlines about the specialty coffee shop surfacing here and there.

However, according to Jejes, the new shop actually won’t be opening until next year. “There isn’t much to share at this point,” says co-owner Duse Lee.

Jejes expanded from Sharon into Wellesley Hills in early 2023 at 259 Washington St.
 

Independence Nissan making more of a name for itself

 
Independence Nissan of Wellesley, located at 962 Worcester St. in Wellesley (Rte. 9 east), is seeking permission from the Wellesley Design Review Board next week to replace temporary signage with permanent signage.

This had previously been home to Matthews Nissan, as of spring 2024, and before that, Bernardi Nissan.
 

Know of Wellesley businesses coming or going? Please tip us off: theswellesleyreport@gmail.com

Fiorella’s Trattoria in Wellesley is adding 47 seats by expanding into space formerly occupied by the Papa Wheelies bike shop at the corner of Washington and Church Streets. This will bring the Italian restaurant’s interior seating capacity to nearly 90, while it has 20 outdoor seats seasonally.

“The expansion will hopefully allow us to better serve our guests and create a more comfortable space with the flexibility for larger groups,” says Fiorella’s Rémon Karian.

The Select Board on Dec. 16 approved changes at Fiorella’s, which opened in Wellesley in 2019 (see hearing on Wellesley Media recording about 27 minutes in).

Karian says the expansion should be complete early in the new year.

During the hearing, a neighbor spoke out about traffic and stormwater management concerns. At least some traffic and parking issues in and near Wellesley Square could be addressed through a comprehensive streetscape project the town has planned.

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