More than you really want to know about Wellesley, Mass.
We’re not entirely sure what to make of this photo, sent by a Swellesley reader, of a truck parked along a Wellesley street after the recent story. Looks like somebody either didn’t like this vehicle being parked where it was or was playing a prank…
We’re not talking Southie space saving here, but it wouldn’t be the first case of vigilante street patrol in Wellesley.
Our round-up of the latest Wellesley business news:
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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 has received $35K in funding to analyze and prioritize Complete Street improvements, that is, making it easier to get around town regardless of travel mode, age and ability. The state approved Wellesley’s Complete Streets policy in late 2018.
The town is working with a consultant on its prioritization plan, which will pave the way for the town to receive additional funding for construction of projects in the plan. Natick, Newton and other nearby communities have undertaken such projects in recent years.
A big piece of this prioritization plan is getting the public’s input on areas in town they see as barriers to mobility or certain transportation modes. This could address everything from walkability to cycling safety to public transportation.
One example of a pedestrian- and cycling-unfriendly spot is the bumpy dirt and rock shoulder just east of Pond Road on Rte. 16 (Washington Street). Making that easier to navigate could better connect Elm Bank Reservation to Wellesley Square given that Rte. 16 is such a narrow road for cycling.
Wellesley’s Complete Streets website will collect this feedback.
A public meeting will be scheduled early in the new year to discuss identified priorities, plan next steps, air cost estimates and project timelines.
More: What the MBTA’s doing to address Wellesley commuter rail accessibility shortcomings
For Wellesley DPW, “Old Town Road” song is no hit
Every so often I lift my head up while slogging to my spot at the Wellesley Square commuter rail station and actually notice what’s new.
For example, do you know that Crest Road building that provides a grungy broken window and graffiti-covered backdrop for the inbound platform? The one that makes the suits heading from Wellesley into Boston look at least a little bad-ass? Well, the building has been partially cleaned up.
But perhaps more eye-catching are these shiny new green-and-blue trash receptacles with solar panels on top. Turns out these additions, which will feature passenger messaging, are part of a $25M “station brightening” effort on the part of commuter rail operator Keolis and its partner, the MBTA.
“This station brightening and revitalization program goes beyond regular maintenance to deliver improvements to every station in the network depending on need,” according to Keolis. “This work includes power-washing, landscaping, painting, seal-coating, construction and the installation of new LED lights and digital information displays. While we continue to work with the MBTA on further improving service, these in-station benefits will deliver immediate and noticeable benefits to the customer experience.”
More: What’s up with all those new Wellesley postal boxes
The Wellesley Fire Department is having an epic week. Not only has it responded to 2 house fires and a manhole fire, but also a smoking car at the Wellesley Farms commuter rail station on Friday morning. A Swellesley reader shared this video (thank you):
The department might need to rethink letting veteran Peter Wier retire…
This week’s Wellesley Business Buzz is sponsored by Wellesley Transportation. Owned and operated by Thomas Shinnick since 1995, Wellesley Transportation, formerly known as College Taxi, has been proudly serving Wellesley and the surrounding communities for over 100 years. Originally established in 1912, Wellesley Transportation provides on-time airport, local and long-distance transportation in luxury vehicles. For reservations, call or text 781-235-2200.
Here’s our round-up of the latest Wellesley, Mass., business news:
Campbell Supply Co. is one of those relatively rare Wellesley businesses that’s been around for decades but that few people in town probably knew. The business is at 26 Washington St. in lower falls behind Taylor Rental.
Molly Campbell Palmer posted on Instagram about the shutdown of the business, started by her Italian immigrant grandfather and run later by her dad and his brothers. She and her brother worked there, too, at one time. Campbell Supplies might not have been “glamorous,” but it has helped many people keep their private and commercial vehicles running over the years.
Shopping collective Pop91 returns for the next couple of months at 91 Central St., Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 12-5pm. The seasonal collaborative features 5 local- and women-owned businesses, with other rotating in.
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.
This week’s Wellesley Business Buzz is sponsored by Wellesley Transportation. Owned and operated by Thomas Shinnick since 1995, Wellesley Transportation, formerly known as College Taxi, has been proudly serving Wellesley and the surrounding communities for over 100 years. Originally established in 1912, Wellesley Transportation provides on-time airport, local and long-distance transportation in luxury vehicles. For reservations, call or text 781-235-2200.
Alfresco Software, a software company whose offerings are designed to smooth work processes, has announced that its new headquarters will be at 100 Worcester St. in Wellesley starting in November. Alfresco, which has 350 employees globally and 35 of them in Boston, originally had its base in San Mateo, Calif., along with a big UK presence.
Beefing up its Boston-area presence is no shock considering Alfresco got acquired last year by Boston-area private equity firm Thomas H. Lee Partners. Alfresco, like The Swellesley Report, started in 2005.
Alfresco is one of numerous technology companies with a big or growing presence in the Boston area (e.g., Acquia, Red Hat) that supports organizations adopting open source software. The beauty of open source technology is that it’s free and can be modified by anyone. Where companies like Alfresco come in is offering additional products and enhancements, as well as support, to make open source technology more valuable, reliable and secure for businesses and other organizations.
If Alfresco’s new 7,000 sq. ft. location sounds like a sweet commute, you can check out the company’s careers page. I looked myself after seeing Alfresco describe itself as a company that “builds, markets and delivers the most innovative, cloud-native digital business platform that enables its customers to build process and content intensive apps quicker than ever before as well as reduce their operational costs and improve customer and employee satisfaction.” Looks like they could use someone like me to explain to humans what they do.
More: Where to dine al fresco in Wellesley
Got other Wellesley business tips on openings, closings or whatever, feel free to email us here: [email protected]
You can also email us if you’re interested in sponsoring our weekly Wellesley Business Buzz roundup
Massachusetts Horticultural Society, which has its headquarters at the increasingly fenced-in Elm Bank Reservation on the Wellesley/Natick/Dover lines, has appointed James Hearsum as its president and executive director. He’s expected to take on those roles early next year.
Hearsum has been executive director of St. Andrews Botanic Garden in Scotland since May 2014.
According to MassHort, as executive director of St. Andrews Botanic Garden, “Hearsum has been responsible for renewal in all aspects of the organization’s guest experience, outreach, and educational programs, particularly by welcoming previously unreached communities. Notable developments include establishment of a sustainable Urban Farm, Butterfly House and Community Hub, in addition to a core focus on horticultural excellence. Previously, Hearsum was curator at the Royal Botanic Garden of Jordan.
MassHort has had an interim director in place for about the past year.
More: Past editions of Wellesley Business Buzz
Wellesley is on the cusp of losing some of its most bad-ass graffiti, as the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) readies to replace the Bacon Street bridge along Rte. 135 beginning on Monday, Oct. 28. For those who take the commuter rail through Wellesley, it will of course be tough to tell whether it affects the train schedule based on the already erratic track record.
Contractors for the state will be clearing shrubs and trees, taking soil boring samples and prepping the construction site. All work will take place within the railroad right-of-way, according to an announcement shared by the Town of Wellesley.
Residents can expect some noise from the work, which will be limited to daytime hours between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Construction is expected to take several weeks. The schedule is weather dependent, however.
For questions or to report concerns, email the MBTA or call the 24-hour hotline at 617-571-7878.
More: What will it take for Wellesley commuter rail stations to become accessible?
Support Swellesley: Here’s how to Advertise and/or Donate to support our independent journalism venture
Update (10/22/19): According to the Wellesley Police Department, the cyclist was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital for evaluation and came to the police station a few hours later to retrieve his bike. The cyclist was traveling west on Central Street and a Jeep SUV was turning left from Central Street east onto the Weston Road bridge. The cyclist and Jeep collided. The operator of the motor vehicle was issued a citation for failure to yield.
Saturday morning got off to a scary start in Wellesley when a cyclist was hit by a car at the intersection of Weston Road and Central Street. Fire Engine 1 from across the street was the first to respond, according to a Swellesley source who happened to be nearby.
(Mrs. Swellesley and other drivers were detoured by police in the aftermath of the incident, and I happened to be a couple of miles down the road in Wellesley Hills when I saw an ambulance whiz by, presumably wth the cyclist in it.)
We don’t have further details, but will update this post if we learn more.
