Search Results for: susu

Fiorella’s Express opens in Wellesley

March 21, 2019 by Bob Brown 1 Comment

OK, OK, OK Swellesley readers, you can stop e-mailing us to ask about when Fiorella’s Express will open in Wellesley. Yes, we broke the news about the fast casual Italian eatery coming to Wellesley back in July, but let it be known the Fiorella’s has now opened.

In fact, I swung by 575 Washington St. at the corner across from Barber Walter’s, met the general manager and bought a couple of overdue gift cards for my Fiorella’s fanatic neighbors whose babies really aren’t babies anymore.

fiorellas express wellesley

Patrons had already started streaming in when I swung by on Thursday night. A promotional bicycle leaning against the building, formerly occupied by Susu Bakery, and a paper sign on the door, alerted people that Fiorella’s was open for business.

Once the restaurant gets cranking it will be open from 11am-10pm daily, with take-put, catering and delivery as options. The menu includes a wide selection of antipasti, insalata, pizza, calzones, pollo, and sandwiches/wraps. Dessert, too, including tiramisu and creme puffs topped with chocolate mousse. Pizzas start at $6 for a small cheese. Large ones can run you $20, plus $2 apiece for extra toppings.

Fiorella’s, which has both express and full-service restaurants, has other locations in Belmont, Brighton, Newtonville and Concord. It recently shuttered its Cambridge location..

fiorellas express wellesley — Inside Fiorella’s

Fiorella’s is the winner in the race to open first with White’s Bakery, which has been threatening to open at the other end of town for months, and now hopes it will do so in the next few weeks. The sign pretty much says so.

white's bakery

MORE: Where to eat in Wellesley

SUPPORT SWELLESLEY: Here’s how to Advertise and/or Donate to support our independent journalism venture

Wellesley Business Buzz: Eatery opening race is on; La Mia Moda, Legit leaving Belclare strip; Babson sustains; Clever Hand gets intense

March 7, 2019 by Bob Brown 1 Comment

Here’s a round-up of the latest Wellesley, Mass., business news. Got the lowdown on other business comings or goings? Let us know (theswellesleyreport@gmail.com)

Restaurant race is on: White’s Bakery, Fiorella’s, Riceburg

Town elections, affordable housing, yeah, yeah, yeah. The issue we get asked most about is what’s up with White’s Bakery and Fiorella’s. When are these eateries opening, people want to know.

White’s, which is setting up shop at Playhouse Square, originally aimed to open in the fall, then early winter, and now is hoping to be open later this month. Mrs. Swellesley even happened to be minding her business at another establishment while an interview for a White’s Bakery employee was taking place.

Meanwhile, Fiorella’s, which is taking over the space formerly occupied by Susu Bakery, is also looking to open this month.

The fast casual Italian eatery, by the way, just shuttered its Cambridge location.

playhouse square wellesley — Stuff’s happening inside the new home of White’s Bakery

The new Wellesley eatery that actually might beat both of them to opening is Riceburg, located at the long-vacant Wellesley Square space formerly occupied by Yogurtology. As it turns out, that short-lived fro-yo establishment will live on in that its equipment will be used by Riceburg to offer frozen yogurt in addition to its signature rice-based dishes.

Riceburg’s Jessica Shen says she’s aiming to open for business this month and is in the midst of hiring line cooks and cashiers. Shen targeted Wellesley for Riceburg’s first shop in part because of the local college community here, and she’s hoping Riceburg will attract patrons with dietary restrictions, too.

rice burg wellesley — Riceburg and an iceberg

Belclare losing La Mia Moda, Legit Activewear; Crane & Lion closing

Fashion can be fickle. La Mia Moda, which initially popped up in Linden Square last year before moving to the Belclare retail strip on Washington Street, is going out of business. The fashion boutique is having a big sale on shoes bags, outerwear, and more.

Legit Activewear, which previously operated in Wellesley Hills before opening a Belclare shop, has also announced that it is exiting the retail complex, which filled up in recent months with businesses after a long time without any tenants. “We have made the decision to close our Wellesley location. Thank you to all of the loyal customers who have helped make the past few months wonderful in Wellesley. We’re so sad to go, but we hope to see you in the Chestnut Hill location!”, according to a message that Legit sent to its patrons.

Separately, Crane & Lion is winding down its presence in Wellesley Square in the old Talbots space. The retailer of women’s clothing at the old Talbots space in Wellesley Square, which has had all sorts of garish markdown signs on its windows in recent weeks, told patrons back in January that it was at a crossroads and needed to sell its inventory in order to push out new merchandise.

crane and lion wellesley — Crane & Lion: Going out like a lamb

Save the date: Babson Sustainability Forum on March 29

The Babson Sustainability Forum has sustainability. The 13th annual edition of the event, previously called the Energy & Environment Conference, takes place on March 29 on the Babson campus from 8am-5pm.

The theme of this year’s forum is Embracing the Future’s Goals, focusing on the United Nation’s Sustainability Development Goals while celebrating entrepreneurs, institutions, and businesses taking ownership of those initiatives. Speakers include these professionals, and many more:

Dr. Jonathan Foley, Executive Director – Project Drawdown
Dr. Stephen Spinelli, President Elect – Babson College
Lisa Conway, Vice President of Sustainability – Interface
Paul Sellew, CEO & Founder – Little Leaf Farms
Gwen Ruta, Executive Vice President, Climate & Energy – Environmental Defense Fund

Tickets are $20 for students, $45 for professionals

Things getting intense at Clever Hand Gallery

very mohan wellesley metals — WHS senior Avery Mohan creates

The Clever Hand Gallery at 52 Central St. in Wellesley Square is showcasing working by Wellesley High School intensive metals students. This is the 9th annual collaboration between the local artisans’ cooperative and students.

Students in Shayla Vines’ class have used the ancient technique of open back filigree to make braided wire and have also been challenged to work on a project based on a unique box of materials. Students have also learned the Japanese technique of Mokume Gane that layers metals to make them look like wood grain.

You can check out their results from March 17-30, including at a public reception on March 19 from 3-5pm at Clever Hand.

MORE: Wellesley Business Buzz

Want to sponsor Wellesley Business Buzz? It’s easy and fun to partner with us, and you get great exposure for your business or non-profit. Let us know

Wellesley businesses that came & went in 2018

December 22, 2018 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Wellesley saw its share of businesses coming and going in 2018, but the biggest change took place at the Belclare complex on Washington Street on the edge of Wellesley Square, where it was almost all about businesses coming.

The luxury condos at the Belclare filled up in a hurry back at the end of 2015, but the retail spaces remained mostly vacant, despite a few close calls.

Sure, Thirst Juice, located on the Grove Street side of the Belclare complex, did have its last kale in January. Later in the year, however, salon Atelier opened on that same block, and the real action took place on the Washington Street side. There, the Agnes Vision optical shop, Barber Walter’s, Laer Realty Partners, La Mia Moda boutique, CouCou kids’ clothing/fashions/housewares, Legit Activewear all opened for business. Pucker Gallery also made a cameo appearance.

belclare wellesley — The Belclare retail strip during a recent block party

On the food front, the big news was Bertucci’s closing suddenly in May, part of a corporate meltdown. While the space behind Playhouse Square remains vacant, White’s Bakery is expected to open soon in the former bank space at that corner of Wellesley Hills. The other big restaurant news was steakhouse Smith & Wollensky opening its first suburban location in Wellesley, in the former Blue Ginger space. Big shoes to fill, big wallets to empty.

Smith & Wollensky, Wellesley — Smith & Wollensky al fresco

Sweetgreen has been doing a steady business in Linden Square since it opened in early 2018, and nearby, The Cottage refurbished itself. The Cottage owners are also prepping for Door No. 7, a fancier restaurant across the street, to open soon. Mark’s Pizza & Subs closed and that building was razed to pave the way for a refurbished Papa Razzi.

Mark’s is busy readying for its new location nearby at 10B Washington St.

Fiorella’s, a fast casual Italian eatery, is aiming for a February opening at the former SuSu’s spot across from the Belclare.

Orangetheory might sound like food, but the fitness joint that opened in Wellesley Square is actually a solution to burn calories. New businesses like this are sure to keep Swellesleyites beautiful. And while id. Salon closed its doors in Wellesley Hills, Le Vernis Nail Studio opened in the old 2nd Time Around space in Wellesley Square.

On the fashion front, Fat Face opened in Church Square and Crane & Lion moved into the former Talbots spot in Wellesley Square.

Zoots earned recognition as the most classless closing of the year in Wellesley (2 locations) and beyond, leaving people in a lurch to start 2018, forcing some to drive to the back of beyond to pick up their belongings. Neither Zoots space in Wellesley has been filled yet.

Alfredo’s Hair Design, near the Lower Fall Zoots, also closed its doors after 30 years (and the word is that Mark’s Pizza & Subs could resurface there).

Alfredo's, Mark's Pizza

Some Wellesley businesses changed locations. Among them: Lyn Evans and Clementine (in the former Xylem space), both in Church Square. FLX Training, formerly near Clementine in that strip between Rte. 9 and Rte. 16, slid down to Linden Square. Page Waterman moved its framing and gallery business to an expanded space on Washington Street. Home Decor Group replaced C & T Paint on Linden Street.

Speaking of decor, Patti Bros., has left Wellesley Square to retrench at its Sudbury base. Miele shut down its Wellesley Square shop.

Other new faces in Linden Square include Verizon, Code Ninjas and Kenzie & Hope. The latter is a fresh twist on Kenzie Kids, which new owner Shani DeFina says re-opened in August after renovations, and is refocused on clothing, gifts and accessories for teens and young women. DeFina says she’ll aim to bring in brands that give back to the community.

One summer shocker involved Miss Michelle’s Center for the Performing Arts clearing out of Linden Square after 10 years following an unsuccessful lease renewal. A dog grooming business called Pampered Puppies is moving in. Linden Square also bid adieu to French Lessons, a tenant for 12 years.

miss michelle's wellesley 1

And finally, let’s not forget that Red Apple Convenience store peeled out as mysteriously as it operated.

MORE: Wellesley Business Buzz

Want to sponsor Wellesley Business Buzz? Let us know

Here’s what you missed over the summer in Wellesley

September 5, 2018 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

The temperatures say summer, but with Labor Day behind us and a school year stretched out in front, we have to admit it. The grasshopper days are over. Here’s what you missed in Wellesley if you were traveling and enjoying yourself, unplugged and unworried. We stayed on top of things for you. It’s what we do:

1) Local reporter (me) almost hit by car in Wellesley

Our top-read story over the summer concerned my near-flattened experience on Wellesley Avenue. Fortunately I wasn’t struck, but it wasn’t for lack of trying on the driver’s part. My experience certainly struck a nerve in town, and comments about similar close calls poured in. Readers also wrote in to express great relief that I squeaked through…aw, thanks guys. READ MORE

2) MBTA cut down hundreds of Wellesley trees

Anybody who takes the commuter rail hasn’t been able to miss the tree removal work that MBTA contractors have done. We got an email from a chagrined reader who characterized the work as a “horrible hack job” and noted that although “Our property doesn’t abut the tracks, we feel badly for those who do.”

I went down and took a look. Indeed, it’s not pretty. READ MORE

3) Wellesley mourns Robert J. Hinchliffe: Devoted family man, WWII infantryman, longtime town leader and volunteer

Wellesley lost one of its Greatest Generation heroes. As his obituary read, “Bob loved Wellesley and Wellesley loved him, choosing him to lead the parade twice, as the recipient of the Distinguished Service and the Veterans’ Honor awards. He was one of the half dozen longest serving Town Meeting Members in town history…” and the list goes on. Truly a pillar of the Wellesley community. READ MORE

4) Gorgeous Wellesley homes recognized for historically sensitive renovations

The Wellesley Historic Commission (WHC) awarded plaques to homeowners who completed historically sensitive renovations of two of Wellesley’s proud older structures. Among them: 51 Glen Rd., built in 1721 and 309 Walnut St., built in 1900. READ MORE

5) Wellesley dog photobombed by woodland creature — this you’ve gotta see. SEE IT HERE

6) The ant bikes came marching one by one into Wellesley

Wellesley wasn’t among the more than dozen communities selected to take part in a dockless bike rental system involving the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, but such bicycles have nonetheless started to roll into town. Ant Bicycle’s signature green bikes have been popping up all over the place… READ MORE

7) Wellesley Municipal Light Plant offers full internet service for commercial customers

The Wellesley Municipal Light Plant (MLP) on Monday, July 30 made a recommendation to its Board to offer internet service to commercial entities in town as the next step toward moving the program from pilot to permanent status… READ MORE

8) Wellesley mom gets Ambush Makeover on Today Show

Tiffany Zides, an already hot Wellesley mom, entered New York City as her usual self and left as one of “two great girls” plucked from the Today Show throng at Rockefeller Center to get an Ambush Makeover by fashionistas Louis Licari and Jill Martin. READ MORE

9) Wellesley neighbors facing real uphill battle over rehabbed house and yard

Here’s what can happen when a buyer snaps up the cozy Cape abutting your home, cuts down a few dozen trees, and brings in truckloads of soil. READ MORE

10) Is humble Wellesley news site (us!) an enemy of the people?

The call to take up words and defend the very bedrock of journalism came from no less an institution than The Boston Globe. We answered, with aplomb if we may say so ourselves. Before we knew it we found ourselves on the New York Times op-ed page. Yep, that’s what we did with our summer. READ MORE

11) Historic John D. Hardy house to go under review for tear-down

What makes this 132-year-old building historically significant is that it was the home of noted Wellesley civic leader John D. Hardy from its completion in 1896 until his death in 1924. Its association with Hardy is an important factor making it among the most historic houses in the Belvedere Estates/Wellesley Country Club area, and therefore Wellesley. READ MORE

12) Will Wellesley College ban dogs on Lake Waban?

As usual in these situations, two issues loom large: dog waste and unleashed dogs. READ MORE

13) Best of Wellesley Business Buzz:

Linden Square:

Code Ninjas is coming into the space formerly occupied by Massage Envy. The computer learning center will welcome girls and boys ages 7-14 to learn to code by building their own video games.

Work continued at Door No. 7. The new chef-driven business from the operators of The Cottage is slated to open soon.

Wellesley Square:

The venerable Page Waterman Gallery, founded in 1917, moved from its Church Square location to 592a Washington St., where its headquarters and restoration studio have been located since 1983.

Red Apple convenience store peeled out. No replacement business there yet.

Orangetheory Fitness, a chain that specializes in 60-minute cardiovascular and strength training workouts has started up its first classes at 56 Central St.

Earlier this summer Le Vernis Nail Studio moved into the former 2nd Time Around space at 574 Washington St., upping the number of nail salons in town to well over a dozen.

Smith & Wollensky steak house opened at the very beginning of summer in the former Blue Ginger space.

Coming soon: Fiorella’s Express, a fast casual Italian eatery at the former Susu Bakery location.

Wellesley Square at Beclare retail spaces:

CouCou, a stylish kids’ store opened in August

Laer Realty Partners added Wellesley to its list of approximately two dozen offices located mostly in Massachusetts

Pucker Gallery expanded beyond its Newbury Street location in Boston. The gallery offers international modern and contemporary art.

Agnes Vision moved over from Washington Street, and La Mia Moda Boutique made the switch from its temporary Linden Square digs.

To look for soon: Barber Walters barbershop

Fiorella’s Express, a fast casual Italian eatery at the former Susu Bakery location.

Wellesley Hills:

Papa Razzi closed for renovations in July and has celebrated its re-opening with a larger bar area and a refreshed menu, and expanded parking. (They’re hiring, BTW.)

Mark’s Pizza was torn down to make way for that expanded parking. The pizza shop’s website says there are plans to re-open in a new location soon, perhaps at the former Zoots spot, but we haven’t heard much lately on this…

Real estate firm Realty Executives took over the Forest Street space in between Wellesley Variety and Deluxe Pizza.

White’s Bakery & Cafe is coming to Wellesley in the former TD Bank location in Playhouse Square on Washington Street. Expected opening in Fall 2018.

Belclare Wellesley to house Barber Walter’s barbershop, CouCou kids store

July 22, 2018 by Bob Brown 1 Comment

Beclare Wellesley, the luxury condo and retail complex that now occupies the Washington Street space where the old Wellesley Inn once stood, is suddenly filling up its retail spots left and right. The two latest to announce their impending arrival are the Barber Walter’s barbershop and CouCou, a stylish kids’ store that currently has a South End location,

If only CouCou and Susu could have operated across from each other!

It has taken a good long while for retailers to follow condo tenants to the Belclare, which started filling its if-you-have-to-ask-you-can’t-afford-it residential units in 2015. Now a realtor, an eyewear business, an art gallery and eyelash extension shop are among businesses that have opened their doors. A fashion shop is also slated to open at Belclare (if it doesn’t get too cozy in Linden Square).

Barber Walter

Newlyweds Kat and Walter Jones have moved to Wellesley and now will be opening Barber Walter’s, a barbershop/lounge/apothecary at Belclare this fall. And who doesn’t like a good apothecary?

An architectural firm showing off what the place will look like when it opens this fall, notes that the antique barber chairs were purchased in NYC and that a coffee bar will serve up beverages to patrons, assuming permitting goes through.

A post shared by Johnson Roberts Associates (@johnsonrobertsassociates) on Jul 6, 2018 at 9:33am PDT

Separately, CouCou (described on its Instagram account as “home to stylish kids 0-8”) says it will arrive in Wellesley in late summer. Astrid Motsenigos opened her Boston store in 2016.

Sample items on CouCou’s website include a shark hoodie for $96 and lots of other stuff for kids, moms and the home. But CouCou isn’t all foofoo: It also offers plenty of markdowns and items for less than $25, including a set of burp cloths with seaweed icons for $20 and various felt fruits and veggies for less than $10.

CouCou wellesley

MORE: Wellesley Business Buzz

Fiorella’s Express coming to Wellesley

July 1, 2018 by Bob Brown 2 Comments

fiorellas wellesley

Fiorella’s Express, a fast casual Italian eatery with a super sexy web address (https://www.fiorellasexpress.com/), is slated to open this fall at 575 Washington St., in Wellesley at Church Square. This space previously served as home to Susu Bakery Boutique, which closed last summer.

Fiorella’s, which serves pizza, pasta, salads, sandwiches and more, lists other Express locations in Belmont, Brighton and Cambridge, and full-service Fiorella’s Cucina restaurants in Concord (opened in 2017) and Newtonville (opened in 2000). Those locations will all remain open, with the 32-seat Wellesley location adding to the roster.

Neapolitan;-style cheese pizzas go for $6 and $11, pasta dishes go for between $9 and $16, and salads start at $4.

Fiorella’s features online ordering as well as catering services. The Wellesley location will accommodate dining in as well as take-out orders.

“We love the neighborhood and we saw that there was an opportunity to be part of a community that would appreciate great quality food for a reasonable price,” says Jennifer Griswold of Fiorella’s.

Fiorella’s arrival will add to the revived restaurant scene in that area of Wellesley, with Smith & Wollensky opening earlier this year. There had been scuttlebutt that a Mexican restaurant was being considered for the former Susu space.

(We’ll add more info when we get it.)

MORE: Where to eat in Wellesley

Colleges in Wellesley announce commencement speakers line-up

April 18, 2018 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Wellesley College and MassBay have joined Babson College in making public their 2018 commencement speakers. Drum roll please…

Wellesley College, Commencement — Tracy K. Smith, Poet Laureate of the Unted States, will deliver remarks at Wellesley College’s Commencement exercises. Photo credit: Rachel Eliza Griffiths / Blue Flower Arts

Tracy K. Smith, poet laureate of the United States and the Roger S. Berlind ’52 Professor in the Humanities and director of the creative writing program at Princeton University, will speak at Wellesley’s 140th Commencement Exercises on Friday, June 1, at 10:30am.

Smith’s work explores a diverse range of topics, from faith, grief, and loss, to dystopia and Afrofuturism, to deep space and life on other planets, to America’s troubled racial history and the legacy of slavery. In her role as poet laureate, Smith aims to expand the audience for poetry through rural outreach, traveling to communities writers might not usually visit.

As we reported in an earlier post, Babson’s speakers at the College’s May 19 ceremonies will be president and CEO of UNICEF USA, Caryl M. Stern; and co-founder and CEO of Endeavor Linda Rottenberg. Stern will receive an honorary Doctorate of Laws degree and will deliver the commencement address at the undergraduate ceremony at 10am. Rottenberg will be receive an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters degree and will give the commencement address at the graduate ceremony at 3pm.

Attorney General Maura Healey will speak at MassBay’s Commencement ceremony. Photo credit: Healey’s office

MassBay will welcome Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey as the keynote speaker for the College’s 56^th Commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 17 on the Wellesley Hills campus. “I’m honored to have the opportunity to address graduates at a school with such a strong commitment to preparing students for lives of active citizenship and cutting-edge careers,” Healey said.

In addition, MassBay will honor the Attorney General with the Distinguished Service Award. The MassBay Distinguished Service Award is given out to individuals for their advocacy and service to MassBay and the communities we serve.

Sworn in as Attorney General in January 2015, Healey has tackled issues touching the lives of residents across Massachusetts including the heroin and prescription drug abuse epidemic, escalating health care costs, workers’ rights and student loan costs.

Wellesley Business Buzz: Smith & Wollensky job fair; Lyn Evans moving down the block; B/Spoke celebrates; Bertucci’s recap

April 2, 2018 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Here’s a roundup of the latest Wellesley business news.

Smith & Wollensky job fair

The steakhouse plans to open in Wellesley in May at 583 Washington St., formerly occupied by the Blue Ginger restaurant. Smith & Wollensky is hiring for all front-of-the-house and back-of-the-house positions, and will be holding a job fair on April 5-7 and 11-13 from 10:30am-5pm at 575 Washington St., in Wellesley, where Susu Bakery used to be. Fill out the application here before attending the fair (click Apply/Job Search and click the Wellesley location).

Smith & Wollensky, Wellesley

Lyn Evans moving down the block

The closing of the Lyn Evans women’s clothing and accessories store on Church Street last summer after a 30-year run threw the local fashion scene for a loop. The store has since looped back for a pop-up store, and now has announced it will move 5 doors down the street to 32 Church St.

Lyn Evans new location, Church St

Grabbing Boston Marathoner eyeballs

Positive Pressure, Wellesley — Wellesley resident, and owner of recently opened Positive Pressure, Ellen Thompson

A big sign on the former Yogurtology window alerts passersby — including those training on the Boston Marathon route — to the addition of a Sports Massage business in Wellesley Square. But that’s only part of the story.

Positive Pressure, a therapeutic and sports massage clinic, is operating upstairs from the former frozen treats shop, in Suite 14. Wellesley resident Ellen Thompson is not only a board-certified massage therapist, she’s also a family nurse practitioner and an holds a certificate from the Kripalu School of Ayurveda.

She notes that her wellness business “is not a spa, but a clinic. It’s integrative medicine that’s a non-pharmaceutical approach to health care.”

So still nothing in the Yogurtology space, which has been vacant since late 2016, but another option for Wellesley-ites who want to be well.

B/Spoke celebrates 1st anniversary in Wellesley

Congrats to B/Spoke, the indoor cycling-plus studio at 50 Central St. in Wellesley Square, for celebrating its first anniversary in town. The business celebrated over the weekend with a mimosa bar, pancake bar, a live DJ and more. B/Spoke has expanded its business beyond indoor cycling to include other sorts of workouts.

B/Spoke, Wellesley

Bertucci’s aftermath

The sudden closing last month of Bertucci’s in Wellesley Hills quickly gave way to nostalgic wishes for the old Community Playhouse to return to the space. Some have called on the owner of West Newton Cinema to branch out, while others have put out the call for a philanthropist to save us from a boring business from filling the location.

Bertucci's Wellesley closes March 2018

Meanwhile, a few real estate signs have popped up, so the game is on to find new tenants for the building. Let us know if you hear anything…

Want to sponsor Wellesley Business Buzz? Let us know

MORE: Past Wellesley Business Buzz roundups

La Mia Moda pops up in Linden Square in Wellesley

March 21, 2018 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

La Mia Moda, Wellesley — La Mia Moda owner Luis Nunez, looking natty among his wares.

La Mia Moda Boutique has popped up in Linden Square in the strip that also houses Kenzie and Blue Mercury while it waits for the finishing touches to be placed on its permanent location at Belclare in Wellesley Square.

The store announced last fall that it would become a tenant at the 580 Washington St. location, and Nunez’s plans are to move over there in the summer. Meanwhile, those windows are plastered with posters featuring leggy models wearing very high-end looking clothes and accessories. If you want to check out the real thing, you’ll have to head over to his temporary location in Linden Square for now. The upscale shop also has a store in Andover and says its general vibe has “a European touch with a New York edge.”

I stopped into La Mia Moda to meet owner Luis Nunez. He says he loves the bright space and is looking forward to getting his sign up within the next couple of days so that people will be better able to tell that he’s there. The stuff is definitely a cut above the ordinary, designed for the woman who absolutely does not want to be seen in TJ Maxx rags (how I love my TJ Maxx rags!). I asked Luis to show me some nice spring merchandise. He showed me a lovely dress by the label Apiece Apart priced at $595; a cute striped Khaite top for $480; and a couple of buttery-soft leather bags in the mid-$800 range.

Meanwhile, back at the Belclare storefronts, other businesses slowly but surely slated to move in are Agnes Vision and Laer Realty Partners, which has about two dozen offices located mostly in Massachusetts. Things might speed along in terms of businesses actually opening their doors in the Belclare retail spaces once Smith & Wollensky steakhouse, scheduled to open this spring in the former Blue Ginger space, opens its doors to hungry carnivores.

Adjacent to Belclare, Le Vernis Nail Studio will soon be moving into the former 2nd Time Around space at 574 Washington St. Nearby, the spaces that formerly held Susu Bakery and Terrazza remain empty for now.

MORE: Wellesley shopping

Wellesley businesses that came and went in 2017

Orange you glad Clementine has moved to Church Square?

February 19, 2018 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Clementine, Wellesley — The sign says Xylem, but the store is actually Clementine, which has moved from Wellesley Hills to 30 Church St.

Clementine women’s clothing boutique has made its move from just off of Rte. 9 in Wellesley Hills to Church Square. The exterior sign over the 30 Church St. space may still say Xylem, but don’t be fooled. Outside, the bright orange paint on the door simply shrieks Clementine. Inside, the space is in a fresh state of transformation, with one lovely nod to the previous owner’s excellent eye for design — in evidence are former Xylem proprietor Madalene Sullivan’s signature white display frames. That must be good feng shui or something.

The Church Square shopping area has undergone significant changes over the past year; currently the former Terrazza, Blue Ginger, and Susu are shuttered. Smith & Wollensky is quickly filling up dumpsters as it renovates the former Blue Ginger space and expects to open in Spring. We’ve heard rumors here and there about what’s going into Terrazza and Susu, but time will tell.

MORE: Wellesley businesses that came and went in 2017

easter display xylem wellesley — These display circles used to hold all manner of fun gifts at Xylem. They’ve been reincarnated by Clementine owner Judi Rizley to display high-end shoes, bags, and other boutique items. Clementine has moved from Wellesley Hills up to 30 Church St. and is open for business.

« Previous Page