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Wellesley's Wonderful Weekend

Search Results for: fiorellas

Wellesley Business Buzz: Fiorella’s selling sauce online; Mathnasium now on Washington St.

February 13, 2022 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Our roundup of the latest Wellesley, MA business news:

Fiorella’s selling sauce online
Fiorella’s, which includes the Fiorella’s Express location in Wellesley, has begun selling bottled sauce online and in stores.
Either Marinara or Fra Diavolo (or a variety pack() costs $50 per a half dozen 25-oz. bottles.

fiorella's Owner Rémon Karian has been hands-on developing the sauce line.

“It’s something I’ve been working on for a number of years. We started out just selling in the restaurant, then we started selling it to some retail stores, and now we just launched our ecommerce site,” he says. “It’s still available at a number of retailers and our restaurants as well.”

They’re selling it in six packs because that’s what worked to justify shipping rates and carrying costs.

“Hopefully, we’ll make some adjustments as we go. We will also be adding a subscription option in the future,” Karian says. “The ecommerce site is still in the infancy stage and we’re learning every day. Consumer packaged goods is a whole new world to me.”

Business is good for Fiorella’s. Karian says they’re planning to open a location in Lexington Center this summer.

They have other locations in Belmont, Brighton, Concord, and Newtonville.

 

Mathnasium now on Washington Street

Mathnasium, a chain of educational outlets that teach math to kids in 1st through 8th grade, has opened a location at 464 Washington St., next door to The Barber’s Chair in the former Pine Straw space.
This Mathnasium team previously had its Wellesley location on Rte. 9.
The business offers help to kids who need help, are advanced, or fall somewhere in between.
If we have our math correct, Mathnasium is located less than a mile down Washington Street from the Russian School of Math, and just a half mile from Wellesley Middle School.
mathnasium washington st

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Filed Under: Business, Education, Food

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Wellesley businesses have gobbled up PPP loans during pandemic

August 23, 2020 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

fiorellas express wellesleyA much higher percentage of Wellesley businesses and nonprofits took advantage of the federal Paycheck Protection Program than did businesses across the state as a whole, according to numbers released this month by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC).

Some 57% of about 1,500 establishments in town were approved for a total of 851 loans, which are administered by the Small Business Administration and are designed mainly to help small businesses retain employees. Across the state, about 46% of businesses were approved through July.

Nearby, more than 63% of Needham businesses got PPP loans, and just over half of Newton businesses did, according to the Newton Needham Regional Chamber. Most businesses and nonprofits have already used up their funds and would love a shot at more in light of the pandemic’s persistence, according to the Chamber. PPP loan applications were curtailed as of Aug. 8.

According to the data for Wellesley, which we broke out in the spreadsheet below, the loans helped to fund some 8,300 jobs in town, with an average of 12 employees but as high as 435. Businesses secured loans, which may or may not need to be repaid, ranging from thousands to millions of dollars. Numerous lenders, from Needham Bank to Bank of America, handled the loans.

From what some Wellesley business owners have told us, they really had to earn their loans. One local restaurant went from eight to one employee early during the pandemic, and had a great challenge carving out time to work with a lender on navigating tricky paperwork.

Another Wellesley restaurant, Fiorella’s, got a PPP loan back in April and owner Remon Karian said at the time it would be a big help, along with flexibility from landlords and support from the community.

But Wellesley merchants continue to seek additional ways to power through the pandemic. Some would like to see a tax break from the town, but Wellesley is currently not offering any such abatement, directing retailers to small business loan opportunities and MassDevelopment program funds.

The town also recently told merchants that relief from landlords will be something tenants need to take up with their property managers.

Wellesley has taken steps to help local businesses, such as through the COVID-19 Relief Fund, which has paid for protective supplies and helped restaurants connect with those who need meals. The town has also allowed more outdoor dining opportunities, including on the Town Hall green, and soon, near Clocktower Park.

Other opportunities could emerge. Needham’s Select Board recently voted to cut restaurant liquor license fees in half for 2021, so perhaps that’s something Wellesley establishments could push for.

Note: Businesses were not required to self-identify the race, gender or veteran status of ownership for the data shared by MAPC, and that accounts for so much missing info in those columns.

Download (XLSX, Unknown)

 

 

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Filed Under: Business

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London Harness, Wellesley

Wellesley restaurants offering take-out and delivery

juniper takeout covid

 

Wellesley has dozens of options for eating out, but unfortunately these restaurants have been temporarily shut down during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Some are still offering take-out and/or delivery. If you’d like to support them, please check out the running list of who is offering what that we’ll create below. Please reach out to us with updated information, as this is obviously a fast changing situation: [email protected]

Alta Strada

SPECIAL HOURS: 11am-8pm Daily

Carry-Out & Delivery ONLY. Affiliated wth Uber Eats, Grubhub, Doordash

 

Amarin

Offering take-out, curbside pickup and delivery. Announced 4/11: Our hours will be Tuesday-Sunday 3-9pm (closed Mondays)

 

Bruegger’s Bagels

Update: 4/13/20 (Temporarily closed, directing customers to Auburndale)

 

California Pizza Kitchen

Take-out, delivery.

 

Captain Marden’s

Retail Store:
  • Open regular hours:
  • Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
  • Saturday: 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
  • Sunday: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • Curbside pick up – call us to place an order and we will bring it to your car
  • Same Day Delivery! For a $5 delivery fee we will deliver to your house or office
  • Wellesley, Needham, Dover, Weston and South Natick only
  • No order minimum
  • Curbside and delivery orders can be placed by e-mailing [email protected] or by calling (781) 235-0860
Takeaway:
  • Open Monday – Saturday from 11:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
  • Offering curbside pick up
  • Delivery! For a $5 delivery fee, we will deliver your hot food to Wellesley, Needham, Dover, Weston or South Natick
  • No order minimum
  • We will have a limited menu and no daily specials, but all of your favorites are still available

CK Shanghai

Take-out available.

CK Shanghai covid

 

Cocobeet

Takeout 10am-3pm, delivery.

 

Coconut Thai Cafe

Take-out & delivery

coconut thai cafecoconut thai cafe

Comella’s
Take-out & curbside, plus delivery
comella covid

CrepeBerry

Open for take-out, curbside and delivery 9am-4pm, with delivery via Doordash, Grubub & Uber Eats

CrepeBerry

 

Fastachi nuts & chocolates

We will temporarily close this location beginning Thursday, March 19, 2020

Online:  Place orders 24/7 @ www.FASTACHI.com.  We will continue to accept and ship online orders as long as UPS and USPS maintain delivery services.

 

Fiorella’s Express

Open for curbside pick-up and no-contact delivery. All orders must be placed online or over the phone.

 

Jin’s Fine Cuisine

Due to impact of COVID-19, Jin’s updated protocol to contact-free delivery. The driver will ring the doorbell and leave the food in front of your doorsteps. If you are doing a cash payment, please leave the money in your mailbox. Thanks!

Jin's Covid

 

Juniper

“We’ve pared down our menu to the most comforting and familiar items for takeout, delivery or curbside pick-up.”

Dinner hours: M-F 5-10pm, Sunday 4-9pm. Lunch: M-Sat 11:30am02:30pm

Delivery rates applied per mileage.

 

Lemon Thai Cuisine

Take-out and delivery.

 

Linden Store

(3/16/20) Linden Family: In light of the Coronavirus, we have 2 important updates we would like to share with our valued and loyal customers:
1. Our hours will temporarily change and we will be open from M-F 10am – 4pm and Saturday 9am – 3pm
2. In an effort to help combat the spread of the virus, we will be offering curbside pick up and take out only

 

The Local

Open for take-out & delivery, 11am-8pm

local covid

 

Cafe Mangal

Café Mangal is open for TAKE-OUT from our lunch menu
between 11am and 4pm Monday through Saturday.
Please call us at 781-235-5322 to place your orders.
Curbside pickup is available too.
cafe mangal

 

Maugus restaurant

The restaurant will open this Friday, Saturday and Sunday for take-out . 830am to 2pm.

maugus

 

Old School Pizzeria

Open Tuesday-Saturday, dinner take-out 4-8pm

Limited menu: Please call to order
www.ospizza.com  781.235.8300

Papa Razzi

Will re-open on Monday May 4, 4pm – 8pm, Monday- Sunday. We have taken the following steps to provide you with your favorite dishes to be enjoyed in your own homes:

  • Easy online ordering. Guests can also order by phone. All payments will be taken at time of order.
  • Guests will receive texts to confirm their order and alert them when ready.
  • Restaurant staff will bring order to guest’s car for curbside pickup (no-contact pickup). Guests are not allowed into the restaurant.
  • Masks / gloves are worn by all employees and proper social distancing guidelines are adhered to within the restaurant during the preparation of your meal.

Qdoba
Take-out, delivery.

 

Quebrada

For same day orders, please come by or give a call (781-237-2111) to find out what the selection is for the day. For next day, or future orders, place an Order Online

Open  7am-12pm every day for curbside pickup.

Rice Burg
We are open for delivery and takeout. Customers can order ahead at
www.riceburg1.com
They can indicate curbside pickup if they note at the checkout

rice burg

 

Takara

We are open for Take-out only and some locations offer delivery through GrubHub and Door Dash.

 

Tutto Italiano

Tuesday thru Saturday 10am-4pm, full deli service and phone orders. No delivery.

Tutto Italiano Wellesley MA

 

Weston Road Cafe (336 Weston Rd.)

Takeout available.

Monday 7AM–3PM
Tuesday7AM–3PM
Wednesday 7AM–3PM
Thursday 7AM–3PM
Friday 7AM–3PM
Saturday 7AM–1:30PM
Sunday Closed

Phone: (781) 235-1116
Weston Road Cafe
White’s Bakery
Takeout, regular business hours

Yama

Below are Yama’s temporary hours due to the government’s restriction on restaurant operations,
For take out and delivery ONLY. We welcome advanced calls for scheduled pick up and delivery.

Sunday to Thursday: 5pm to 9:15pm

Friday and Saturday: 5pm to 10pm

yama

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Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend

Wellesley's Wonderful Weekend

Wellesley businesses that came or went in 2019

January 1, 2020 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

The Wellesley business scene got techier, tastier and stretchier in 2019, though also became less fashionable in parts of town.

For foodies

A couple of highly anticipated eateries, White’s Bakery and Fiorella’s Express, both launched shops in Wellesley.

white's bakery
White’s Bakery

 

Other newcomers include Rice Burg, which started as a food truck, and opened its first brick-and-mortar shop in Wellesley Square, serving up burgers with unique rice buns. Cheesy Street Grill debuted at the new Boston Sports Institute.

B/Spoke added a cafe called Dr/p.

Mark’s Pizza & Subs made its triumphant return to a new Lower Falls location after closing in 2018. Fans of the Wok, under renovation since the summer, are hoping for a revival of this Rte. 9 restaurant, too.

Mark's Pizza, Wellesley
Mark’s Pizza is back in action at 10 Washington St., Wellesley Hills.

 

Meanwhile, Wellesley is down a pizza joint, as Upper Crust closed its Wellesley Square shop after 10 years at the site, and we’ll have to survive on 5 Dunkin’ Donuts, as the Wellesley Square one closed in September. And the Village Market, where you might grab a snack to go in Lower Falls, shut down this fall after a 10-year run.

Truly Yogurt changed owners, but fortunately is sticking around. And in 2020, we look forward to a Belgian waffle truck roaming Wellesley’s streets with treats.

 

Fitness and fashion

It’s not all about eating in Wellesley, of course. Fitness is huge, and businesses with that focus have flocked to town. Among them, two new businesses with the word “stretch” in their names. StretchLab had its grand opening in December, with its Flexologists’ mission of helping you become more flexible through one-on-one stretching help. StretchMed opened its shop in Wellesley Square, and also wants to assist you with your stretching needs. Club Pilates also opened next to StretchLab, and the previous tenant (Studios Fitness & Dance) moved down the road in Linden Square. Personal training outfit Exercise Coach opened on Grove Street, and Fitness Advantage Boxing is now packing a punch in Lower Falls.

club pilates linden square

Meanwhile, fitness clothing became a little harder to come by in town. Crane & Lion wrapped up its short stay in Wellesley Square, and Legit left the Belclare retail strip a little barer.

Legit neighbor La Mia Moda also departed its Belclare space. Also leaving the Wellesley retail scene was Sloane & Ivy, which resided in Church Square, and LF, which had been in Wellesley Square. NRO swapped squares, moving from Wellesley Square to Linden Square. For Now popped up in the old Talbots space in Wellesley Square and hair salon Atelier opened 2019 on Grove Street.

For Now

More comings & goings

Two businesses, Code Ninjas in Linden Square and iCode in Wellesley Square, both opened with an eye toward attracting kids who want to learn coding or develop their STEM skills.

Other newcomers included infant and toddler daycare operation Scalliwags and Loyal Companion, a pet store in Wellesley Hills (Unleashed by Petco in Linden Square has announced it will be closing in January, 2020). Pampered Puppies opened in Linden Square, keeping that retail area a destination for dogs.

The Shade Store plugged into French Lessons’ former Linden Square space, and Jacqueline’s Bridal is giving quite a different look to Wellesley Square space previously occupied by appliance company Miele.

The Shade Store, Linden Square Wellesley

Bidding farewell to Wellesley was Divine Design+Build, which spent about 10 years in Linden Square but is now focusing on its Boston location. Mattress Firm also bounced from Linden Square, and Prospero’s Shoe Repairs of Wellesley Hills closed down in 2019. European-inspired home goods retailer Florijn shuttered its Wellesley Square store.

Sew & Easy took its needles and thread to Needham, while The Painting Place moved from Needham to Wellesley Hills.

Personal and home style store Pine Straw hasn’t left yet, but announced plans to close its Wellesley location after the holiday season, and its Waban space will close in the Spring.

Pine Straw, Wellesley

While we’ll miss some of our favorites, we’ve welcomed new ones, and there’s hope that 2020 will bring at least a few unique businesses that will have staying power.

More: Wellesley businesses that came & went in 2018

Wellesley Business Buzz weekly round-ups

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Filed Under: Business

Exercise Coach, Wellesley

Restaurants in Wellesley — there are over 50 dining options

May 1, 2019 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Click above for tickets to Taste of Wellesley.

Wellesley offers a variety of eateries, from fancy to homey to chains. A slew of Asian restaurants  dot the town, from sushi-and-more to Chinese to Thai. Or you can try out Italian eateries, Indian cuisine, Turkish specialties, or an old-timey diner with a Greek flair. And don’t forget those necessities — pizza, ice cream, donuts, and coffee. Wellesley’s got you covered there.

Thanks to the Rotary Club of Wellesley for their sponsorship of our restaurants page. Don’t miss their annual Spring Culinary fundraiser, Taste of Wellesley. Get tickets now for an exquisite evening of food, craft beer and boutique liquor tasting, cash bar, Live Auction, Giving Tree Raffle and silent auction showcasing unique art pieces from the Wellesley Society of Artists. 

Here are all the local restaurants that will be participating in the Wellesley Rotary Club’s Taste of Wellesley, along with our Wellesley restaurant reviews…

[Read more…]

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Filed Under: Uncategorized

Deland, Gibson Insurance, Wellesley

White’s Bakery reveals Wellesley opening date

March 25, 2019 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

White’s Bakery, which has been teasing Wellesley for months about when it will start selling its goodies here, has disclosed that April 3 will be its grand opening. We’re going to hold them to it.

The Wellesley Hills location is at Playhouse Square at 380 Washington St.

Wellesley’s colorful retail history

The opening will come on the heels of Fiorella’s long-awaited opening at the other end of Wellesley this past weekend.

Expect White’s to bring to Wellesley all the yummy things they offer at their other locations in Brockton, Hingham, and Mansfield: breakfast items such as muffins, danishes, and croissants; sweet treats; artisanal breads, pies, cakes, and tortes as well as savory lunch items like calzones, pastas, and paninis.

The Wellesley shop won’t have a cafe side (like the Brockton store) that has a lunch service,  but it will have a deli showcase with prepared foods such as seasonal pasta salads, chicken cutlets, lasagna, arancini, eggplant parm, etc. There will be a seating area in the shop so customers can enjoy their treats in-house.
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Filed Under: Business, Restaurants

Pesky Wellesley crosswalk springs back

March 25, 2019 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Spring in Wellesley brings the return of flowers, marathoners, and yes, that Washington Street crosswalk that isn’t really a crosswalk at all.

We’ve written about this demon stretch of white paint on Rte. 16 for more than 2 years, initially inspired by an email from an out-of-towner aghast that someone was parking in a crosswalk in front of Blue Ginger, at the time (See “Swellesley cracks the Case of the Crazy Crosswalk”). But as it turned out, the car was parked legitimately at a meter, and the striping was really the remnants of a temporary crosswalk used while the Belclare complex was under construction. The bogus crosswalk was the bane of Blue Ginger’s existence, as customers steadily asked whether the space was OK to park in.

crosswalk wellesley
It’s back

 

The town worked with the Belclare developer to cover the crosswalk with black paint, but then we found ourselves returning to scene of the crime last spring. Blue Ginger was gone, Smith & Wollensky was on its way, and the ghostly crosswalk had seeped through the black cover. The town again was forced to spring into action to cover it up. After all, the semi-crosswalk is a danger to drivers, who are unsure whether to stop or go through it, and pedestrians, who are also tempted to take the shortcut at their own peril.

Now, upon visiting the new Fiorella’s Express at the corner of Church Street and Washington Street, I couldn’t believe the phony crosswalk was back. I parked in that questionable space, and just hoped no one would try to teach me a lesson.

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