• Contact Us
  • Events calendar
Entering Swellesley
Pinnacle, Wellesley

The Swellesley Report

More than you really want to know about Wellesley, Mass.

  • Advertise
  • Contribute
  • Eat
  • Wellesley Square
  • School news
  • Private schools, sponsored by Riverbend
  • Camp
  • Kids
  • Top 10 things to do
  • Business news
  • Embracing diversity
  • Seniors
  • Letters to the editor
  • Guidelines for letters to the editor
  • Fire & police scanner
  • Worship
  • Deland, Gibson Insurance Athlete of the Week
  • Raiders sports schedules & results
  • Live gov’t meetings
  • 2023 Town Election
  • Events
  • About us
  • Natick Report
 
Needham Bank, Wellesley
Write Ahead, Wellesley

Wellesley businesses that came and went in 2014

December 18, 2014 by Bob Brown 1 Comment

Bocado restaurant wellesley
Bocado delectables

The Wellesley retail landscape underwent significant changes in 2014, highlighted by the opening of two restaurants and the closing of a longtime ice cream shop.

Bocado Tapas & Wine Bar opened this fall on Church Street where Paper Source formerly lived, and Sweet Basil sister restaurant Juniper replaced Milestone in Wellesley Square at the midway point of the Boston Marathon course this past summer. The eateries, taking advantage of more restaurant-friendly Wellesley bylaws, complement and provide fresh competition to Blue Ginger, Alta Strada, Cafe Mangal and other places to dine in town.

Oh, and let’s not forget Sam’s Hot Dog Cart, which rolled onto the scene this summer, often parking near Hunnewell Field and at Morses Pond.

White Mountain Creamery WellesleyThe most notable restaurant loss was that of White Mountain Creamery, which went under in October under murky circumstances that have left former workers frustrated and former patrons saddened.

Wellesley also got a fresh infusion of health-related businesses, including the Bar Method fitness studio and Btone Fitness in Wellesley Square, and the newly-opened Steve DeMasco Shaolin Studios martial arts school on Linden Street. What’s more, a CrossFit studio is on the way in early 2015.

New businesses designed to help you pretty-fy your home included Florijn in Wellesley Square, Eldred Wheeler Furniture in Linden Square and Terrazza in Church Square. And to make sure you’re comfy: A Sleepy’s in Linden Square.

Glowgolf
Glowgolf

For kids, a Glowgolf mini golf facility opened in Linden Square, and the quirky Toys in Box 3D printing shop.

Also new in town this year:  North River Outfitters, a clothing store; Mathnasium learning center; and Fulham Salon.

And what would a year be without a new CVS to gloat about? We got another one, our fourth in town (See: “Opening day at Wellesley’s amazing new family-friendly wonderland!”)

[polldaddy poll=8533783]

With arrivals come departures. The Odd Fellows building in Wellesley Square has kept some of its lettering, but Btone moved in and the fraternal lodge is out.

Crossing Main, which had moved from Wellesley Square to Linden Square a few years back, vacated its space and Eldred Wheeler moved in.

As mentioned above, Milestone gave way to Juniper. Also on the food front, the John Dewar butcher shop met its end in January.

The Gifted Hand, in business for 40 years, ended its run in Wellesley, with Terrazza starting a new tradition in its former space.The Gifted Hand, Wellesley

 

Filed Under: Business, Restaurants Tagged With: White Mountain Creamery

Advertisements:

Linden Square, Wellesley
EXPLO, Wellesley
Wellesley Hills Junior Women's Club

October in review, Wellesley

November 3, 2014 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

It was a month of comings and goings in town, with four establishments opening and three closing their doors either temporarily or forever, as well as some change in personnel at town hall and the high school sports side of things.

White Mountain Creamery WellesleyThe closing that caused the biggest stir in town was White Mountain Creamery, a much-loved local institution since 1985.  First, there were rumblings of financial trouble, with disgruntled teens wondering when they would get their overdue paychecks.  Next, a sign went up on the door saying that a family emergency was keeping the store closed.  The next sign claimed that renovations were to blame. Finally, the last sign went up saying, “White Mountain Out of Business.”

Toys in Box 3D printingNearby at 1 Cameron St., a new 3D printing services business called Toys in Box opened up. Walk in the door and into a shop that displays brightly colored toys and other items such as mugs, jewelry, and sphere-shaped decorations hanging from the ceiling.  Visitors can come in with their own designs for toys or other items, but know that it can take hours for the 3D printers to completely chug out the creations.

Bocado, a Spanish tapas restaurant, opened up at 45 Church St. to an enthusiastic reception of diners eager to try out such fare as raw tuna with lemon basil crema, mozzarella stuffed crispy rice balls, bacon-wrapped scallops, paella, and sangria.

Rte 9 west dunkin donuts wellesley demolished oct 23 2014Meanwhile, over on Route 9 westbound, Dunkin Donuts temporarily closed down the drastic way.  The busy spot was torn down as part of a complete re-do and is expected to reopen in 10 – 12 weeks.

On the retail side of things, Eldred Wheeler furniture, a store that specializes in colonial American furniture created by hand using the traditions of 18th century craftsmen, has opened in Linden Square in the former Crossing Main space. Crossing Main, which moved over to Linden Square from Church St. a couple of years ago and has had a presence in Wellesley for over 16 years, somehow slinked out of town without our even noticing.

As far as town news goes, two new basketball courts near the Wellesley High School track/football field opened. The courts, which had been replaced by a parking lot during the building of the new high school, are now back and better than ever thanks to the work of recreation, Natural Resources Commission, the town engineer and other town officials.

In additional basketball news, Wellesley High School announced that Glen Magpiong, the boys varsity coach since 2010, would be switching over to coach the girls team. Coach Magpiong, whose daughter played hoop for WHS for four years, is no stranger to coaching girls’ basketball and looks forward to motivating the players and providing stability to the program.

Over at town hall, a new Natural Resources Commission Director, Brandon Schmitt, has been hired.  He’s in charge of stewardship of the town’s park, conservation, recreation, and open space system.

Wellesley police arrests logThere’s one place in town that, for a little while anyway, didn’t see much coming and going: the police station.  For one glorious week in Wellesley, (10/13 – 10/19) there were no arrests in town.

 

Filed Under: Business, Food, Sports Tagged With: Natural Resources Commission, White Mountain Creamery

Page Waterman, Wellesley
London Harness, Wellesley
Wellesley Lacrosse

White Mountain Creamery melts down in Wellesley Square

October 23, 2014 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

White mountain creamery closedWe’ve been worried about White Mountain Creamery in recent weeks, with good reason as it turns out.  First came rumblings of financial troubles, with kids looking to get paid for their work. Then a sign on the locked door said a family emergency was keeping the shop closed.  The next sign claimed renovations were to blame.  Finally, the sign we dreaded came: “White Mountain Out of Business.”

So what happened to this much-loved local institution that’s been a part of Wellesley’s ice cream scene since 1985? Could be that it was a case of good old-fashioned market saturation. We remember the days when residents used to face off over which of the three ice cream shops in town was better: Truly Yogurt, Brigham’s or White Mountain. Likely, the owners of White Mountain remember those days of limited competition fondly as well, given that Wellesley now has multiple frozen treat offerings to choose from, all within a not unreasonable walk of each other — Truly Yogurt, JP Licks, Baskin-Robbins, Pinkberry, and Whole Foods staff all await, scoopers in hand.

White Mountain Creamery WellesleyWe’ll miss the ease of finishing up at Old School Pizza and hopping right over to White Mountain on warm summer evenings.  Thanks for participating in the Cone Crawl, White Mountain.  Thanks for the White Mountain sundae, a mountain of ice cream and toppings if ever there was one. For those who can abide only White Mountain ice cream, there is still a location in Chestnut Hill, if you don’t mind the drive.

Thanks to readers Alicia and her sharp-eyed brother for helping us get the scoop on this one.

 

Filed Under: Business, Food Tagged With: White Mountain Creamery

Taste of Wellesley, Rotary Club

Tip us off…

Please send tips, photos, ideas to theswellesleyreport@gmail.com

Advertisements

Wellesley Square, Wellesley Merchants
Wellesley, Jesamondo
Beacon Hill Athletic Club, Wellesley
Fay School, Southborough
Sexton test prep
Feldman Law
Wellesley Theatre Project
Volvo
Cheesy Street Grill
Mature Caregivers
Admit Fit, Wellesley
charles river chamber
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
Never miss a post with our free daily Swellesley Report email
Name: 
Your email address:*
Please wait...
Please enter all required fields Click to hide
Correct invalid entries Click to hide

You can subscribe for free, though we appreciate any contribution that supports our independent journalism.

Most Read Posts

  • Voting rights expert to give talk at Wellesley College
  • Wellesley High parents pan standards-based grading, school leaders say improvements planned
  • EXPLO Junior summer program launches at Regis College in Weston
  • Wellesley Public Schools news: Union issues vote of no confidence as negotiations continue; DE&I director ditches 'interim' tag; 'Emotional Lives of Teens' program
  • Wellesley Club gets update on town affairs

Click on Entering Natick sign to read our Natick Report

Entering Natick road sign

Upcoming Events

  • There are no upcoming events.

Popular pages

  • Wellesley’s 2023 Boston Marathon charity runners
  • Wellesley’s 7 official scenic roads

Recent Comments

  • Charles on Wellesley High parents pan standards-based grading, school leaders say improvements planned
  • Mike on Time is right for new owners of Wellesley’s Coconut Thai Cafe
  • Ken on Wellesley High parents pan standards-based grading, school leaders say improvements planned
  • J covino on Wellesley High parents pan standards-based grading, school leaders say improvements planned
  • LADY WELLESLEY on Wellesley High parents pan standards-based grading, school leaders say improvements planned

Links we like

  • Danny's Place
  • Great Runs
  • Jack Sanford: Wellesley's Major League Baseball Star
  • Tech-Tamer
  • The Wellesley Wine Press
  • Universal Hub
  • Wellesley Sports Discussion Facebook Group

Categories

  • 2021 Town Election (24)
  • 2023 Town Election (13)
  • Animals (429)
  • Antiques (49)
  • Art (596)
  • Beyond Wellesley (53)
  • Books (380)
  • Business (1,568)
  • Camp (11)
  • Careers/jobs (53)
  • Churches (82)
  • Clubs (241)
  • Construction (301)
  • Dump (131)
  • Education (3,219)
    • Babson College (252)
    • Bates Elementary School (18)
    • Dana Hall School (37)
    • Fiske Elementary School (11)
    • Hardy Elementary School (48)
    • Hunnewell Elementary School (47)
    • MassBay (57)
    • Schofield Elementary School (26)
    • Sprague Elementary School (19)
    • St. John School (2)
    • Tenacre Country Day School (11)
    • Upham Elementary School (35)
    • Wellesley College (615)
    • Wellesley High School (1,008)
    • Wellesley Middle School (208)
  • Embracing diversity (97)
  • Entertainment (823)
  • Environment (779)
  • Fashion (145)
  • Finance (15)
  • Fire (174)
  • Food (360)
  • Fundraising (650)
  • Gardens (165)
  • Government (625)
    • 2020 Town Election (47)
    • 2022 Town Election (15)
  • Health (870)
    • COVID-19 (203)
  • Hikes (6)
  • History (403)
  • Holidays (442)
  • Houses (164)
  • Humor (47)
  • Kids (869)
  • Law (8)
  • Legal notices (10)
  • Letters to the Editor (89)
  • Media (72)
  • METCO (4)
  • Military (13)
  • Morses Pond (109)
  • Music (584)
  • Natick Report (30)
  • Neighbors (282)
  • Obituaries & remembrances (86)
  • Outdoors (658)
  • Parenting (63)
  • Police (786)
    • Crime (398)
  • Politics (560)
  • POPS Senior Profile (10)
  • RDF (7)
  • Real estate (348)
  • Religion (139)
  • Restaurants (345)
  • Safety (156)
  • Scouts (2)
  • Seniors (128)
  • Shopping (164)
  • Sponsored (6)
  • Sports (1,025)
    • Athlete of the Week (14)
  • STEM (109)
  • Technology (165)
  • Theatre (397)
  • Town Meeting (26)
  • Transportation (242)
  • Travel (17)
  • Uncategorized (1,246)
  • Volunteering (351)
  • Weather (180)
  • Wellesley Election 2019 (21)
  • Wellesley Free Library (282)
  • Wellesley Holiday Gift Guide (2)
  • Wellesley's Wonderful Weekend (20)

© 2023 The Swellesley Report
Site by Tech-Tamer · Login