entering natick sign

entering natick sign
Wellesley Dental Studio

Natick Report

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

  • Subscribe to daily email
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Eat
  • Schools
  • Summer Camp
  • Embracing diversity
  • Charities/Community
  • Arts
  • Kids
  • Business Buzz
  • Environment/Sustainability
  • Top 10 things to do (under normal circumstances)
  • The Swellesley Report
  • COVID-19
Needham Bank, Natick

Natick’s Lookout Farm to float big new dining & drinking plans at BoS meeting

June 8, 2020 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Update: (6/13/20). Our review of The Lookout at Lookout Farm.

(Update: (6/10/20). The Board of Selectmen approved the expanded alcohol delivery service area by the farm on 6/8/20 at its meeting. All that was left was for the fire department to approve the grilling area, and it looks like Lookout Farm’s wishes will be granted. 

The Natick Board of Selectmen plans to discuss its permit process for temporary outdoor dining at Monday night’s board meeting. At first we thought the most intriguing part was this: “The Town will lead the effort to establish use of public spaces in Downtown Natick for Temporary Outdoor Dining.”

But then we saw that Lookout Farm is on the agenda, too, looking for an expansion of its outdoor licensed premises. As it turns out, the farm is looking to change things up significantly and has a letter of recommendation dated June 5 from the town’s Director of Community & Economic Development, James Freas.

Lookout Farm is pledging on its Facebook page an “amplified drinking experience featuring OUTDOOR dining” come June 12.

The 180-acres farm looks to consolidate eating and drinking operations, which have included the taproom, Peach Pit and other venues, near its U-barn in a space not to exceed 400 seats dubbed The Lookout. The operation would be integrated with the orchard to provide part of Lookout Farm’s overall “agri-tourism” experience, sunsets, walking trails, fruit trees, and all. Selling points include a spacious enough area to allow 100 square feet per guest, triple that of its current venues.

The farm also pledges to provide a highly sanitized operation, with online reservations and paths between facilities designed to avoid guests cross-crossing one another. If Lookout Farm’s Operations Manager Jay Mofenson gets his way, the farm would be offering eating and dining services 7 days a week starting at noon, hopefully June-October.

In its letter to the BoS, Lookout Farm paints a bleak picture of its future under current conditions—farm operational expenses of $200K per month and revenue but a trickle—unless it can greatly enhance its eating and drinking operations. Even if it could re-open the indoor taproom, doing so profitably would not be possible under social distancing guidelines, Mofenson says.

Lookout Farm Taproom
The Taproom will remain empty

 

In a letter dated May 18 to the Board of Selectmen, Mofenson even goes here: “We believe that these operational pivots further enhance the farm experience and short of residential development, is our best chance to generate the essential revenue needed to survive.”

Mofenson also plays the history card in his pitch:

“Lookout Farm and the town of Natick have a symbiotic relationship and shared interest in maintaining the farm as an operational agricultural property. Farming since 1651, Lookout Farm is a very special part of our shared community and with your support, I believe we have a solid plan to redefine ourselves for a successful future.”

Mofenson writes to the BoS that: “Our team is confident that we can successfully adapt to the ‘new normal’ and create a safe and enjoyable outdoor experience for our guests.”

If the town bites, this will be a new normal indeed.

Download (PDF, 507KB)

Filed Under: Business, Restaurants

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Linden Square, Wellesley
London Harness, Natick Report

Tip us off!

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

Wellesley Square

Wellesley Square

Jesamondo
Sexton Test Prep
Feldman Family Law
Fay School, Southborough

Categories

  • Animals
  • Art
  • Bacon Free Library
  • Beyond Natick
  • Books
  • Boston Marathon
  • Business
  • Camps
  • Charity/Fundraising
  • Churches
  • Community
  • Construction
  • Coronavirus
  • COVID-19
  • Education
  • Election
  • Embracing diversity
  • Entertainment
  • Environment
  • Fashion
  • Firefighters
  • Food
  • Gardens
  • Government
  • Health
  • History
  • Holidays
  • Kids
  • Media
  • Morse Institute Library
  • Natick Historical Society
  • Natick track
  • Neighbors
  • Obituaries & remembrances
  • Outdoors
  • Police & crime
  • Real estate
  • Recycling Center
  • Religion
  • Restaurants
  • Schools
  • Seniors
  • Shopping
  • Sports
  • Theater
  • Transportation
  • Uncategorized
  • Veterans
  • Volunteering
  • Weather
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Get our email newsletter

* indicates required

Most Read Posts

  • Meet Natick candidate for School Committee—Shai Fuxman
  • Little Lola's owners "extremely excited to announce that we have closed": But...
  • Natick summer camp listings 2021 — find the experience of a lifetime
  • Meet Natick candidate for School Committee—Catherine Brunell
  • Natick mourns high school junior who died in car crash

Click image to read The Swellesley Report

The Swellesley Report

Events calendar

  1. (W)omen (E)ntrepreneurs Love Natick online meet-up

    March 8 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am
  2. From Turnpike to Ted Williams: Route 9 in Natick (online talk from Natick Historical Society)

    March 9 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
  3. Raising Backyard Chickens online program

    March 20 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am

View All Events

Pages

  • About Natick Report
  • Advertise on Natick Report
  • Contribute to Natick Report
  • Embracing diversity in Natick
  • Kid stuff (sports, clubs, activities in Natick, Mass.)
  • Natick Arts/Entertainment
  • Natick charitable and community action groups
  • Natick COVID-19 & vaccine news
  • Natick No-Nos
  • Natick public schools
  • Natick Summer Camps (and beyond)
  • Natick’s zip code & post offices
  • Top 10 things to do in Natick, Mass.
  • Where to Eat in Natick, Mass
  • Where to worship in Natick
  • Natick rules: Chickens yes, roosters no

© 2021 Natick Report
Site by Tech-Tamer · Login