The latest Natick, Mass., business news:
Mall pickleball complex to feature 4 restaurants
The 21-court BOSSE (not an acronym, we’ll lowercase from here…) pickleball complex slated to open at the former Neiman Marcus space in Natick Mall this fall will boast a range of eating and dining options, the operator formally announced this week.
Plans for the “pickledom” have made their way through the town approval process.
The food and beverage options at the 97,000 sq. ft. facility will range from “zippy” to schmantzy, under the oversight of Chef Chris Coombs, who has made a name for himself with Boston restaurants such as Boston Chops, Dbar, and Deuxave.
A humble press release describes the pending arrival of “a new category of culinary experiences” within a larger “state-of-the-art experience.” This translates into: a fancy Italian restaurant; a café featuring coffee, smoothies, and baked goods; a courtside cafe; and a sports bar with a focus on shareable menu items.
The complex’s founder is D.J. Bosse, a former professional tennis player who also launched the Bosse Sports Training facility in Hyde Park.
Natick has been grappling with demand for places to play the popular paddle sport of pickleball, where outdoor courts are at a premium. Whether or not indoor pickleball at the mall—at a price to be determined—will address some of the demand remains to be seen as the developer’s plans unfold.
Temporary signage for Bosse, under construction at Natick MallNo pets at the Mall
No pickleball for pups at Natick Mall, we guess. Newish signs are up that alert shoppers to the fact that they’re not allowed to bring pets onto the premises (service animals are welcome). Not even sloths?
While some are surprised people would bring their pets to the mall in the first place (there aren’t any animal grooming salons there), others aren’t surprised, and some have tales to tell about dogs accosting them or their service animals.
A lengthy discussion on the topic broke out recently on the Friends of FIDO of Natick Facebook group.
We reached out to Mall management regarding the pet policy, but have not heard back.
Women entrepreneurs to unite
A W.E. (Women Entrepreneurs) Love Natick event will be held at Morse Institute Library on March 8 from 8-9:30am to celebrate International Women’s Day. Select Board member Kristen Pope will appear as guest speaker.
Men and women are welcome to attend and network at the free event. Registration is open.
Know of Natick businesses coming, going, or doing something new? Let us know: natickreport@gmail.com
