The latest Natick, Mass., business news:
The Block revs up marketing
The Block, the retail development at 1 South Main St., that’s rising on the site of a 2019 fire that razed a handful of businesses, has gussied up its website and has started to try to get the community excited about its planned opening in 2025.
Plans for The Block have morphed and morphed again over the past few years, with plans shifting from a pop-up hamlet, to mixed-use retail and residential, to three stories or two.
The current plan for this colorful complex has settled on two stories with six retail units that range in size from about 200 to 3,300 sq. ft. The Block describes its various spaces as ideal for restaurants, grab-and-go, spas, or experiential use. Rental rates begin in the $30s/SF NNN with lease terms of 3-5+ years, and shorter-term pop-up space may be available seasonally in the courtyard.
The Block invites interested parties to reach out.
Foundation work is underway at The BlockPayMore headed to Sherwood Plaza
PayMore, a chain of stores focused on buying, selling, and trading electronic gear, has plans to open at the former Jenny Craig space at Sherwood Plaza.
The Natick Select Board recently OK’d PayMore’s Junk Dealer/Collector License application (that sounds more glamorous than it really is).
Market 10 Provisions hearing continued
Natick’s Select Board on Feb. 26 heard a new bid for a license from an applicant seeking to set up shop in the former convenience store space in the plaza on Rte. 135 that’s home to Shanghai Tokyo and Bill’s Pizzeria.
Neel Patel, whose earlier attempt to get an all-alcohol license for a market that would sell alcoholic beverages as well as meats, cheeses, and other food didn’t pan out, was back with a pitch for Market 10 Provisions and an off-premises wine and malt beverage package store license. Patel said his revised plan would have more of an emphasis on groceries,
The Board still sought to understand how this new business, which Patel described at one point as being perhaps “a smaller version of Whole Foods,” would serve a public need not already satisfied by two nearby package stores.
The hearing was continued until March 6, with requests from Board members for more details on the business, such as likely wine and food distributors, and a better picture of the possible store layout.
Almost tea time
A Natick Report reader pointed us to a crowdsourcing campaign by a Sudbury mother and daughter looking to open a team room in the MetroWest area (most likely in Sudbury).
The daughter, Julienne, has lived through some very serious health issues, and the idea for the afternoon tea place comes from her early years of hosting tea parties.
Know of Natick businesses coming, going, or doing something new? Let us know: natickreport@gmail.com
