Natick Report

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

Wegmans to close its Natick Mall store later this summer

by 4 Comments

It’s been a fun five years, but Wegmans announced on Thursday, June 1, that it will close its Natick Mall location later this summer, with an exact date TBD.

wegmans natick mall

A memo on the Wegmans corporate website said that the store’s 365 employees (142 full-time and 223 part-time) were notified of the decision throughout the day and were assured that their positions with the company are secure, albeit at other area Wegmans’ locations.

Wegmans has five additional stores in the Greater-Boston area, and approximately 2,700 employees. Corporate says Wegmans does not have plans to close any other stores.

Sure thing though let me also add that everyone that I know in Wellesley and Natick is not happy about this and agrees the store is always crowded. We speculate that they probably have high OpEx and are being squeezed out by the incoming Moms in Sherwood Plaza and the rumored Amazon Fresh in the Shopper’s World Plaza.

Wegmans customer Lindsay Diamond Cary wrote to us that “I find it hard to believe that they were unable to attract enough shoppers to the space -it is ALWAYS packed when I am there, weekends or weekdays. How can we start a petition to keep the store??!” She added that “everyone that I know in Wellesley and Natick is not happy about this and agrees the store is always crowded. We speculate that they probably have high OpEx and are being squeezed out by the incoming Moms in Sherwood Plaza and the rumored Amazon Fresh in the Shopper’s World Plaza.”

Natick Report readers have been reacting to the surprising news on social media:

  • “Wegman’s has been my go-to’ grocery store since they opened. It always seemed busy so this news is truly shocking!”
  • “Prices are high but love shopping there. Garage parking in winter, easy access, great customer service, fresh foods, good bakery. Fixed costs are high there, I guess they need more customer traffic. Bet Stop and Shop and Roche Brothers are happy. Maybe the Stop and Shop will improve their customer service but won’t hold my breath.”
  • “What the F?!”

Natick has no shortage of grocery stores with Roche Bros., ALDI and Stop & Shop, and is about to get another at Sherwood Plaza, with a possible Amazon Fresh store going into a location vacated by Barnes & Noble.

Small area package stores might breathe a sign of relief, as a big box competitor goes away.

wegmans natick mall

THANK YOU to all who forwarded the Wegmans letter to us. We appreciate your efforts to help us report the news. Please send news tips, photos, ideas to natickreport@gmail.com

Advertisement

Memorial Day observances in Natick remember those who died while serving

by Leave a Comment

Natick’s Memorial Day observances were held on Mon., May 29, and included a parade that started at Moran Park and ended at the Town Common, making stops along Pond Street to pay respects to veterans buried in Old Dell and St. Patrick’s cemeteries, and the Indian Burial Ground.

Memorial Day parade, Natick
Indian Burial Ground, Natick

 

Natick director of Veterans Services, Paul Carew

More:

Memorial Day observances in Natick, 2023

by Leave a Comment

Natick has a number of observances and activities on Memorial Day, which falls on Monday, May 29. Memorial Day is a national holiday and honors those who lost their lives while defending their country.

natick high symphonic band memorial day 22

Monday, May 29
8:15am—Flag raising at Moran Park (near the downtown MBTA station)
8:30am—Parade forms at Moran Park
8:40am—Parade marches to Town Common
9am—Ceremonies at the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Monument
10am—Parade resumes and marches from East Central to West Central and onto Pond Street for memorial services at Old Dell and St. Patrick’s cemeteries.
11am—Parade resumes, marches to Indian Burial Ground on Pond Street for ceremonies at 11:15 a.m.
11:30am—Parade disbands.

Other important info

Parking meters in Natick will be free on Monday, May 29.

Natick’s Recycling Center, located on West Street at the corner of Route 27, is closed on Mon., May 29 (as well as every other Monday).

Natick Town offices will be closed Monday, May 29.

Memorial Day is an official holiday for the US Postal Service, so Post Offices will be closed on Monday, May 29 and there will be no home delivery of mail. It is also an official holiday for UPS, but scheduled UPS Critical Express and UPS Holiday packages should still arrive.

Massachusetts law states that liquor stores may not open until noon.

Morse Institute Library will be closed Saturday, May 27; Sunday, May 28; and Monday, May 29, in observance of the holiday.

The Bacon Free Library will be closed Saturday, May 27 (and all Saturdays Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend; and Sunday, May 28 (and all Sundays).

More: Natick military veterans and war memorial tour

Ask about Advertising on Natick Report.

Subscribe to our Natick Report daily email

Advertisements

 

Curl up outside with a good book in Natick’s new Outdoor Reading Rooms

by 3 Comments

In celebration of the Morse Institute Library’s 150th anniversary, the Town of Natick, the Morse Institute Library, and local artists have partnered to install and maintain two temporary Outdoor Reading Rooms on the front lawn of the Morse Institute Library.

Outdoor Reading Rooms are open-air ‘rooms’ where anyone may sit and read—no library card needed.

Take a look at the Outdoor Reading Room installations on the front lawn of the Morse Institute Library. No need to sequester yourself inside with a good book when there are welcoming spaces outside.

Natick Library, outdoor reading room

Natick Library, outdoor reading room

Natick Library, outdoor reading room

The Outdoor Reading Rooms will serve the community through the summer months.

This public art program is possible due to the generosity of Cognex and the New England Foundation for the Arts.

Natick Education Foundation awards over $40K in grants for 2022-23

by Leave a Comment

Natick Education Foundation has announced the 2022-2023 Grant Award Winners. The NEF has funded 18 grants totaling $40,000. That’s up from over $22k for six projects in the 2021-2022 grant cycle.

Congratulations to the recipients as they impact the school communities with their ideas and actions.

Grants were awarded in two categories—Classroom Innovation and Professional Rejuvenation.

Classroom Innovation grants seek to enhance classrooms and programming in the Natick Public Schools. Among the 14 grants awarded were to:

  • NHS’s Ray Salemi to modernize the NHS Robotics class
  • Aiden McCann and Keri Crawford to encourage opportunities for teamwork through artistic expression
  • Kennedy Middle School’s Sarah Murphy, to update that school’s library collection
  • Natick Preschool’s Jill Ricardo to support science exploration.

Professional Rejuvenation grants seek to support educators in their professional development, pursuit, or passion. Among the four grants awarded was one to Memorial Elementary School’s Kimberly Araujo to support classroom mental health.

The next grant application window will begin in early January 2024. Grant award winners are selected in mid-March, and funds become available in April.

 

If you’d like to award Natick Report a grant to support our independent journalism venture, please do….