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Natick Report

Since 2020: More than you really want to know about Natick, Mass.

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Top Stories

 
  • —Park improvement funding now up to Town Meeting
  •   —Scenes from OldTown Fall Fair
  • —Town government meetings for week of Oct. 5
 
 

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Chick-Fil-A seeks to open Natick restaurant with drive-thru

August 17, 2026 by Bob Brown

Chik fil AFor those with cravings for Chick-Fil-A chicken sandwiches and shakes can’t make it all the way to Framingham, the chain is seeking to open a restaurant about a mile away in the Macy’s parking lot at Natick Mall.

A public hearing kicks off at the Natick Planning Board on Aug. 19 at 7pm. Landscaping, traffic flow, stormwater management, and more are among the tasty morsels set to be discussed.

The applicant proposes construction of a 5,000-plus sq. ft. Chick-Fil-A with a drive-through at the southwest corner of the Macy’s parking area between the retailer and Rte. 9. There are 88 indoor and 16 outdoor seats planned.


On the off chance you didn’t see the paid legal notice for this hearing that ran in a print newspaper, please consider encouraging the town to pay for key legal notices on Natick Report, where people might see them.

Filed Under: Business, Restaurants

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Natick business buzz: Alma Gaucha Brazilian steakhouse eyes Mall; Wonder could expand next door

August 17, 2026 by Bob Brown

The latest Natick, Mass., and nearby business news:

Alma Gaucha Brazilian steakhouse eyes Natick Mall

almaA Brazilian steakhouse called Alma Gaucha has begun the application process in Natick for an alcohol license to serve booze at a new restaurant at Natick Mall.

Presumably, the restaurant would be located in the nearly 7,000 sq. ft. first floor space near Nordstrom that previously was targeted by a Gatsby’s Chop House, a business that never opened after getting approved for an all-alcohol license from the town. The space includes an outdoor patio.

Alma Gaucha operates restaurants in Boston and Worcester.
 


 

Expand your reach (and support local news) by advertising on Natick Report.

 


 

Wonder follows Natick opening with Wellesley plans

 
Wonder, the virtual food hall that serves up dishes from multiple restaurants, has filed an application to open a location in Wellesley Square.

A Wonder spokesperson says the company, which has been opening dozens of locations, aims to open in Wellesley next year.

Wonder, Natick
Wonder Natick

 


 

Know of Natick businesses coming, going, or doing something new? Let us know: natickreport@gmail.com

Filed Under: Business, Restaurants

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Blue Square Pizza: a sourdough revolution in Natick

June 26, 2026 by Deborah Brown

Natick Center’s colorful architectural curiosity, The Block, has officially welcomed Blue Square Pizza, the sourdough-centric brainchild of founder Troy Sproul. Get ready for four different kinds of pizza and endless topping options at the 2-table, 4-seat, 1 S Main St. location.  

Blue Square Pizza, Natick

Although the address is 1 Main St., don’t be alarmed if you can’t see Blue Square right away. It’s there. The door actually opens onto Pond Rd., which is where we meter-parked when we stopped in during their first week of business. The nearby Pond St. lot is another paid-parking option.

Sproul doesn’t come to Natick uninitiated in the ways of pizza. After spending years at Papa John’s, he stepped away to earn his MBA and, armed with newfound corporate knowledge, launched his first Blue Square in Hopkinton in 2022. A Northborough location soon followed. With two successful shops, Natick seemed ripe to receive the gospel of sourdough-crust pizza. 

At Blue Square, the menu is a curated tour of regional American pizza styles. But here, rather than a yeast-based crust, the toppings sit on a fermented foundation that delivers a unique flavor profile. Here’s the lowdown:

Blue Square Pizza, Natick
New York style pizza. Gobble-worthy.

The New York Style—Round pies, hand tossed and baked thin and crispy, then cut into triangles.

The Detroit Style—Cooked in rectangular pans, and Wisconsin brick cheese is spread edge-to-edge, melting down the sides to create a buttery, lacy, caramelized perimeter.

The Chicago Cracker—A thin version for those who want their pizza’s crust to announce itself with an assertive crunch when eaten.

The Grandma Pie—Just like your Sicilian grandma used to make. Baked in 12”x16” rectangular pans, and cut into squares. Crispy on the bottom and edges, light and airy in the center.

If you are looking for a cozy date night spot with candlelight and table service, keep driving. Blue Square Pizza is unassuming in the most literal sense. The interior is sparse and spotless, featuring only two small tables and two chairs. During my visit, both tables were occupied by staff laptops, requiring a polite request to the cashier to clear a space just to sit down. And don’t think you’re going to just park it and get some work done. The wi-fi password is not made available to customers. Blue Square likes to keep their customer interactions friendly, but quick.

The takeout-first philosophy is felt in the amenities—or lack thereof. When I asked for a glass of tap water, I was met with a hard no. There are no trash cans available for customers, either inside the restaurant or just outside the door, which led to the awkward (and frankly, “yuck”) experience of leaving used napkins on the table upon departure. There is a restroom for customers.

Blue Square Pizza, Natick

So the basic logistics are simple, but the food is undeniably excellent. I tried out the New York Classic Cheese and was not disappointed. The sourdough base and high-quality cheese earn top marks, making the eating experience sublime. The sheer variety of options make Blue Square a place where you could easily rotate through the menu for months without boredom. Whether it’s the $15 Detroit small (6 slices) or the $36 Grandma-style bacon and fig jam pie, there is something here for every pizza aficianado. Just not single slices. This is a whole-pie kind of place.

Fortunately the good weather is here, and you can always take your pizza over to Natick Common. Whether this will lead to trash cans stuffed with pizza boxes, annoying DPW workers, is yet to be seen. But it seems certain that this is a spot that will draw crowds eager to take out, relax in the place of their choice, and enjoy a great pizza.

Blue Square Pizza

  • 1 S Main Street, Natick, MA 01760
  • Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 11:30am-8pm; Friday & Saturday, 11:30am-8:30pm
  • Pickup, dine-in (limited), and delivery. Order online here.
  • Restroom available; no tap water or public trash cans.

What’s going around The Block

  • Maverick Men’s Grooming Center—opened last month
  • Sa Nguyen’s Nhậu; and San Sushi Bar—aiming for a late summer/early fall opening for Nhậu, with San Sushi Bar opening sometime after that.

Filed Under: Business, Food, Restaurants

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Restaurants from Natick & beyond line up for Taste of MetroWest event

April 17, 2026 by Bob Brown

taste

The 13th Annual Taste of MetroWest on April 27 (5-8pm) will give attendees a chance to more than sample offerings from more than two dozen restaurants and vendors from the area at the Renaissance Framingham Hotel & Conference Center.

$40 tickets can be purchased online.

Natick restaurants taking part include:

  • PF Chang’s
  • Anna’s Taqueria
  • Bosse
  • Puttshack
  • Dave & Busters

And here’s the full list:

Heart City Health Cafe
Home Food Delivery (Hills Home Market)
Framingham Public Schools
The Rail Trail Flatbread Co.
Sodexo at Framingham State University
The Tack Room
Alltown Fresh Framingham
Keefe Tech
110 Grill
PF Changs
Andina Cafes
Caipy
Anna’s Taqueria
Renaissance Framingham
Life Cafe at Life Time Boston Metrowest
Picco
Zayith Tapas and Bar
Chatham Ice Cream Bars
New City Microcreamery
Bosse
Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers
Anzio’s Pizza
R L Schreiber
Coach Grill
Puttshack
Evviva Tratoria
Dubom
Dave&Busters
Atlantic Poke

Attendees will have an opportunity to vote for their favorites.


Expand your reach (and support local news) by advertising on Natick Report.


More: Visit our Natick restaurants page, sponsored by Tama Japanese Sushi & Hibachi

Filed Under: Restaurants

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Business buzz: Burning Wheel Yoga School headed to Natick; Tama Japanese Sushi & Hibachi signs on as restaurants page sponsor; Bosse taps new chef

April 9, 2026 by Bob Brown

The latest Natick, Mass., business news:
 

Burning Wheel Yoga School (soon to be Burning Wheel Yoga and Fitness) headed to Natick Center

 
burning wheel yoga logoBurning Wheel Yoga School, currently located in Medfield, is in the process of relocating to 12 Washington St. in Natick Center (above Elder Well). Plans are to open in July.

For Founder Jordan Lashley, this will mark something of a homecoming: His first apartment was in Natick almost 30 years ago, and he taught yoga in Wellesley for about 10 years.

“So I already have strong roots in the area,” he says. “A lot of people know me locally, and I feel like downtown Natick could really benefit from a dedicated yoga school with the kind of depth and community we offer. The location itself is also a great fit.”

Lashley says the relocation will allow for greater visibility and autonomy. Also, the business is evolving its brand to from Burning Wheel Yoga to Burning Wheel Yoga and Fitness. This reflects a broader range of offerings—from yoga and Pilates to HIIT, sound baths, and more.

Why is the business, either the existing or evolving brand, called Burning Wheel?  “In yoga philosophy, there’s the concept of the ‘wheel of samsara,’ which represents the cycle of suffering. Yoga is a practice aimed at liberation from that cycle. So the idea behind Burning Wheel is to break that cycle—or in our case, to set the wheel on fire.”

Lashley, by the way, should fit right in to the Natick Center arts scene: He’s a stained glass artist.
 


 

Tama Japanese Sushi & Hibachi signs on as our Natick Restaurants page sponsor

 
We’re excited to share that Tama Japense Sushi & Hibachi (915 Worcester St./Rte. 9 west) has signed on as the main sponsor for our Natick restaurants page. Support from organizations like Tama helps us to provide the reporting and news Natick Report delivers to the community.

We’ve enjoyed a couple of meals at the restaurant as well as a lion dance. Tama opened in October, 2025.

tama promo

Learn more about becoming a Natick Report advertising partner.
 


 

Bosse taps new executive chef

Bosse, the pickleball and restaurant business at Natick Mall, has promoted Sierra Erickson to executive chef.

Erickson, who’s been with Bosse since 2024, will oversee culinary operations across Bosse’s three restaurants.

Sierra Erickson bosse
Sierra Erickson (courtesy photo)

 


 

Know of Natick businesses coming, going, or doing something new? Let us know: natickreport@gmail.com

Filed Under: Business, Health, Restaurants

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