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Natick business buzz: 1 South Main St. project could now break ground by mid-2023

December 28, 2022 by Bob Brown 3 Comments

Natick’s most prominent undeveloped space, the fenced off 1 South Main St. plot resulting from the 2019 fire that razed a handful of businesses, could start returning to life by May or June.

“This is probably the site in town that I am most asked about… like when is something gonna come in there?” said Planning Board member Terri Evans during a Dec. 21 meeting of that body (discussion on 1 South Main starts at about the 9-minute mark of the Pegasus recording).

The team behind “The Block” project told the Planning Board during an update at that meeting that it found in initial marketing of the development as a pop-up hamlet for artists and other entrepreneurs that there was more interest in spaces at least slightly larger, and sometimes double that, of the 500 sq. ft. “jewel box” spaces first envisioned. A restaurant, for example, might require a larger space, or maybe a few restaurants could band together in a larger space that lets them share amenities.

the block

 

Developer Stuart Rothman added that the realization of the challenges involved in managing a dozen-plus retail tenants also factored into the proposed change of plans. That’s not to say a larger space couldn’t be leased by an outfit that would then manage a few tenants, or sub-letters, he added.

The project has morphed as its made its way through town approvals. There was lots of drama in early 2021, with the developer pulling his plans and then having a change of heart. Then there was talk earlier this year of expanding beyond two stories to three,  and perhaps some rooftop use. Now the thinking is to keep it at two floors for the foreseeable future, though shrink the number of spaces within it from 16 to 8 to accommodate larger units. There could be a mix of unit sizes based on demand.

A working group meeting was held in September, and things had been quiet since, at least publicly. The team came back to Planning at the Dec. 21 meeting with some proposed changes to stairways (moving external ones into the building) and an elevator location designed to better suit the shift to larger units.

the block

 

The Planning Board determined that the proposal added up to minor rather than major change (the latter of which would have triggered a public hearing), and approved the modifications. The development team’s architect suggested ground could be broken as soon as March or April, but developer Rothman said May or June is more likely. There was earlier hope for a groundbreaking this past spring, but the weeds have had a reprieve.

While Planning approved the new proposal, it was not without regret about the loss of some design features—”slightly quirkier elements,” as Evans put it. It feels “a little more formal, a little less playful,” she said of the structure, which does retain an inviting courtyard.

The project team tried to assure the Board that the development will still have a vibrant feel, including with the option for an open air deck on the second floor, plus spaces for locally-owned businesses. The latest renderings don’t feature the colorful sidewalk scenes of some past ones, so that might influence the impressions of those viewing them, said project team member Allison Yee of Upnext, which connects small retailers with pop-up space.

More: A whirlwind tour of Natick’s highest profile chain link fences (July 2021)


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Filed Under: Art, Business, Restaurants



Natick business buzz: Fair & Yeager quietly exits prime downtown space for Needham; Maine Girl Cupcakes coming to town; Agostino’s for lunch; Shopper’s Find closing

November 30, 2022 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

The latest Natick, Mass., business news:

Natick mainstay Fair & Yeager exits prime downtown space for Needham

Sure, Fair & Yeager is an insurance agency, not a flashy business. But for a multigenerational family operation whose long history has been so intertwined with Natick and whose location on Main Street is so prominent, the agency’s departure for Needham in recent weeks has seemed far too quiet.

Customers have begun receiving letters in the mail from Fair & Yeager leader Arthur Fair announcing the firm’s departure from its Natick base and reassuring with the usual benefits touted by firms involved in mergers. In its case, Fair & Yeager has melded with the oh-so-generic-sounding Provider Group. In the murky world of insurance, Fair & Yeager is also listed as a Cross Insurance subsidiary.

Other than that letter, there’s just a simple sign on the door at 10 Main St., letting customers know their account managers haven’t changed and that they’ll need to go 7 miles away to visit the new office. You’d never know a thing had changed inside 10 Main St., based on the fresh, festive holiday greens accentuating the white-and-brick office building exterior, nor by looking at the agency’s website or social media as of this posting.

That simple sign on the door pales, of course, below the distinctive gold-embossed lettering of “Fair & Yeager Insurance” that conveys the sort of class and tradition that gives downtown Natick its feel. The agency has been in that building since 1968 and has roots going all the way back to 1898.

A rich local history

A timeline on the Fair & Yeager website tells of a company that began near the end of the 19th century as F.E. Yeager. The Fair & Yeager partnership was established in the 1940s, with the Fairs getting their start at the original firm in 1914 in the person of Natick High senior Arthur Fair.

The agency, which resided at 32 Main St. before moving to 10 Main St., grew via acquisitions over the years. Fair after Fair family member joined the business and contributed to its growth.

Fair & Yeager celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1998. It was honored at Family Day on Natick Common and at the July 4th parade. The agency issued $500 grants to each school in Natick, according to its timeline.

The firm has been known as a strong community supporter throughout its run, with Arthur Fair III leading the way in recent years through his role with Natick Center Associates and the Natick Center Cultural District, which will now carry on without Fair & Yeager in the middle of it.

Fair & Yeager


Maine Girl Cupcakes coming to town

Maine-Girl-Cupcakes-logo-alt

The Marlborough-based business, which offers more than 100 flavors, says its cupcakes are made from scratch and baked to order. Concoctions include Pretty Pistachio, Two Lights Tiramisu, and Monkey Doodle.

A dozen cupcakes through the home-based business go for $36, though we’ll have to see what the pricing is at the storefront, located at 13 South Main St. between Sweetwaters and the Bagel Table.

maine girl cupcakes

 


Agostino’s for lunch

This isn’t so much news, as just a quick recap of our recent visit to Agostino’s Italian Restaurant in Natick Center for lunch on a Thursday afternoon, pre-holidays.


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Before entering the restaurant, which neighbors the hole-in-the-ground that will soon become a residential and retail development dubbed The Flats which took note of a festive display out front as well as a “Help Wanted” sign on the door. Indeed, our server was busy, even with a moderate number of customers (the bar area was more crowded than the main restaurant section).

agostino's

We introduced the restaurant to our friend Alice, who runs the Lincoln Squirrel, an independent local news site like ours in Lincoln, Mass. She was surprised at the generous size of the $8 bruchetta ordered as an appetizer, and we wound up taking a good chunk of it home.

We all enjoyed our meals. I went with the seafood cannelloni, which translates into rolls of pasta stuffed with scallops, shrimp, lobster and ricotta. A sweet dish, kind of wanted more, but it was rich, so probably best off with the portion served.

agostino's

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Shopper’s Find closing

Shopper’s Find, the hodgepodge store that temporarily replaced Lord & Taylor at the Mall before that space presumably goes the bio lab route, has announced it is closing all 3 of its locations.


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Filed Under: Business, Food, Restaurants



Natick business buzz: We visit the new Terra Nossa Brazilian Grill; Greenhouse reopens for dining; Lab & office building sold for $4.2M

November 13, 2022 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

The latest Natick, Mass., business news:

We visit the new Terra Nossa Brazilian Grill at Natick Mall

The Terra Nossa Brazilian Grill has just opened on the second floor food court at Natick Mall, so we paid the new restaurant a visit for lunch on a weekday afternoon. There was a short line, and it moved quickly.

The menu features a variety of meats, vegetables, rice offerings, and more.

We went with combo meals (a meat, jasmine rice, another side). Mine included Picanha, a thinly sliced steak with good but not too powerful flavor, and done medium rare. I paired it with slice sweet potatoes, which were soft and tasty, plus the rice, which also was flavorful. As a picky eater, I found the meal filling and not at all too spicy for my taste. My wife’s meal included a good cheesy chicken stroganoff, collared greens and squash, and rice. Our meals cost $10 and $11, respectively.

Other menu items include pastels (pie crust encasing various fillings, such as cheese and beef) and burgers stuffed with all sorts of extras.

We passed on dessert, but Terra Nossa has a good selection, including Brigadeiro (fudge balls).

The staff was friendly and efficient. Like many fast-food joints, they are heavy on plastic.

Terra Nossa also has a location in Braintree.

terra nossa, natick mall

 

Lookout Farm Greenhouse reopens for dining

It’s time to head back inside at Belkin Family Lookout Farm, where the Greenhouse (89 Pleasant St.) has reopened. You’ll once again be able to order food and drinks, with the contact-free ordering system still in place.

Check the schedule for days when there is music or other activities, but the plan is for live music Thursdays-Saturdays 6-8pm. Sunday jazz brunches will be held, too, as will seasonal visits from the Grinch and Santa.

The Greenhouse initially will be open Thursdays through Sundays, and will kick off this Thursday’s opening with the launch of a new hard cider called Bog Juice (cranberry hard cider with a hint of orange).

Lookout Farm, Natick

 

 

Natick lab & office building sold for $4.2M

R.W. Holmes of Wayland has announced that it has negotiated the sale of a 27,000 sq. ft., lab and office building at 12 Michigan Dr., to Copley Investments by Natick Michigan Investors. The deal was worth $4.2M.

“We have seen a considerable uptick in demand for flex and lab buildings across Greater Boston submarkets,” said R.W. Holmes Managing Director Dean Blackey, in a statement. “We have been fortunate to be involved with several significant transactions in Natick in recent months.

R.W. Holmes recently negotiated the sale of two other Natick properties, 13 Tech Circle and 24 Superior Drive for $3.99 million ($360 per square foot) and $17.59 million, respectively.

Demand for lab space has been a hot topic across various Natick boards and committees, such as Health and Planning, and at Town Meeting itself. The town has been working to encourage more labs to open here, but some residents are wary about the safety of such businesses, especially when close to their homes.


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Filed Under: Business, Restaurants

Natick Business Buzz: A visit to the Muffin House; Royal Smoke Shop wafts onto Rte. 9; New program for nurse practitioner faculty

September 16, 2022 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

The latest Natick, Mass., business news:

A visit to the Muffin House

Somehow we’d never made it over the Muffin House Café(325 N. Main St.) until this week, when in our quest to go everywhere in Natick we braved the never-ending construction mess on Rte. 27.

We got there during the 8am rush, along with high school students and others who, like us, lined up inside the small cafe, or waited patiently just outside. You can order online to avoid peak hour crushes. Although there are a couple of stools at a counter area, the tight quarters make the Muffin House mainly a take-out shop. The counter area when we were there was in use as a pick-up area for pre-ordered cakes and other baked goods. A couple of tables and chairs are set up for outdoor dining.

The Muffin House is a small place with a big menu. The astonishing variety of drinks includes over 15 coffee flavors available, and all flavors are roasted in the bean so that each drink comes to the customer with a rich flavor profile. They’ve got four varieties of frozen coffee (mint chip, extreme toffee coffee, coconut cream, and chocolate decadence); nitro coffee; lattes; cappuccinos; espresso shots; teas; cider; hot chocolate; strawberry banana, wildberry,  or tropical smoothies; and more.

But they’re not called the Muffin House for nothing. On any given day about a dozen varieties of freshly baked muffins are in rotation from their roster of almost 20 recipes. We went with a pina colada muffin, as moist and tropical as a beach day on an island paradise. The vanilla raspberry offered a subtler taste, also good. Both muffins had a nice crumb to them, and a muffin top that gave a slight crunch at the edges. We washed the muffins down with a flavorful mango smoothie and were good for the morning.

Our sole disappointment was the news that they were out of rustic grain bread, so we chose to have our avocado toast on white. Not as satisfying, but the everyday bagel seasoning on top gave the toast plenty of flavor, and the avocado portion was generous.

There are five Muffin House Café locations, including Hopkinton and Medway.

 

natick muffin house

natick muffin house

Royal Smoke Shop wafts onto Rte. 9

Royal Smoke Shop has left Natick Mall and replaced a mattress and futon shop at 136 Worcester St. (Rte. 9 east).

The adult-only shop, where you can buy hookahs and such, is seeking a variance from the Natick Board of Health on Sept. 20 to add lottery tickets to its mix.

royal smoke natick

 

New program for nurse practitioner faculty

Natick nonprofit Nurse Practitioner Associates for Continuing Education (NPACE) has teamed with the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties to create a development program for new or early career nurse practitioner faculty.

This 28-credit on-demand continuing education program aims to help new faculty understand the nuances of adult education and the specific education needs of nurse practitioner students. The program is broken into five self-paced modules:
 Foundations and Theoretical Frameworks of Education
 Curriculum Design and Development
 Student Assessment and Test Construction
 Clinical Education and Evaluation
 Technology and Learning Best Practices

Discounts are available on the program.


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Filed Under: Business, Restaurants

Where to eat in Natick

August 4, 2022 by Bob Brown 1 Comment

Looking to branch out for breakfast, lunch, or dinner in Natick? We’ve rounded up all of the town’s eating establishments (though please let us know if anything’s missing or outdated, or if you’re interested in sponsoring our Natick restaurants page: natickreport@gmail.com).

7 South Restaurant, Natick

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Filed Under: Business, Restaurants

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