Monday, March 4, 2013
Stores like Irving's are what make Brookline so unique.
Some stores stand the test of time and become iconic landmarks, like Irving’s Toys and Card Shop just outside of Coolidge Corner. Ethel Weiss, 99, has worked there since January 13, 1939. Having lived in Brookline since 1942, Weiss said it was hard to decide what her fondest memory could be from owning Irvin’s Toys and Card Shop. She sits by the front door with a homemade pin, which says, “I Love My Customers” and offers a warm smile to anyone who walks in the front door. “I love this job,” Weiss said. “I love being useful and caring about the children.” The store sells candy, playing cards, greeting cards, Mad Libs, board games, rubber duckies, toy cars, balloons, sewing goods, all kinds of toy and plenty more vintage goodies. “It was a …
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
The Route 9 development is slated to open in fall 2013.
Updated 1:15 p.m. with a statement from WS Development. Officials from New England Development announced this week that an upscale clothing and home decor store will be opening a location at the new Chestnut Hill Square in Newton. According to a report in the Boston Globe, Anthropologie will join the lineup at the Chestnut Hill Square site, which is located off Route 9. “Anthropologie will be a terrific addition to the other stores and restaurants at Chestnut Hill Square and we’re delighted that they chose our project as the best location in Chestnut Hill," Executive Vice President at New England Development Douglass Karp said in a statement issued to Newton Patch. Anthropologie currently has five shops in Massachusetts and previously had …
The new name will reflect the shopping center's renovations and additions as well as its walkability.
Updated 3:56 p.m. More than 60 years after it first opened off Route 9 in Newton, the Chestnut Hill Shopping Center is changing its name. The retail center will now be known as "The Street," according to a press release issued yesterday. The new name is the latest step in a renovation of the shopping center, which is owned and managed by WS Development. According to the press release, the new name will "better reflect its transformation into a walkable retail and entertainment complex." “Chestnut Hill Shopping Center was part of a then-revolutionary wave of retail projects opening around the country just after World War II,” says WS Development Corporate Marketing Director David Fleming said in the press release. “Today, however, the …
Friday, November 2, 2012
Boston Magazine announced its top 50 restaurants in Brookline, and La Morra of Brookline makes the 50.
Not only does Boston Magazine think Brookline is one of the best places to live (per their 2011 list), but they also thought it was one of the best places to eat last year. This year, La Morra is back in the magazine's 50 Best Restaurants list. And, their tip for true insiders is that diners can ask for their pasta to be gluten-free. Through a series of charts and data, the Magazine broke their list down, and determined that of their 50 candidates, 22 percent (i.e., 11) serve Italian food. Of the 50, 2 percent are in Brookline (i.e., La Morra). Earlier this year, Boston Magazine also listed twelve Brookline businesses bringing home Best of Boston awards for 2012. Below is a press release from Boston Magazine: A Brookline restaurant …
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Report indicates a decrease in vacancy, and a decrease in the number of service-use businesses like banks.
Despite some areas of town with obvious empty storefronts, Brookline's business scene is actually more vibrant than it was last year--but only just. In a report delivered by Economic Development Planner Andy Martineau at Tuesday night's Board of Selectmen's meeting, he says that the vacancy rate for storefronts is about 0.7 percent less than last summer. Vacancy townwide, according to the report, is now 5.2 percent. "Overall, the vacancy rate was encouraging. It shows Brookline is keeping pace with other Massachusetts communities." Martineau noted, "We're pleased with that." 2012 is the third year in the row with declines from 2009's five year high of 7.1 percent townwide. Breaking down data to examine the various business neighborhoods, …
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
For the vacant storefronts on Boylston Street between Cypress and Washington, what kinds of businesses would you be interested in seeing there?
Today, you get to play town planner--at least in the comments section here--by telling us what dream businesses you would like to see moving into Brookline. Commuters and residents who drive along Route 9 in Brookline Village, between Cypress and Washington Streets, will see a number of local businesses--such as East Coast Divers, the Von Huene Workshop--and larger names like Ace Tickets and Dunkin Donuts. They may also pass the former Red Cab site--for which Brookline Town Meeting approved a "sky plane" planning concept--which is empty and could be due for renovation. Another storefront further down the street, near the old Lincoln School, stands empty. Red Cab site's development? What kind of businesses do you want to see along this …
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91 Boylston St, Brookline, MA
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20 Boylston St, Brookline, MA
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Thursday, August 23, 2012
The Board of Selectmen plans to file a warrant article which could get the town a few more liquor licenses.
Officials are hoping to order another round of liquor licenses for Brookline. A warrant article the Board of Selectmen plans to file for Fall Town Meeting would petition Mass. Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) for up to 11 additional liquor licenses. The Board discussed this proposed article at their Aug. 21 meeting. Said Selectman Ken Goldstein, "We are at a critical place with our licenses: we’re somewhere between zero and one licenses." Earlier this year, the Selectmen (conditionally) approved the final few liquor licenses--with some confusion over how many licenses remain when Taberna de Haro, KooKoo Cafe and M.J. Ready applied for licenses. The proposed warrant article sets a handful of licenses for specific areas in …
Sunday, August 12, 2012
12 businesses in Brookline score Best Of Boston awards from Boston Magazine.
This is no dirty dozen, twelve of Brookline's established shops, eateries and night spots made the Best of Boston list from Boston Magazine. The full list includes a number of last year's winners, as well as a number of new names: While the Best of Boston awards may be more established than the Patch Best Of Readers Choice poll, if you feel your favorites were snubbed by the Magazine's list, we do offer you a chance to fix that: vote on Patch's Readers Choice polls. Below is the full press release from Boston Magazine: Brookline Receives 12 Best of Boston Awards from Boston Magazine Boston, MA (August 06, 2012) – Boston magazine hit newsstands July 31st with their always-highly-anticipated “Best of Boston” awards issue. Brookline …
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Board of Selectmen holding some liquor license decisions while they clear up how many licenses remain in town's quota. Taberna de Haro and KooKoo's Cafe also teased expansion plans.
Three Brookline businesses may be claiming the final few liquor licenses in town, if officials have the correct number of licenses in mind. At last night's Board of Selectmen's meeting, applications for liquor licenses by Taberna de Haro and KooKoo Cafe were put before public hearings. Neither was opposed by members of the community, but the Selectmen still had to conditionally approve one and hold the other. The Town has a maximum quota of licenses which it can assign, and the number of licenses is dwindling to the final few--which may already be spoken for. Officials believe there are enough licenses for both businesses, plus MJ Ready International Bistro, which applied earlier in the year. At the April 17 meeting, the Selectmen held …
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Most businesses will be closed today.
Since Christmas falls on a Sunday, by Massachusetts law the holiday will be observed on Monday. Today, full restrictions apply, but they will also apply tomorrow with the exception of liquor stores. Massachusetts legislature just passed a bill allowing liquor stores to open on the Monday following a Christmas Sunday. For Christmas Day and Monday, most businesses must be closed, but there are some limited exemptions.
Martin
7:24 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Irving's has such wonderful memories for me. I went there almost 5 days a week for 8 years either before or after Hebrew School. Now I bring my grandchildren back to the store to visit and get a smile and greeting from Ethel. There isn't much I know of that has stood the test of time like Irvings. What a gift. more ›