The New Retail Thread

Would love to see McDonald's and Burger King leave Allston and be replaced by something else. Especially that Burger King in its one-story, swaddled-by-parking garbage building.
 
Ron Newman said:
McDonald's closed in Davis Square at the end of October. This was the second time they closed one in Davis. They also closed in Porter Square a few years ago (it's now a Panera). Are they gradually exiting the Boston area entirely?
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Ron -- Mac D's is restructuring -- the vast majority of their $ and profit comes from Drive Thru -- these Mac D' are being rebuilt and expanded with:
1) new lanes for holding the customers whose orders are not ready so as not to delay the customers whose orders are ready for immediate delivery
2) Aps to allow a customer to pay by smart phone when their order is placed

Everything for the drive-up customer

My guess is that the city MacD's without drive thru will be history
 
Does anyone know if there has been any talk about what will replace the now closed Vapianos on Stuart & Charles?
 
617 said:
^Or the footlocker on Washington?
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I think the Footlocker may be a straight renovation. The Footlocker signage is still up and there have been building permits in the windows since the store closed.
 
I think the sign on the door of Vapiano suggests that the franchisee is still paying rent on the space and that they may or may not reopen in the future. They're still the tenant, they're just closed.
 
There was a Vapianos in Boston!?!?!

The Vapianos in Boston closed!?!?
 
jass said:
There was a Vapianos in Boston!?!?!

The Vapianos in Boston closed!?!?
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I only knew of Vapiano's from the one in DC near Macpherson Sq.--it is very cool and high-end-ish. When I heard there was one in Boston, I immediately went to check it out. Very sad. Slightly creepy-cheesey (not an easy combination to pull off) place that was dimly lit and looked dank, dirty and cheap. The menu was the same, but one could hardly believe it was the same chain. It would be nice if they were just renovating--the concept is a good one and one that should thrive with the young professional crowd.
 
Honestly the Vapianos in Boston did thrive. I went there all the time and it was often well attended. Bar service was bad, but cheap! The patio with the red couches was great in the summer for ambiance and people watching. Apparently the owner had to go back to Germany for personal issues. It's future is very much ambiguous though.
 
Vapiano closed back in July. The owner of that particular franchise moved back to Germany. The chain doesn't have plans to reopen that location or any other in Boston at the moment.
 
Lrfox said:
Vapiano closed back in July. The owner of that particular franchise moved back to Germany. The chain doesn't have plans to reopen that location or any other in Boston at the moment.
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Right. The notice on the door makes it sound like the franchisee still holds the lease to the space, though obviously someone could buy it out.
 
Tombstoner said:
I only knew of Vapiano's from the one in DC near Macpherson Sq.--it is very cool and high-end-ish. When I heard there was one in Boston, I immediately went to check it out. Very sad. Slightly creepy-cheesey (not an easy combination to pull off) place that was dimly lit and looked dank, dirty and cheap. The menu was the same, but one could hardly believe it was the same chain. It would be nice if they were just renovating--the concept is a good one and one that should thrive with the young professional crowd.
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Yes Im familiar with the great DC location.
 
What are they doing here?

10963737755_46eb6079b0_b.jpg
 
They've been working on this for a month or two. I'm not sure what's going on at the bottom level, if anything, but they've definitely been cleaning the green bricks (the grout in particular)
 
Some lovin' is hopefully all that is happening here. This is classic Bauhaus.
 
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