The New Retail Thread

[kz1000ps]

Thanks for your recollections, Padre Mike. That building is a curious one and it's cool to learn what people were thinking at the time.

 

[jass]

I like the bulge.

 

[AmericanFolkLegend]

^That's what she said.

 

[atlantaden]

It was an early "new Boston" design and predated the brutalist formerly Shawmut Bank building on Franklin (which has sprouted lots of new windows, but no tenants).

Funny, I know all brutalist buildings don't have to be made of concrete but I never considered the old Shawmut, brutalist! Like you, Padre, I remember both buildings going up and how cool they both were...actually, I still like both very much! At the time, anything modern and high in town was appreciated (Harbor Towers being the exception!) It wasn't until later that I came to appreciate the timeless beauty and style of the Custom House Tower, the Old Hancock, the United Shoe Building, etc! I think I first began to appreciate the 'old' when the Quincy Marketplace area and the waterfront warehouses in the North End were rehabbed!!

 

[choo]

http://www.boston.com/yourtown/boston/south-boston/2013/01/09/harpoon-brewery-beer-hall-renovations-preview/lSRvoW46eIfpXMeYoGQCzK/story.html?pg=5

Harpoon to expand its brewery and beer hall area. A great new addition to the area. It's already quite a destination, and will help the entire area.

 

[ftran999]

I hope they build out its pregnant belly to street level. A collection of random kiosks in the plaza would be better than what's there now, but I kinda want to see the superfluous plaza gone altogether.

That reminds me, I remember years ago they used to offer free concerts on Fridays during the lunch hours on the plaza on the Congress Street side. However, they seemed to have stopped sometime around the early 2000s. It would be nice if they could bring them back.

 

[kz1000ps]

^ I also remember them hosting a few concerts there in 2007.

 

[tmac9wr]

http://www.boston.com/yourtown/boston/south-boston/2013/01/09/harpoon-brewery-beer-hall-renovations-preview/lSRvoW46eIfpXMeYoGQCzK/story.html?pg=5

Harpoon to expand its brewery and beer hall area. A great new addition to the area. It's already quite a destination, and will help the entire area.

That looks sick...my brother and cousin both work for Harpoon. My bro sent me a pick from the new beer hall area and it looks pretty awesome. I definitely miss Leviathan IPA :'(

 

[Ron Newman]

Not having food in the beer hall means they don't compete with neighboring restaurants, but it also means people will leave there drunker than they would if they were eating food with their beer.

 

[BosDevelop]

Not having food in the beer hall means they don't compete with neighboring restaurants, but it also means people will leave there drunker than they would if they were eating food with their beer.

if I had to guess, I would say that less than 20% of the patrons of the new beer hall will be arriving in their own cars. The vast majority will arrive on foot, via taxi, public transportation or some combination thereof.

 

[Ron Newman]

I hope you're right.

 

[underground]

I read on Eater that they'll serve soft pretzels.

 

[datadyne007]

So the TD Bank at Faneuil Hall (former McDonalds) is now open.

We've noticed a dramatic reduction in the amount of crackheads, day-drinkers and people trying to steal because McDonalds was their hangout. It's still very inconvenient for people who want cheap or late-night meals, but I guess overall, it was a plus, especially for us retailers.

Also, there are rumors floating around that Five Guys is looking to open a Huntington Ave location (263-289 Huntington Ave). http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/fenway-kenmore/2012/11/five_guys_burgers_and_fries_pl.html

 

[mass88]

Not sure where to put this, but:

http://bostonherald.com/business/business_markets/2013/01/back_bay_hotel_change_hands

Loews Hotels is buying the Back Bay Hotel. I am going to guess another named change is coming soon and the hotel will become Loews Boston? Terms of the deal are not being disclosed.

 

[datadyne007]

Noticed this the other day, not sure if it's been reported, but Upper Crust Fenway is becoming a Regina's.

Related:

Harvard Square Crust to change from Upper to Just
By adamg - 1/23/13 - 7:34 am
The Crimson reports on the impending name change for the soon-to-re-open Upper Crust there as the employee-owned Just Crust.

Edit:
Panera Cares in 1-2-3 CP opened today.

 

[JohnAKeith]

New York Pizza has re-opened on Tremont Street near the Theater District.

Not sure why it was closed - it appears they've done a major renovation inside - perhaps they needed to wipe all the blood off the walls?

 

[datadyne007]

Pinkberry is now swirling in South Station!

(They couldn't have taken worse photos...)

Placement looks very sloppy and in the way. Pinkberry lines often get out of control and can really crowd up an area.

 

[stellarfun]

I can't find the thread with the photo of Ming's new place in SoBo. Openi by Valentine's Day.

http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/b...ming-tsai-fort-point-blue-dragon-opening.html

 

[choo]

That pinkberry looks pretty gigantic and blocking of the track entrance. I hope that's not the case and its just the angle of the picture. I was near there the other day, should've taken a peek.

 

[BostonUrbEx]

Yeah, it looks obnoxious, almost. The only thing more obnoxious is the scratch ticket dealer- I mean, news stand... taking up all the space in the waiting area of North Station.