Boloco for sale?

[ron_newman]

Every so often, I do a Google Blog Search for "Davis Square". When I did so today, I found:

Quick casual café concept in Somerville MA

8 Jan 2008 Located in popular Davis Square, this is a high profile location with excellent visibility and parking and in close proximity to Harvard Square, Inman Square and Porter Square. The site is within... BizQuest.com: Massachusetts Businesses for Sale - http://massachusetts.bizquest.com/page1.html

The listing page itself carries no date, but I'm going to believe Google's "8 Jan 2008", especially since the listing currently appears on page 1 of massachusetts.bizquest.com, making it a very recent listing. It says they are selling the business for $250,000, after having sunk over $600,000 into renovations.

This sure looks like Boloco to me. Anyone know more?

Comments

[chaiya.livejournal.com]

Aw, damn. I don't know more, but that sounds like Boloco to me, too.

... Which is really aggravating, because I bet it's basically that Chipotle's fault. While burritos, etc, are hardly my favorite food, Boloco is head & shoulders above any Qdoba or Chipotle or other such chain. :(

[sea-aye-vee.livejournal.com]

Chipotle just opened. Its hardly to blame. I would think that putting a business between Qdoba and Anna's, with it being throwing distance from Boca Grande and Lupi(something? off Elm/Somerville Ave), did not help the business much. If you are coming off the T, it is much easier to stop in the square than walk outside of it.

I never thought I would say this but there are too many burritos in one space. =) The place is always empty when I go to get a smoothie. Its sad but not entirely unexpected.

[snow-how.livejournal.com]

It could also be that Boloco can't hold a candle to Anna's...

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, de gustibus.

[nomacmac.livejournal.com]

Interesting! I can't think of any other restaurants in the area that are 2000sf and have parking. I can't say I'm surprised. I ate there a few times, and was always disappointed.

I ate there a few times, and was always disappointed.

[cityofbeige.livejournal.com]

Same here. They seemed more like sandwich wraps than burritos. Plus they're quite small for $5.

[closetalker11.livejournal.com]

But does Boloco have parking?

Also, what is this: http://massachusetts.bizquest.com/872622.html?z=1&x=23&p=50&l=S23&tp=14&tl=695&ln=3

?

[billharnois.livejournal.com]

I bet that's the old Urban Gourmet. Yasir already owns a pizza place in Ball Sq, and probably doesn't need to reopen Urban Gourmet. I'm just guessing though.

[ron_newman]

Boloco does indeed have a few parking spaces behind it. I don't know how many are for employees and how many for customers, since I never walk back there.

On that other page you linked, I find "PICTURE NOT OF PLACE" highly amusing. Why bother attaching it then?

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

There are maybe six parking spots in the back.

[pearlythebunny.livejournal.com]

I just looked up "commissary." It can also just mean "food supplies," so maybe it's just a place to store food.

[ron_newman]

Never been in the basement, no idea what's down there.

[pearlythebunny.livejournal.com]

Boloco is open 8 A.M. to 10 P.M., seven days a week, which agrees with the ad.

[ron_newman]

That's why I immediately jumped to this conclusion -- those hours.

[desiringsubject.livejournal.com]

it might not be boloco's fault. carberry's failed in that space and whatsit naturals as well. I think people should stop trying to do food there, there's not enough foot traffic next to the square with all the foot traffic ever.

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

The building was built for food--there's never been anything else there.

but....

[mattdm.livejournal.com]

Boloco doesn't make sense to me for this since it's a chain. Unless the whole thing were going under, wouldn't they just basically move out, rather then trying to sell out one location?

Also, "The total investment for the renovation of the space was in excess of $600,000." doesn't seem to fit. They made quite a bit of change from how it was as O'Natural's, but didn't seem like over half a mil to me.

But a lot of the other stuff does seem to line up. :(

Re: but....

[pearlythebunny.livejournal.com]

It sounds to me like they need to find someone to take over the lease.

There's a Boloco on Boston Ave., near Tufts, but that place always seems pretty busy. I think the Elm St. location is just a bad spot.

Did Boloco have free wifi? That might have helped increase traffic.

It's the acoustics, stupid...

[an-art-worker.livejournal.com]

That space has the worst acoustics of any commercial space (outside of malls) that I have ever been in. It's all glass and brick under an exposed steel roof. Ping! (ping...ping..ping). Ugh. Visually and layout-wise it is an attractive space - though maybe too much space given over to the food prep side.

Would be nice if something interesting moved in but it would have to have some pull aside from ersatz food (wonder how that Subway is doing). A Passim type place with live acoustic performance or something to get people to break the Russell St. barrier.

Re: It's the acoustics, stupid...

[ron_newman]

Well, if the acoustics are bad but you want an acoustic performer to play there .... something's got to change. (Is your "Ping!" referring to the sound of rain on the roof?)

[jh78.livejournal.com]

Speaking of Urban Gourmet- and I'm sure everyone knows this by now- but they re-opened as City Slicker Cafe on Somerville Ave. I just hadn't seen it posted here yet. Everything is as good as it used to be.....

[schpahky.livejournal.com]

City Slicker Cafe is AWESOME. They even have meatloaf plates.

[bolopep.livejournal.com]

with all of your permission, may I join in?

[ron_newman]

Sure, please do! At this point you should reply at the top level so that LJ doesn't hide away your comment.

I forgot to mention!!!

[sea-aye-vee.livejournal.com]

The one most awesome thing that Boloco does that Anna's does not is their burrito card. Seriously - get one and sign up. My husband and I have both had 3 free burritos each, 2 free bags of chips, and a free smoothie - I just signed up last month and we buy on my card only. We go to the Boloco by Workout World (is that Medford?) every other Tuesday or so after the gym. The people there are ALWAYS nice (in comparison to the attitude at Davis) and the food is good.

So, is it just me?

[vibrantabyss.livejournal.com]

I was wondering if it was just me... I always feel the one on Boston Ave. provides larger burritos, in addition to being a happier place....

[beezy515.livejournal.com]

That space is way too large for any kind of fast food business, especially with a full-size basement below. It made sense to have that kind of space for a bakery, but I can't see a fast food place doing well there.

[teko.livejournal.com]

The food's always been worth the price, the Boloco card works well (except when my free burritos disappear, that's always confusing), and the staff is decently friendly and consistent.

The two things that might've dented it are the massive under-used space -- big and warehousey and echoey, not a very comfortable place to hang out or have a casual meal; it's definitely a take-out place -- and the hours (closing at 6 on a Sunday is odd).

If it is Boloco, I'll miss it, and will have to stock up on Buffalo Tofu wraps.

[ron_newman]

Closed at 6? The sign outside says 8am-10pm daily.

[tut21.livejournal.com]

Boloco's location, spartan decor, and the plethora of burrito joints in the area probably all contributed to it.

That part of Elm St. probably doesn't get enough foot traffic to sustain a restaurant. Maybe a monorail from Davis to Porter would help. ;-)

NOOO

[rethcir.livejournal.com]

I'll be very sad to see it go. But the listing has been removed.. hope?

[closetalker11.livejournal.com]

I wonder what other food would be good there. Would y'all go to b. good if it were there? I was just thinking that it's another local chain that may draw people to that end of the square ... but maybe any quickish food would have trouble on the far end over there.

I just want that Carolina burger as close to me as possible.

[hr-macgirl.livejournal.com]

I think the b.good guys are a bit overstretched with two new locations (Brookline, Newbury Street) having opened so recently. That's not to say that I wouldn't be thrilled with another location on this side of the river, mind you.