Trader Joe's coming to Fresh Pond

[syntheticnature.livejournal.com]

Not precisely Davis Square, but I've seen so much enthusiasm for TJ's here that I figured it was worth mentioning. Apparently there is going to be a Trader Joe's next to the CVS in Fresh Pond, across Alewife Brook Parkway from Whole Foods: PDF Leasing Flyer from the developer. Unfortunately, the Newbury Comics seems to be on the way out.

Comments

[brigid.livejournal.com]

is it replacing the newbury comics or the ground round?

[syntheticnature.livejournal.com]

The TJ's is replacing the Newbury Comics. The Ground Round has been torn down and is being replaced by the strip mall that has stores labeled "proposed bedding" and so forth.

[readsalot.livejournal.com]

The Trader Joe's is on the wrong side of CVS to be replacing Newbury Comics. I think there's a D'Angelos at that spot right now.

[syntheticnature.livejournal.com]

Maybe they're planning to move the CVS? There's no Newbury Comics, and CVS is at the left end of the strip, in the proposed plan. Ron's news about Newbury Comics' 2-year lease throws the whole thing into question, I guess.

[ron_newman]

Interesting find, though I wonder how old the flyer is. Wild Oats is now Whole Foods, and Brooks Pharmacy is now Rite-Aid. Both of these changes happened quite a few months ago now.

Is the proposed new stripmall a replacement for Ground Round?

[syntheticnature.livejournal.com]

Yeah - I haven't been over to look at it lately but I hear (http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/551139#4006598) that Ground Round is now a pile of rubble.

[ron_newman]

Newbury Comics at Fresh Pond does seem rather redundant since there's also one in Harvard Square. When Newbury Comics had a bunch of live performances in stores a couple of weekends ago, they didn't include Fresh Pond.

[qwrrty.livejournal.com]

Fresh Pond is a bit of a haul from Harvard Square. It may not be a good location for a Newbury but I'm not sure at all I'd call it "redundant".

[sparkgrrl658.livejournal.com]

agreed. plus, i can easily park my car at the one in fresh pond. not that i ever go there these days, but still.

[snarkyman.livejournal.com]

The Fresh Pond location is the most convenient to home and is on my daily commute. Going to any other location would require a special trip.

I can understand why the property owners might want to redevelop this location as it's really showing its age. However, I don't like what they're replacing it with: national chains more of the same urban sprawl with even fewer choices. Everything in the redevelopment plan already exists across the street or close by, AND we lose an exceptional record store.

[cranbonite.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I agree. The flier maybe indicates that CVS is expanding and those two stores are taking over all of that section? In which case, my favorite pet supply store, a nice local place mostly staffed by the husband and wife owners, would be gone. I love TJ's, but Cambridgeport is only a bit further from me (closer to Porter than Davis) and I'd rather haul out there than see my pet store go away.

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't go by that flyer. It doesn't look like the person who drew it knew what was up with the existing strip mall at all--remember, it's a flyer designed to attract businesses to the new strip mall that's being built where the Ground Round used to be.

[alphacygni]

It is potentially important to note that such a new TJ's, were it to come into existence, would not have alcohol, since they already have three stores statewide selling alcohol.

So you'd still have to trek to Cambridgeport for your cases of 2 Buck Chuck.

[solarpanda.livejournal.com]

So THAT'S why everyone thinks I'm dumb for not being able to find 2 Buck Chuck at TJ's :/

[mcary219.livejournal.com]

thats awesome, I'm excited about it.

[ron_newman]

I just called Newbury Comics, and they told me they aren't moving out. They have two more years on their lease.

[theodosia.livejournal.com]

Oh good -- Whole Foods, TJs AND Newbury Comics would be kind of a nerdvana for me.

[p-lady.livejournal.com]

There is NO mention of a new MA store under the "Coming Soon" section of the TJ's Locations http://www.traderjoes.com/locations.asp

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

That flyer makes no sense.

Newbury Comics isn't leaving (as Ron says). Presumably the Trader Joe's is replacing the D'Angelo's and maybe the liquor store?

[ron_newman]

But now.. take a look at this and this. Newbury Comics is closing after all, despite what they told me last September. They want to move across Route 16.

[syntheticnature.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the rumor is still going strong. Apparently employees at Whole Foods and the Trader Joe's on Mem Drive are saying it's on the way: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/590171

[kennygster.livejournal.com]

There's a story in today's Globe confirming that a Trader Joe's will be constructed in the former Ground Round space near Fresh Pond.

Yeah!

[hotpoint.livejournal.com]

This morning a crew was erecting chain-link fencing around the front and side of the Newbury Comics store. I presume this is in preparation for remodeling the space formerly occupied by Newbury Comics and Pet Supplies Plus for occupancy by CVS.

Meanwhile, the former Payless Shoe Source in the Fresh Pond Mall has signage saying Newbury Comics is Coming Soon, but the interior is empty except for a half-dozen waist-height cabinets pushed against the north wall.