Actual facts about Ball Square businesses

[aquaflame16.livejournal.com]

While we're on the subject of Ball Square businesses, a few updates I thought might interest DSLJ folks:

1) DSLJ favorite rec Paramount Bicycle Repair has moved to Ball Square (from Powderhouse). The new location is in the small strip of stores extending up Bristol Rd (also includes Stinky's, a dry cleaner, a cleaning service, maybe something else?) and seems nice.
Tyler says "spread the word!" about the move, and I'm sure he'd be glad to have people stop by and say hi.


2) The former Urban Gourmet space has signs up advertising help wanted for what will presumably be the new restaurant opening there.
The signs refer to "Eat at Jumbo's: pizza, wings, and grill"
I guess it's meant to be associated with Tufts in some way . . .
(In case anyone is interested in the jobs and you can't read it in the image, it says to email info@eatatjumbos.com or call 617-571-3611.)


Personally, I'm a little disappointed, as this really doesn't seem all that different than stuff we already have (On Broadway/Soundbites Grill specifically), I had hoped for a little more variety.  I am glad to see something going in there though, after so long with an empty storefront, and I shall hope for the best! (with vegetarian options, plz ;)

3) Speaking of empty storefronts, the space on Broadway next to White Hen, most recently a real estate office (I think once a CVS?) which has been empty for a little while is displaying building permits indicating it is being converted to a dance studio. I know nothing else, just what it says on the permit, but I'm excited to see the space filled and this seems like it could be a neat addition to the neighborhood.
ETA: a large banner now says "The New Home of Mary Flynn Murphy Dance Studio" and says it will open March 2nd.

4) The Pub (formerly Powderhouse Pub, i.e. the one next to Kelly's. Really, it's just called "The Pub" now.) is now hosting Stump Trivia on Wednesday nights. This is in addition to Soundbites hosting Stump on Mondays (which I assume they are still doing, though I haven't checked, as they are listed on the Stump site).


(hmm, no "Ball Square" tag? would it make sense to have one?)

Comments

[ron_newman]

hmm, maybe we should have a "ball square" tag, and a "teele square" one too. But going back to find old posts on those subjects would be quite laborious.

Edit: I just now added the "ball square" tag, but I have not gone back and put it on any old posts. If anyone wants to volunteer to find and tag them, feel free. Unlike most new tags that I add, this one doesn't naturally subdivide out from an older one.

[ifotismeni]

i hope tyler's business is doing well at his new location. he moved a few months ago to ball square, not sure if people knew about it.

[ron_newman]

I had no idea until I read this post. I hope he left a forwarding pointer at the old location.

[ifotismeni]

wow really? he moved in like....... september.

[ron_newman]

Well, it's not like I have to repair my bike every three months...

[redheadedmuse.livejournal.com]

he didn't open up at the new location until mid-December though. I think he was supposed to open on Dec. 1 but did not actually do so until a bit into the month.

[aquaflame16.livejournal.com]

yeah, he said it took him a couple months to get all moved and set up and stuff. He's definitely only been open in the new location a few weeks.

[pekmez.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I've thought he looked open enough to walk in and buy something since about the week after the majority of his stuff disappeared from the old place.
Certainly he was there with the lights on and bikes inside the windows
for quite some time - was he really not open till recently?

[aquaflame16.livejournal.com]

he, um, insinuated this would not have been possible.

[aquaflame16.livejournal.com]

the forwarding pointer at the old location, that is.

[rosiewoodboat.livejournal.com]

Indeed. The old landlord was a PIA....

Come on down to the new location! Lovely Southern exposure (read: no longer freezing in the shop), and good times for all!

[rax.livejournal.com]

He did end up putting something up, or at least someone did, which is good.

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

Haha. I've talked with Tyler about the move too, and the idea of "Tyler" and "insinuate" is indeed funny.

[jodi.livejournal.com]

Here's a hearty shout-out for Tyler at Paramount Bicycle Repair! If you have a bike, make paramount your go-to place; you won't regret it.

[ronhaha108.livejournal.com]

Ahh, good to know about Paramount because I just recently noticed it was gone from PowderHouse and was thinking "damn this economy!"...

come to think of it, damn this economy!

[josephineave.livejournal.com]

Re: #3 -- Yep, that was the CVS which moved down Broadway. I understand that space was one of the original Johnnie's Foodmaster stores, though that could be wrong. There was, of course, a movie theater in Ball Square at one point, right across the street. You can see the last remnant of the theater on the building with the locksmith.

[ron_newman]

And if you or anyone reading this is more interested in that subject, I highly recommend the Lost Theatres of Somerville website.

[leko.livejournal.com]

That's a very cool site, but it's pretty depressing seeing how many cool old theaters have been turned into parking lots or other ugly crap.

[bobobb.livejournal.com]

ok does anyone know what is up with that locksmith?? I have never seen it open.

[pearlythebunny.livejournal.com]

Cambridge Lock in Ball Square is still in business. It is a mobile operation these days and uses the store space for storage.

A few years ago, the storefront was still open and run by the father. But he died, and the son Tom just focuses on the mobile operation because that is the bulk of the business.

I've had lock issues from time to time (the latest being in September), and Tom was at my house in minutes to fix the problem. He's really good, and reasonably priced. Sometimes he can answer your question over the phone, and save you the cost of a house call. (Once I had a key stuck in a lock, and he told me to try WD-40, which worked. So I ended up not needing his help.) Thanks, Tom!

[bobobb.livejournal.com]

Since we are on the topic of Ball Square, other newbies include Twinkle Star a kids/baby clothing shop. It seems like they also have play groups and stuff like that.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Gone, and I miss it so. That was the best ghetto Chinese fix of my life, and nothing anywhere in the area has been able to replace it.

[mzrowan.livejournal.com]

A dance studio? Yay! I'm tempted to brave the cold just to go peer at the building permit. I know Green Street Studios in Central was looking for new space. Maybe it's them?

maybe

[allli.livejournal.com]

It may be the couple that teaches Salsa classes at CCAE- Javier and Melanie Salort. They're very fun and energetic and had sent out e-mails to present and past students saying they were moving into a space in the Davis Square area...

[aquaflame16.livejournal.com]

a large banner now says "The New Home of Mary Flynn Murphy Dance Studio" and says it will open March 2nd.

[mzrowan.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Sadly (for me), they only teach kids and teenagers (http://mfmdancestudio.com/programs.html).