new and changing davis square businesses

[jodi.livejournal.com]

ron_newman posted earlier about the addition of Le Chic Boutique consignment store in the storefront previously occupied by CD Spins; here are some other business changes around the square:

-- Boston Burger Company, if I am remembering the name correctly, seems to be making quick progress towards opening their spot in the storefront formerly occupied by Antonia's. They've had workmen in and out in the last couple weeks and there is now a menu on the wall (sans prices, though). It looks like they will have 6 or 7 salad options, all the appetizers you'd expect to find at a bar, and about 20 different burger options ranging from the familiar sounding to the gourmet sounding. Between the flat-screen tv aimed at the tables and the endless list of boneless chicken wing flavors, it seems like they are going for a sports-bar type of vibe. With so few tables, I predict their best business move would be to also offer take-out, so that they can fill the square with burger-eaters to go with the ice-cream lovers.

-- Artifaktori, on College Ave, has made itself over. If you haven't been by this storefront in a while you might have missed this curious change. It has shed its "junk-store" look that had it packed to the gills and has transformed the front half of the store into an art gallery space. I don't know if this is a temporary change or a lasting one, but the rear half of the store is still the junk/antique/retro selection (only more shoppable and organized) and the front half has the art. I am not usually in the market for either offering, but I applaud the store for supporting art, supporting flexible models of business and for doing something different.

-- BSC (Boston Sports Club) is likely going to be renting out a portion of the third floor of One Davis Square to expand the fitness club. This news is semi-official and probably well-underway but hasn't been announced officially anywhere that I know of. The sales people are telling it to the new people but it has generally been kept on the downlow. Will it go forward with the deepening economic woes? Who knows. This branch of the BSC, for those curious, is the single busiest BSC in the metro area. It is also the smallest. This makes for a very crowded gym and the extra space for classes or cardio machines will be well-used and definitely responds to needs.

Any other neighborhood news of this ilk?

Comments

[ron_newman]

Thank you jodi for a great and informative post!

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Mary Flynn Murphy Dance Studio (http://mfmdancestudio.com/) has opened on Broadway in Ball Square. They don't seem to have adult classes, but for those with kids it's a nice addition.

[lac.livejournal.com]

That is too bad. I was going to go in and ask them about that. I suppose it would look funny, me and a bunch of 10 year olds in a tap class. Thanks for the info.

[jodi.livejournal.com]

this dance studio used to be on the corner of highland and central, which reminds me to ask about the rest of the tenants in that building: I saw a space for rent sign the last time i passed. is the dance studio the only move-out or is the church also gone?

[ron_newman]

Is that the building that used to house the Central Theatre ? I didn't know a church was in there.

[jodi.livejournal.com]

http://www.losttheatres.org/album.php?album=highland
the building we are discussing was the other theater at that corner: the highland

the central theater was the building at 151 highland (on the north-ish side) of the street.
the highland was the buildingat 156 highland which has a dunkin' donuts, a church, the aforementioned dance studio, and a few others.

your right

[vonelftinhaus.livejournal.com]

live around the corner- all the side stores are vacant except the crappy-no-one-ever-in-there phone store. I believe there is a dog training place in the back/basement; and believe the church is still upstairs though I have not noticed because usually there are alot of cars in the area when they are in session.

Re: your right

[http://users.livejournal.com/_meej_/]

I'm 99% sure the phone store is defunct also - no posted hours, all the posted "special offers" etc are 6 months or so out of date, etc.

Adult Class

[sungold123.livejournal.com]

Although it doesn't say it in the listing of classes, there is an Adult Tap class on Mondays at 7:00 if you look on the Schedule Page

Re: Adult Class

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Oh, cool! I hope that takes off so they start offering more dance classes for adults. I'm not interested in tap, but maybe something else.

[rethcir.livejournal.com]

Do we have any idea if the Boston Burger place is getting a liquor license?

Sounds like the BSC expansion is a good idea. I've heard it described as "dudes on dudes on dudes on bikes" in there.

[ron_newman]

Boston Burger Company has the same ownership as the former Antonia's, so they may just be keeping the same license.

[divasue.livejournal.com]

HOORAY for BSC expanding. After work I have to wait at least 15 min for a treadmill... not a big deal but when you only get 30 min on it, it just makes ya a little angry.

[ron_newman]

The menu now posted says that beer and wine are available, but only with a meal.

[perich.livejournal.com]

Hurray for good cheap burgers in Davis!

[jodi.livejournal.com]

we have no proof of "cheap" yet! there were no prices on the wall-menu.

[daviscubed.livejournal.com]

Dave's Fresh Pasta expanding as well (taking over what used to be one of those fashion places next door to it)

Dunkin!

[subtledagger.livejournal.com]

For those of us closer to Tufts, there is a Dunkin going in very soon where that crappy Powder House Convenience used to be, right at the rotary. I went by today and they're already putting the menu boards up.

Re: Dunkin!

[kidsmokes.livejournal.com]

its not a complete dunkin, and it's still going to be a convenience store just one that serves dunkin coffe, there will be no seating available

Re: Dunkin!

[aki.livejournal.com]

I'm still happy! Dunkies on my commute, woo!

Re: Dunkin!

[nomacmac.livejournal.com]

I heard it's going to be owned by the guy that owns the Dunkins in Davis

Re: Dunkin!

[rethcir.livejournal.com]

Our culture will adapt to service Dunkins. Resistance is futile.

Oh you crazy blog people .

[artifaktori.livejournal.com]

Please try not to call my store a "junk shop". If you have ever been in my store you would realize its not junk. The city makes us apply for a "junk license" which is a special license to sell used items and insures that the merchandise is not stolen.
As for the art show, art is important to me and even though there is no market for art in the area i felt compelled to represent the artists who have helped me and traded their skills to help my store stay alive. there has always been art in my store but some people have a hard time making the distinction between Vintage and Handmade.
Try and just experience things without having to post your opinion all over the place.
Im not sure you know what its like owning a store but if you ever do it will change your perspective on everything.

Re: Oh you crazy blog people .

[teko.livejournal.com]

For the record, your store is awesome, and with all the fake-vintage stuff around, there's very few things I appreciate more than a store full of authentic vintage stuff piled to the ceiling.

Re: Oh you crazy blog people .

[artifaktori.livejournal.com]

yeayyyyyy!!!!!
thank you! have you seen the art show?

Re: Oh you crazy blog people .

[jodi.livejournal.com]

artifaktori,

please note that i did not and have not ever said that your shop was a junk store. i did, however, reference the style of window dressing that you have employed as a "junk-shop" look because that is an accurate comparison. i used this phrase specifically because readers of this community have discussed the quality of goods in your shop over the last year and many, but not all, have derided your shop as being an overpriced junk shop. the intention of my post was to let people know that you have changed your image somewhat, organized your vintage goods into a more approachable and shoppable section to make room for the addition of art space. i also noted that while i may not frequent the store often, i applauded this effort in its entirely for the several reasons i noted in my original post.

i am unhappy that you have implied that we as a group and me specifically do not support art or do not support your decision to feature it. this is patently false for many in this community. the addition of art was also the main reason i wanted former detractors of your shop to know that changes had been made and that a new feature had been added and that perhaps former detractors should take a new look at this new look.

i am also extremely disappointed that you have chosen to chastise the community at large to not post their opinions "all over the place." do you honestly feel that people should not express themselves? this post contains no hurtful opinions whatsoever and in fact was posted with the obviously misguided intention of expressing positive changes to a member of our community.

i do not always agree with the manner and tone of posts in this community but i must say that your post has been the most negative and hurtful one in this entire thread. many of the participants in this online community do, in fact, run businesses or own stores of their own and are likely to be insulted that you made such a blanket statement to the contrary in your knee-jerk response. "crazy blog people" are not anti-art, have a perfectly reasonable right to express their opinions in all the ways that have been employed here, and are also your customers.

perhaps you as a store owner should remind yourself that a business cannot and should not try to change their customers but should adapt to their customers' needs. any other business model will fail. in order to respond to customer demand, you must get to know your customers in the first place. i am part of that number but it is quite obvious that you do not want it so.

Re: Oh you crazy blog people .

[divasue.livejournal.com]

Jodi, I have to agree. No one likes to be called crazy, or be accused of something untrue (i.e. you never called the store a junk shop). I found artifaktori's post pretty off-putting. Will I check out the store? Maybe...but I am certainly not rushing over there.

Re: Oh you crazy blog people .

[artifaktori.livejournal.com]

. Perhaps im wrong to interject that it bothers me. There is a person attached to the store and that would be me. I may just be overly sensitive and dont understand blogs or the internet and im just stuck in past and maybe thats to a fault.
I apologize if you personally did not coin the "junk shop" reference but may i just ask that you not use that term when talking about my store in a public forum? I dont even know what that term means but it has negative connotations for me.
I dont want to censor peoples opinions at all and i apologize for singling you out personally as you are right it is just as hurtful, 2 wrongs dont make a right. Would be great to talk more in person and perhaps we may see you at another DARBI meeting or the shop?
Amy

Re: Oh you crazy blog people .

[spartessa.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. Jodi, I think you need to go back re-read your original post with new eyes to see why it is a little insulting. If I said, "Jodi, wow - your hair looks so much better than it did. I thought it looked kinda crappy before. I applaud you for the new look." How would you feel?

While you are putting Artifaktori out there (a very nice thing to do) you basically gave the store and it's owner a back-handed compliment. Needing to qualify why you used the words "junk store" doesn't negate the fact that you used them.

Rather than being defensive so as to not hear her point (which is some of what you are asking, is it not?) take responsibility for your own tone and choice of words before railing the store owner for her emotionally based response.

So, she was offended by some of what you had to say. I don't see why that should incur the wrath of blog. If I were the store owner, I would have been put off by your description of my store too, however you meant the underlying definition - especially since that's not what the store is about, regardless of what "readers of this community have discussed." I'm thinking clearly some readers of this community don't know the difference between junk and vintage OR art. If YOU do, then don't rely on their opinions or descriptions, and perhaps in the future you'll realize that stores come with owners who are protective of their businesses. I think if you could put yourself in the owner's shoes, you'd have to see why she was miffed at your choice of words.

Re: Oh you crazy blog people .

[jodi.livejournal.com]

i understand perfectly why she was 'miffed' but i also see no reason for me to be responsible for her emotions regarding other people's description of her business. stores do come with owners, but if those owners cannot endure discussion of their business without knee-jerk emotional offense then said owners are going to have a hard road of it.

there is also no difference at all between art and junk and vintage and antique and crap and retro. the labels denote cultural connotation not inherent quality.

i enjoy the hell out of that store and will continue to both shop for and buy artistic vintage junk whenever it strikes my fancy without regard to whether the store owner gets all warm and fuzzy inside or not.

Re: Oh you crazy blog people .

[spartessa.livejournal.com]

Thaaat's pleasant.