Elm Street business observations

[ron_newman]

1) Diva Lounge has closed, its sign has been taken down, and there is now a full wall separating it from Diva restaurant. As discussed earlier, this will become the first Amsterdam Falafelshop outside of Washington, DC. However there are not yet any signs indicating this.

2) A letter in the mailbox of the former Namaskar restaurant is addressed to "BUNJABI GRILL". Could this possibly be the name of a new restaurant that will replace Namaskar? (And could it be a misspelling of "Punjabi"? There is a Punjabi Grill in Framingham.)

3) The former Farmer's Bounty is now plastered with paper signs advertising the future iYo Cafe. The signs say it will feature Fresh Baked Goods, Unique Treats, Dessert Fondues, Cozy Fireplace, Private Party/Study Space, Coffee + Tea, Espresso Bar, Iced Beverages, Frozen Blends, Bottled Favorites, Self Serve Frozen Yogurt, Unique Toppings, Mixins, Yogurt Parfaits + Fruit Smoothies, Make Your Own Waffles, FroYo Cakes + ToGo Pints.

Also, it will be locally owned (so, probably not related to frozen yogurt places with the same name in both Vietnam and Denton, Texas). They are now hiring "Baristas and Team Members". They have a Facebook page (without much content yet). The "Store and Concept Design" is by Approach Architects who can be reached at 617-556-2627.

Comments

[squirrelitude]

Nearby, the Square Nail Studio on Holland St has closed down, making way for what the notice in the window calls a "unique, green café and bakery".

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Oh, right. I took a picture of that sign with the intention of posting it here. Lemme see...

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

"Make your own waffles?????"

Wow.

I was ready to write the place off as just another bakery/cafe/yogurt place, but this has potential.

[ron_newman]

Is this the space next to Johnny D's? If so, I think Johnny D's is turning it into a cafe that will be sort of loosely connected to the existing restaurant and nightclub.

[ron_newman]

And with that photo, I'm trying to figure out what connection there is between the Square Nail closing and a conference of socialists.

[jere7my.livejournal.com]

And could it be a misspelling of "Punjabi"?

More an alternate transliteration, since Hindi and Persian don't use the Roman alphabet. Just as Bombay can also be spelled Mumbai, Punjabi can be spelled Panjabi or Bunjabi.

Either that or they're going to serve a lot of rabbit biryani. (Happy Easter!)

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

My question is will there be anything vegan on the menu. It's the new black!

[veek.livejournal.com]

I have these visions of a place that sells buns filled with tasty Indian foods. Like the Japanese buns in Porter Exchange, but Indian.

*reverie*

[balsamicdragon.livejournal.com]

Um, did you really look through someone else's mailbox and read the addresses on their letters?

[ron_newman]

Letter was sticking out of an open mailbox. I think it was from RCN or Comcast.

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

Yeah! I'd love a dairy-free option for bakery items.

[georgy.livejournal.com]

That was my question, too.

[teko.livejournal.com]

After seeing this slideshow on Serious Eats, I'd be the first in line at a restaurant serving Indian street food:

http://www.seriouseats.com/2012/03/snapshots-from-india-best-vegetarian-street-food-mumbai-chaat-pakoras-samosas.html

[rosiewoodboat.livejournal.com]

+1!

[lfitzb.livejournal.com]

what about gluten free!! Even to a non-gluten free person I still enjoy those treats. :)

[lfitzb.livejournal.com]

Davis Square Super Sleuth

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Me too. I can eat gluten just fine, but I'm finding more and more gluten-free foods that I prefer (per texture and taste) to their gluten-full versions.

[lfitzb.livejournal.com]

exactly....Love rice crackers and the like.

[jere7my.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the info! No disrespect to Hindi intended — the detail level of the source alphabet doesn't matter so much as the phonemes available in the target language. "Dorakon" is an accepted transliteration of "dragon" in Japanese, for instance, which says nothing about what English can do. All it would take for "Bunjabi" to be an accepted transliteration would be for someone somewhere along the line to hear a voiced initial consonant instead of an unvoiced one, which is not an uncommon thing. I see a few Bunjabi business names on Google.

(I think "Bombay" is a transliteration issue as well — the etymology Slate provides is probably folk etymology. From the online etymology dictionary, Bombay is "...popularly explained as Portuguese bom bahia 'good bay,' but that seems folk etymology (for one, the adj. is masc. and the n. is fem.), and the more likely candidate is the local Mumbadevi 'Goddess Mumba,' a Hindu deity worshipped there." m/b confusion is pretty common as well.)

[boblothrope.livejournal.com]

In Massachusetts, that can be the only way to figure out where you are on a street that lacks street signs and house numbers.

[mattdm.livejournal.com]

Wow, that Slate article must be a top contender for "least tasteful lede ever".

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

They have pav bhaji at Dosa Temple between Porter and Union Squares, apparently.

[dawn quirk (from livejournal.com)]

I am so sad to hear Diva lounge closed. That place was great to me. I am surprised they were not able to make it. Had so much potential.

[m-b-w.livejournal.com]

Punjabi Grill in Framingham was a good guess! Signs are up.