Stellabella Toys moving to Elm Street (former Knucklebones, Caning Shoppe, etc. site)

[ron_newman]

Stellabella Toys will move in early September from their current Porter Square location (1967 Mass. Ave.) to the edge of Davis Square, 196 Elm Street. This is the former site of Knucklebones (and before that, of the Caning Shoppe).

They will be in only the former-Knucklebones half of the building, not in the half that's still empty and for lease. The new store has a bit less selling space than the old one, but has a full basement for storage, which the current store entirely lacks.

Expect a "store moving" sale to start soon.

Comments

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Yay! I was wondering if they'd take the entire space, but I'm still glad they will be there.

Hopefully there will be many free events in the big backyard!

[ron_newman]

I got this info from the owner's announcement on the Porter Square Neighbors mailing list, followed by some private e-mail exchanges between him and me.

[emcicle.livejournal.com]

wasn't that one of the problems with Knucklebones, that neighbors complained about activities in the back yard?

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

The problem was that, business-wise, that area can only be used for retail, and KB was operating as a pay-to-play place. IANAL, but I believe using the yard for free events would not violate the zoning restriction.

[rickhenry2.livejournal.com]

I have been in contact with Cambridge City officials.......I want to know what uses are legal for the back yard, and If we can use the basement for sing alongs.

So far, City says No and No to both ideas. I will pursue further. If anybody can offer suggestions.....please do.

We are very excited about the move and hope to be open right before or after Labor Day.

[ron_newman]

Fire code might be an issue for holding events in the basement, unless you have two independent exits from it to either the first floor or the outside.

But I love the idea of having sing alongs in the back yard, at least while the weather is still warm.

[pekmez.livejournal.com]

That block of Porter Square is going to be awfully empty with no Stellabella and no Bob Slate...

[ron_newman]

And no McIntyre & Moore. Miso Market is all that will remain.

The e-mail message from Stellabella says that the Bob Slate building is for sale.