There were at least two bar/restaurant proposals for the space that I am aware of.
The first was a bar called World of Beers, which is a national chain based in Florida. They have since opened a location at the Cambridgeside Galleria mall, where California Pizza Kitchen used to be. The former ward alderman was against this business, because it was a bar with no substantial food menu and that it was a large/national chain. They tried to compromise by allowing outside food to be brought in, but ultimately they gave up and walked away.
Next Boston Beer Works proposed to open a location in the same spot. They proposed to have a full in house kitchen and food menu and they are a very small eastern MA based chain. The former ward alderman then decided to argue that even though they would have food and were not a national chain, that Boston Beer Works and their menu was too "generic".
This appeared increasingly as grasping at straws on her part, to prevent another "evil" bar from opening in Davis Square, as we were apparently in danger of having Davis Sq turn into Landsdowne street. This was an actual argument put forth at community meetings on this proposal. At that point she shifted tactics all together and pulled "there are no liquor licenses available for Davis Sq" out of her magicians top hat. This argument had never been raised at all during the World of Beers community meetings prior to this, but popped up as soon as the food and anti-chains arguments started losing traction. Just as World of Beers eventually gave up, so did Boston Beer Works. Boston Beer Works then opened up a new location in the former Watch City Brewing space in Waltham. Within about two months of Boston Beer Works walking away from renting the Social Security building space, the Aldermen were somehow able to locate a liquor license for Meju to open up in Davis Sq directly across the street.
The bias of the former alderman was very apparent and she skillfully placed roadblocks in front of these potential business that did not fit her vision for the square. As demonstrated by their investment and successful opening of additional locations in nearby towns, these two proposed tenants were certainly viable options for filling the Social Security building space.
no subject
The first was a bar called World of Beers, which is a national chain based in Florida. They have since opened a location at the Cambridgeside Galleria mall, where California Pizza Kitchen used to be. The former ward alderman was against this business, because it was a bar with no substantial food menu and that it was a large/national chain. They tried to compromise by allowing outside food to be brought in, but ultimately they gave up and walked away.
Next Boston Beer Works proposed to open a location in the same spot. They proposed to have a full in house kitchen and food menu and they are a very small eastern MA based chain. The former ward alderman then decided to argue that even though they would have food and were not a national chain, that Boston Beer Works and their menu was too "generic".
This appeared increasingly as grasping at straws on her part, to prevent another "evil" bar from opening in Davis Square, as we were apparently in danger of having Davis Sq turn into Landsdowne street. This was an actual argument put forth at community meetings on this proposal. At that point she shifted tactics all together and pulled "there are no liquor licenses available for Davis Sq" out of her magicians top hat. This argument had never been raised at all during the World of Beers community meetings prior to this, but popped up as soon as the food and anti-chains arguments started losing traction. Just as World of Beers eventually gave up, so did Boston Beer Works. Boston Beer Works then opened up a new location in the former Watch City Brewing space in Waltham. Within about two months of Boston Beer Works walking away from renting the Social Security building space, the Aldermen were somehow able to locate a liquor license for Meju to open up in Davis Sq directly across the street.
The bias of the former alderman was very apparent and she skillfully placed roadblocks in front of these potential business that did not fit her vision for the square. As demonstrated by their investment and successful opening of additional locations in nearby towns, these two proposed tenants were certainly viable options for filling the Social Security building space.