Globe City Weekly article on Davis Square

[ron_newman]

Yesterday's Globe City Weekly section has an article about Davis Square, specifically how it seems to be inexorably shifting from retail stores to restaurants. It was written by Patrick Gerard Healy (pgh06), who posts in this community from time to time.

Comments

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Well, I don't Like the Out of The Blue owner's comment claiming "It's going to be just like the North End, and other shops are going to go out of business."

No, it isn't. There is no other North End, and there is no other Davis. If a restaurant owner is naive diluded enough to believe that people will come this far out on the Red Line for food, let alone chain food like Quizno's and Spike's, well... let him lose his little nest egg built from local dollars.

[lillibet.livejournal.com]

I guess I don't understand the problem with more places to eat. That's what people do in Davis Square. If they went shopping there, then this wouldn't be an issue. I'm sure that there are retail places that might be able to attract customers, but bricks-and-mortar retailers are suffering all over and if restaurants can pay the rent, then why shouldn't they make up the bulk of the businesses? I'm dubious about Quiznos--there are a bunch of different (and, IMHO, better) options for subs in the square already--but I'm always psyched for more food options.

I don't mean to sound belligerent--if someone can explain the problem to me, I'd be happy to be edified.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

I was wondering that myself. I mean, I can see having issues with fast food chains like Quiznos, but speaking more generally, what's the problem with more food? And if it means the possibility of getting a drink out on Friday or Saturday without fighting mobs, hey, great. I'm sure I'm missing something here, but I don't know what. (I wasn't particularly sorry to see Pluto go, anyway -- I was often amazed they stayed in business at all.)

[magpie-leah.livejournal.com]

Hi everyone. I'm one of the five owners of Magpie (http://www.magpie-store.com/) -- a retail store that's actually surviving in Davis Square despite what the Globe said! ;)

I hope that Quiznos doesn't make it into the Disc Diggers spot. There are so few areas left that aren't overrun by franchises. How great would it be if we could keep Davis a place that's predominantly mom and pop businesses?

I wonder if anyone, or even Diesel itself, would open another coffee shop in the Disc Diggers location. It seems like Diesel is often busting at the seams with customers at any given moment.

[marphod.livejournal.com]

I would doubt the Diesel can really afford another location. They have to compete with 2 other coffee shops in the square, one of which has deep pockets and a history of killing of indepedent stores. The financial risk doesn't seem worth it, to me. OTOH, I don't work there or know their bottom line.

[hammercock.livejournal.com]

I couldn't see the point of Diesel opening up another space the next street over unless it were substantially different from the existing shop. Not sure we need another coffee shop, anyway. A tea salon, on the other hand...but I know that's just wishful thinking. ;-)

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

It's disappointing that they didn't mention giving Picante, with its 15 year history, the boot as a prelude to getting Spike's in the Square, even though it was the same guy who owned that space as Pluto.