Conference 7.286::maynard

    I'm trying not to solicit here, but when I don't bring my lunch, I've
    found that the Pizza Express (where Brother's used to be) has very good
    sandwiches.
    
    					Steve

    Since the center of Maynard went through the revitalization, it seems
    the stores from the corner of Walnut St. to where the parking begins on
    Main and Nason are having a hard time.  The parking situation and the
    economy are causing many stores in the down town area of Maynard to
    close.  If this trend continues I wonder how many stores will be left
    in this area of the center.  You can't find a parking place on Nason
    St. and on Main ST. down near Paul's Bakery, which shows me that people
    do shop in Maynard when that can park and have something to draw them
    to the area.
    
    Last fall the Planning Board was dicussing the Mall with the Bank of
    New England, who owned the Mall. But since BNE is gone there hasn't been
    any more work done on this issue.  We were discussing the posibility of
    bringing in some type of anchor store to the Mall.  One of the
    conditions of occupancy for the second floor was for the Mall to
    develope more parking.  They have first floor occupancy approval now. 
    Perhaps the new owners of the Mall will be interested in working with the
    board to open up this mall.                              

    
      I think if you investagate you will find that the rents are out of
    sight in maynard.  100 sq ft runs about 600.00 a month, I have a place
    on moody street in Waltham that cost me 175.00 a month for 155 sq ft.
    Since the Economy is so poor I wanted to move back to maynard area,but
    because I live here. I went looking yesterday and the rents are still
    high.  I can get the same space in Sudbury on route 20 (shopping area)
    165 sq feet. for 175.00 a month plus I get 4 free months rent.
    
     Most of the businesses are not going under just moving out.
    
    Bob Cansler
    Dragon's Breath Entertainment Inc.

    You would think the landlords would lower the rents to get business
    in their property.  I would also think it would be better to rent
    at a lower fee then to have no rent at all.  
    
    I was down the center yesterday and I looked around to see how many
    empty stores there are.  Starting in the masonic building I counted:
    Ice cream store, True Value hardware, the Shawmut bank, the Main St.
    video store, a store across from the masonic building, the brick
    building on Nason St., half of the Middlesex bank and maybe more that I
    missed.  The down town area does need some type of boost. 
    
    I have heard that the red brick building on Nason St. is going to be
    sold at auction.                                         
    
    

Did the deli close, or just consolidate to one storefront?  

    Gone, lock, stock, & (er) barrel....
    
    Will
    

re .5:

It initially consolidated to one store front a couple months ago (they mentioned
the rent was too high to justify keeping the "dining room"), but as mentioned,
they're gone entirely now.

-Mike

    I saw a for sale sign on the Masonic building and the building
    Woolworths is in is also for sale.

    This is a good topic and a great title.
    
    I agree with Bob Cansler (see .3) that the cost per square foot in 
    Maynard's Central Business District is very high.
    
    My dentist (and fellow St. Anselm College alumnus) Dr. Karp tried 
    to rent the vacant space in the BayBank Building but the terms of 
    the proposed lease were out of site.  He shared with me the costs
    of his present lease and the proposed lease and, having spent some 
    time in the retail space business in Digital (yes, I was involved in
    the ill-fated "Digital Computer Store" effort some years ago), I was
    floored by the rates that some of the landlords in Maynard are asking
    for triple net space.
    
    If my memory serves me correctly, we started to cover the topic of
    anchor tenants and consumer "drawing cards" in another note, but it
    needs to be re-visited here.  We can all see that a quality store 
    will draw in Maynard.  The Outdoor Store, the Paper Store, and The
    Quarterdeck all seem to be doing good business in spite of the 
    current economic downturn.  The "mom and pop" stores can't draw 
    customers on their own.  We need more headliners to serve as magnets
    for the smaller specialty stores to survive.
    
    Woolworths is a goner in the fall.  The only reason that it has held 
    on for so long is that F.W. Woolworth owns the building.  When it goes,
    it will leave behind a store with enough square footage to attract a
    major league tenant, which could be a magnet for that area of downtown.
    
    If the Mall can get it's act together, there is another potential site
    for a drawing card.
    
    BUT, again, the rates must be right.  I agree with Paul LeSage in that
    I can't understand why a high rate for an unoccupied store is better
    than a low rate for an occupied store, but that's one reason why I
    work for Digital rather than gobble up all the buildings that are for
    sale....
    
    I know from talking to folks in Sudbury and Acton that both towns would
    dearly love to have a "downtown", versus strip malls and wide spots in
    the road.  
    
    My point, if I ever get to it, is that someone, some day soon, will
    come to realize that downtown Maynard is a gold mine just waiting to
    be discovered.  The price of space, however, must be adjusted to fit
    reality.  
    
    As a closer, The Knights of Columbus has been working for the past 
    six months to renovate it's Hall on the corner of Nason and Summer 
    Streets and will begin to activate it's function facility after Labor
    Day.  There is ample parking, the rates are right ($100.) and they
    have a new Club Manager (me).  Hey, I had to something after the 
    Charter Commission, didn't I?  
    
    Frank
              

    
    Ref .9
    
              BayBank wants $700.00 a month plus lease. This is per
    Century 21 their agent. You can get twice as much space in the
    route 9 strip plus 2 months free on a 6 month lease with twice the
    traffic that Maynard can supply.
              Rates are way to high, I agree until landlords get reasonable
    on their rates, the downtown area will continue to go down.
    
    bc

    Its not only retail space, houses and apartments seem to be 
    much more expensive than the surrounding towns.  

    There MUST be some division in the town government that could
    "regulate" what is being charged for rent, shouldn't there be?
    
    If not, how would we go about creating such a "committee"? Is this
    something that is against the law in Maynard or Massachusetts?
    
    We need to SAVE OUR DOWNTOWN area. I remember all too well, when this
    was THE place to go for most of your needs. It was also nice to walkl
    around and meet fellow town folk as they do their errends in one area.
    
    It IS a shame.... Oh, to turn back the clock about 20 years...
    
    Norma

    
    
                     No, REGULATION,  I have enough regulations with
    the state and Feds, I don't need the city of maynard sticking there
    noses into my business, they regulate enough as it is.

    >There MUST be some division in the town government that could
    >"regulate" what is being charged for rent, shouldn't there be?
    
    Norma, in one note you're questioning why the town couldn't be run as a
    profitable business (free enterprise system) and now you're expressing
    the exact opposite ideology in asking that the town institute a rent
    control policy (socialist).
    
    I'm not sure of the exact mechanics of the rent control systems in some 
    of the cities surrounding Boston, but from what I hear, it is an awful 
    policy.  This is a capitalist country, not socialist.  If the landlords 
    of properties in Maynard are having trouble filling vacancies, common sense 
    says they'd eventually have to lower their rental rates.  If they are 
    stubborn and refuse to do so, it may hurt the town in the short term, 
    but they're hurting themselves in both the short and long term. 
    
    					Steve

    The one thing the Town of Maynard should NOT get involved in here is
    the rental rates of downtown office space.
    
    We have completely rebuilt the downtown central business district,
    destroyed a once-beautiful park to put in a parking deck, and built 
    additional parking behind Nason Street. 
    
    The problem is in the hands of the Chamber of Commerce and the owners
    of the properties.  The vacant store fronts generate as much taxes as 
    occupied store fronts.  This is as far as the Town should go.  
    
    We've done our share to make the downtown area more marketable.  Now,
    if only we could get a Red Sox Clubhouse Shop or an L.L. Bean Outlet
    or..........
    
    Frank                                                        

    
     I agree with note 302.15, but until the business community wants to
    work together it will not work out; everyone can tell me why I cannot
    do something, but one isn't given any how you can do it. I belong
    to both the Maynard and the Middlesex Chambers, and the difference in
    attitudes is as great as the debate over regionalization, I love the 
    town of Maynard, and I enjoy running my business from here, but when
    it comes time for some help or advice, I always get the negative
    attitudes and as long as that is going on you will not expand your
    business base. As stated in another note on another topic:
       WHAT IS PERCEIVED AND WHAT IS THE TRUTH MAY BE DIFFERENT, but 
    what is perceived will become the truth if you let it.
    
    bc

    I obviously picked the wrong words, so I apologize. It aggravates me to
    see the downtown area filled with vacancies. I was just trying to find
    out who would play major roles in setting the "norm" for commercial
    rents in the downtown area.

    Yes, I am for a "free" society, but the high rents are destroying our
    community. If it is solely up to the owners of these buildings, we are
    in BIG trouble!! Can't the Chamber of Commerce do SOMETHING about this?
    What DO they do, anyway! Now before I get flames thrown at me, this
    last question is purely curiosity looking for an answer.

    Norma

    Rents are usually controlled by what the area dictates.  Obviously this
    is not happening in Maynard at this time.  If a bulding is empty for a
    long time, then one would think the landlords would reduce their rents
    or give some sort of incentives to rent their property. This is what
    the Planning Board was trying to discuss with the Bank of New England
    when they owned the mall.  We suggested they reduce the rents to get
    businesses started.  This was not on their minds.  What they wanted to
    do was to change the constrction agreement so they could get the second
    floor occupancy permit. Well this went on for several months and now
    BNE is no longer in business.  I will hope the new bank is more
    interested in opening the mall and help get some new businesses in the
    area.
    
    This notes file might be a good place to give me a feeling of what the
    town people are interested in concerning the mall or the down town
    area.  For example,  the mall construction covenant states, additional
    parking was to be constructed by the "mall" before second floor
    occupancy was permitted.  The spot the parking might be added was at
    the corner of Summer and Maple St. behind the building that the Candy
    store in in.  This area was discussed but zoning would  need to
    change and major construction would have to be completed.  What are
    your ideas on parking, rent incentives etc.?

    Paul, the good news is that with all the vacant stores, there is
    no parking problem in downtown Maynard today.
    
    The bad news is that if the downtown landlords and the Chamber of
    Commerce ever get their acts together, we could look like Freeport
    Maine, and have cars all over the place.
    
    If I were to guess at the best place for additional parking, it would
    be adjacent to the parking lot behind Nason Street, where the former
    Maynard Coal Company once stood.  An additional exit onto Main street
    between Gruber's and the Assabet River could be built with little
    effort.  People from the north side of town could access this lot
    from Euclid Avenue or Summer Street without impacting the downtown area.
    
    Of course, with hindsight as a virtue, I would have put the parking
    deck behind Nason Street instead of in the Park, with entrances from
    Summer Street and Main Street (between Grubers and the River), but
    I'm not an urban planner, I just minored in it, thank goodness).  
    
    There are also some parking slots over the river at Tobin Park behind
    the Post Office but there are signs that tell us that we shouldn't 
    park there.  Are they valid?  Likewise, in the Fine Arts parking lot,
    we are told to not park without official stickers.  If these signs
    are not legal, they should be removed.
    
    While on the parking issue, how about the Roosevelt School yard as
    a parking site?   Even if we ever decide to use the School for other
    purposes (Library, Historical Society Museum, Police Station) the 
    large lot could be use for parking.
    
    None of the above will result in any further trek for shoppers than
    we presently incur at the Burlington Mall or the Natick Mall.
    
    On a tangent, the one single thing that bugged me most about the
    downtown project was the complete lack of a lighting plan.  I was
    really hoping for some wrought iron type street lights that would
    have brought back a "gas-light" type of turn of the century atmosphere.
    There should have been bollards in the alley way beside the Outdoor
    Store to get shoppers from the Nason Street Lot to Nason Street.
    
    Because of the present lighting in downtown Maynard, even if all
    the stores were open at night, it would still look dead.  When I
    was a kid in the '60's, all the stores had lighted signs that 
    made the town look alive on Thursday and Friday night.  I will be 
    the first to admit that lighted signs are a bit honky-tonk but at 
    least they lit up the area.
    
    Just some random thoughts for discussion,
    Frank

    
     the signs that state No PARKING WITHOUT PERMIT are for those who 
    are operating the businesses in town and the permits are issued
    by the Police Dept and the Chamber of Commerence.
    
    
       Bob Cansler

Re: .19

I've been thinking that the Roosevelt school parking lot could be put to
good use as well.   Even if the school was somehow converted to a public
resource once again, it probably wouldn't use all the parking space that
is available back there.


[And here's one out of left field....]

I'll have to agree and disagree with you on the lighting plans - I'm
not thrilled with what is there - but the "gas light" stuff gives me the
shivers for other (personal) reasons.    I would propose that the town
invest in properly shielded Low-Pressure Sodium lighting fixtures.  These
are far more economical than the fixtures we use today and would pay for
themselves in a year or two (depending on electrical rates).

I'd like to see a well-lit downtown - but I also would like to see the
stars at night.   "Gas light" fixtures and bright signs steal the sky
from downtown's neighbors - and our children.   Boston's light pollution
is bad enough - we don't need to add to it.

- dave

    Another one off the wall, I suppose some "group" advertising by
    the merchants, similar to what the shopping centers/malls do on
    larger radio and tv stations wouldn't hurt business anyway.. I'd
    think, with some creativity, you might be able to draw some of
    the people who may never (believe it or not) have thought of
    shopping in Maynard.
    
    Will
    

    
      You must not get cable..   Rainbow advertising does a lot with
    business's in Maynard..  Sports Channel brought to you Amorys' 
    Maynard mass with a good Commercial, others as well, Speciality
    companies like mine who are not geared to the general public, I use
    cable access for the local hotels geared to conventions in the Boston 
    area.
    
      bc

    Bob, different areas are served by different cable companies. What
    may be advertised in Maynard, Sudbury, Hudson (all same cable company)
    probably won't show up in, say, Framingham, unless the advertiser
    has made arrangements with Framingham Cable.
    
    Will
    

    
        I realize that, but at this time I donot think the draw from
    framingham would be much considering what the route 9 area offers, but
    drawing from Concord,Acton, Littleton,Hudson, Clinton, Harvard areas
    are a postive action, with what we have in the downtown area now
    execpt for the paper store and the outdoor store which do advertise
    in the framingham area, I think that the advertising dollar would be
    wasted, that is unless you have an unlimited bank account. I always
    want the biggest bang for the buck, in my area of business I advertise 
    in the Boston, New York City area, Los Angeles and Atlanta; thats because 
    that is were I get my business from.
    
    bob c

        It's been a while since I used the cable system that services
    Maynard, do they now service Acton, Littleton, Concord and Harvard?
    
    Maybe some "group" events ( I'm trying to think of the name of the
    event where everyone displays on the sidewalks etc. ) could be
    advertised there also ( or am I missing something there )?
    
    As an "aside", the talk of parking, etc, traffic can still get to
    be a "pain". I'm wondering, if, say, best case scenario, things
    recover, the Mall fills up, they build another parking lot...
    At what point will traffic become a genuine problem, and has
    anyone given thought to this aspect?
    
    Will
    

    reference .26
    
    I am looking into the potential of a traffic and parking problems in
    the future.  Being a member of the Planning Board in Maynard, this part
    of our responsibility.  I see a traffic problem in the down town area
    now.  The intersection of Main and Naylor Ct..  Most people drive down
    Naylor Ct. to get to Nason St. from Main St., instead of going thru the
    light by Macdonalds.  An elderly lady was hit there last year and I have
    seen many almost accidents at this intersection.  One suggestion would
    be to make Nalor Ct. one way again.
    
    How many other people have almost been hit by a car pulling out of a
    parking spot on the left hand side of Main or Nason St.?  Why can't
    Main St. be made two way again?  

    re: .27

    I must admit that I am one of the many people who cut through the
    parking lot to get from Main to Nason. This is due to the fact that you
    have to go through two sets of lights, if you proceed to play
    ring-around-the-rosey. I wouldn't mind so much if McDonald's drive way
    wasn't placed where it is. I can't count how many times cars have
    zipped across all three lanes in order to make a left turn onto Summer
    St. I've had some close calls!!

    As for the Main St./Naylor Ct intersection... I have found it difficult
    to see what is coming up Main St. as there is an uncommon parking spot
    right and the corner, where you usually can't park that close to an
    intersection. I don't park there for fear of getting hint by someone
    cutting the corner as they are turning into Naylor Ct.

    My recommendation is to eliminate the last parking spot before Naylor
    Ct. and to make Main St. two way. The later would also control traffic
    coming out of McDonald's, too. If Main St. WAS changed back to two way,
    the island at the intersection of Main and Nason would have to be
    re-designed (minor detail). I would also go along with Naylor Ct being
    changed back to one way, entering the parking lot, as it was before.

    Norma

    I agree that Main Street should be made 2-way again.  Just last week my
    husband and I were walking near the Methodist Church and saw a van
    proceed down Main Street the wrong way.  Luckily it was able to turn
    into the McDonald's parking lot just a another vehicle was coming at
    him.  I also have had close calls at the Naylor Ct./Main Street
    location both going in and coming out.  That parking spot right in
    front of Lando's should be taken out.
    
    I have a feeling the cost of these changes might make it not happen.
    
    Linda
    

    I've seen people making a bee-line for the entrance of McDonald's from
    Summer St!  I guess some people have tunnel vision when it comes to
    junk food.  Our 2 1/2 year old daughter practically hyperventilates
    when she sees a set of golden arches.
    
    					Steve

    A new delicatessen is moving into the old ice cream store in the
    Masonic building.   So the sign reads in the window.

    This is still in the rumor stage, but it may be that the former
    Cumberland Farms store on Main Street will be reopened by Russ
    Salamone, as Russell's Market.  
    
    Frank

 Is Russ Salamone one of the two brothers who owned & operated Salamone's
 Market at the other end of Main ST.?  If so, I'm curious as to which one
 of them he is.  Also, if he's one of the two brothers, it's odd that either
 one of them would want to get back in to the retail grocery business, but
 good for him.  I hope he can turn a dollar there.

 Cliff

    Does anyone know what's going into the building put up on Nason Street
    next to the shoe repair shop?  I heard it was going to be a White Hen
    Pantry.  It looks about the right size for something like that, but
    parking may be a problem.
    
    Just wondering.
    
    Lin
    

.33> Is Russ Salamone one of the two brothers who owned & operated Salamone's
.33> Market at the other end of Main ST.?  If so, I'm curious as to which one
.33> of them he is.  

Nope, he's from the next generation.  Sal and Pete Salamone are the two
brothers who ran the market.  Their father ran it before them.  I think
that Russ is Pete's son.

Sal and Pete are great people, and I miss going to their market and talking
about town politics, real estate, and jazz.  There was a picture on the
wall of the Salamone Brothers Band, probably taken in the 40's, with Sal
and Pete and their saxophones.

I believe it was Anne Salamone (Sal's wife) whose uncle ran a grocery store
around where the Quarterdeck is now.

-Steve

    RE NOTE 302.34
    
    HI LINDA,
    
    I HEARD IT WAS GOING TO BE A YOGURT SHOP (YUK!-PERSONAL)
    
    REGARDS,
    VIRGINIA
    
    

    It appears that the former Fay's Feedery is about to reopen after
    Labor Day as "Paul's Lite Lunches".
    
    Frank

    More on Russell's Market:
    
    Russ Salamone is the son of Peter and nephew of Sal.  Russ sold his
    Little Peach Store in Hudson and has a purchase and sale agreement
    on the former Cumberland Farms on Main Street.  His intent is to
    use the entire building, so the All Ours Donut Shop is looking at
    moving out of town, since they need quick, off street parking for
    the truck drivers, etc., and downtown Maynard doesn't have that
    kind of parking.
    
    Frank

 re: last few

 Thanks for the info on who Russ Salamone is.  I couldn't remember Pete's
 name, and I figured "Sal" was just a nickname for "Salamone."  Even if you
 don't live in town, if you were a regular customer they had a way of making
 you feel like a local.  It was always a nice place to stop in and shoot the
 breeze about local goings-on.  I hope Russ does well with his new market.

 Too bad All Ours can't find another location in downtown Maynard.  Though
 they never did have a lot of quick in and out parking where they are now
 (IMHO), at least their present spot appears to be lucrative and it would be
 difficult to duplicate that wherever they relocate to.  Whatever else they
 did business-wise with the truckers, surely they must have made a good piece
 of change off the DECcies passing by each day, as well.

 Cliff

    AS far as I know there hasn't been any offical lease/rental/tenant for
    the new building on Nason St..  This building will have 4 or 5 of it's
    own off street parking.

    	I see the gas line is being put in for the new Deli ( on the
    site of the old "what's the scoop" ).. I've peeked inside, and
    spoken with (apparently) the owner. Looks to have a varied menu
    at what appeared to be reasonable prices.. Looks like a set-up
    for some healthy competition at the corner....
    
    Will
    

    I noticed last night that Pauls food shopp is taking over the antique
    store that used to be next door...
    
    

    Has anyone heard the "rumor" that a Kentucky Fried Chicken 
    will be going in where the gas station is across from the 
    mill???
    
    

    Nothing has come before the Planning Board about KFC moving into
    Maynard.  They could be talking to the owners of the property, but
    nothing has been applied for yet.

    There looks like there is some activity in the store space adjacent
    to All Ours Donut.  Does anyone know what going in there?
    
    Carole

    
     Salomone's is opening a store, all ours is being moved out.

    T.C. Lando's submitted a plan to the Planning Board to expand their
    restaurant.  The expansion is planned to hold a chicken takeout/eatin
    type restaurant.  We held a public hearing 10-22-91.
    
    

    At last, Russell's Convenience Store is now open for business.  I
    stopped in tonight for a gallon of milk and to wish the Salamone's
    good luck.  The place looks great and will be a fine asset to the
    community.   Russ and Linda Salamone are looking forward to meeting
    all their friends and neighbors at their new store.
    
    Russell's is located in the former Cumberland Farms/All Ours Donut
    Shop building next to the Town Hall on Main Street.
      
    Frank

    Rumor as it that the old Salamone's store and Bud's variety are going
    out of business.  This will leave 4 convenience stores in Maynard
    (Russell's, Store 24, Cumberland Farm, and the Corner Store). 

    There are some major rumblings that the sale of the Assabet Village
    Mall is near and that a new anchor store will close a deal soon.
    
    Frank

    This is good news if it is true.  
    
    Some information about the Market Place.  There still is no occupancy 
    permit for the second floor of this mall.  Second floor occupancy would
    be approved when additional parking is created by the mall
    developers/owners.  Since ownership of this mall has changed several
    times this part of the covenant has not been completed.

    I noticed in the Legal Notices in last week's Beacon that the Bank 
    has started foreclosure procedures on the Hall Block on Main Street.
    This was the former Maynard Co-op building and at one time held the
    Shawmut Bank and a Video Store (both gone) and the present Mailboxes,
    Etc.
    
    Ironically, Shawmut holds the mortgage.....
    
    So, let me get this straight.  On the one hand Shawmut decides that 
    it cannot afford to operate in Maynard, and on the other hand it 
    may end up to be the landlord of a building that it helped force out
    of business....
    
    This is either a very smooth move or another Bank of New England 101
    play.
                                                        
    Frank

re .52:

Maybe when Shawmut owns the building, they'll reopen the bank there, since
they won't have to pay rent...

:-)

-Mike

The Last National Wine Company, however, is moving _in_ to Maynard from the 
greater-Maynard shopping mall (the one configured around Purity).  They're
taking over the former snowmobile, etc. place close to Victory.

Steve Kallis, Jr.

    RE: Last National Wine Company:
    
    Steve, you're close, but I believe that The Last National Wine Company 
    is still in "Greater Maynard".  I think they are moving to the former 
    Ski Outlet on the town line, officially in Acton, and not to the 
    Powder Mill John Deere building next to Victory in Maynard.
    
    IF they were to move into Maynard, they'd have to apply for a package
    store license, and we don't have any more available by law, and we
    haven't seen any application for transfer from any existing stores.
    
    Frank  

Re .55 (Frank):

    > ........................ I think they are moving to the former 
    >Ski Outlet on the town line, officially in Acton, and not to the 
    >Powder Mill John Deere building next to Victory in Maynard.
    
That's where they're moving.  Sorry; I thought it was over the line.

Steve Kallis, Jr.

The windows on Kiku are covered up.  Are they closing or remodeling?

Clay

    RE: KIKU:  The restaurant has been sold and will re-open as "A
    Taste of Brasil".  No idea of opening date.  
    
    Frank

    The Diet Workshop Inc. has aporoached the Knights of Columbus for
    a rental agreement which would put the Diet Workshop in a one night
    per week rental of our Hall.  They are looking for a Monday night
    rental agreement and at this point we (K of C) are agreeable to their
    rental terms. 
    
    This is another step in the re-vitalization of our central business 
    district.
    
    Frank
    

    What's the latest info on CVS moving to town?

    Bob, it's a deal.  CVS will be moving into the old Sokoloff building
    (the former Firestone Building) and will be restoring the storefront.
    
    Last I heard was a September or October opening, due the extensive
    facade work required to de-brick the present "bunker".  
    
    Frank

    Grappa (spelling?) is now open in the former Red Door Building on Main
    Street.  It is owned by the Basile Brothers (Quarterdeck fame) and will
    be have an Italian food menu.  
    
    I've toured the building and it is done up quite nice, although the 
    seating area is VERY small, like 40 to 50 seats, and a small bar
    area, for waiting customers.  They hold the old Red Door liquor 
    license.
    
    The Basile's have installed a full kitchen in the basement and they
    intend to prepare food for both restaurants in this new space.
    
    I understand the the reason that it took so long to complete the 
    construction is that the Basile's do not believe in credit and paid
    for all the renovations in cash as the funds became available.
    
    Frank

I saw a SOLD sign on their building.  Are they just moving or closing down?
That's too bad since I was quite satisfied with their work, and location wise,
they are very convenient from MLO or PKO.

-santa

    Plans have been submitted to renovate the old Woolworth's building.  
    They plan on fixing the front lower windows, gutting the upstairs 
    and removing the old fire escape.  The ownwers are hoping to make it
    more attractive to sell or rent.   

    anyone know why the Copper Kettle is moving a few doors down [to where
    the aerobics place was, next to Gruber's]?  And what's happening with
    CVS and the Sokoloff building -- it's still got rent/sale signs on it.
    
    Sandy

From what I gather from the sign, it's a bigger place though it doesn't
look bigger.  I don't know if this is the full story though.

-Mike

There was an article in last week's Beacon about the sale of the
mall to some new owners.  If I remember correctly, the article said
that the Copper Kettle was going to move into where the fitness center
used to be and that the Village Jewelers was going to move into where
the Copper Kettle used to be.

While it is nice to (hopefully) have the mall sold I hope that some
NEW stores move in instead of existing businesses just moving around.

It is sure getting "empty" downtown...

    The mall was bought by a group of local business men.  Tom Sheridan is
    the person who is listed as the owner of the trust that bought the
    mall.  From what I understand the mall is selling the store space as
    condominiums rather than lease the space.  The stores might be moving
    to the mall because they are getting a better price on the condos vs.
    the rent they are paying.              

    Tommy (owner of the Copper Kettle) did buy the condo space formerly
    the Fitness Corner.  He will be gaining twice the dining space 
    (I believe he said from 75 to 150), a bigger and more modern kitchen, 
    and a banquet room (downstairs).
    
    There are several stores already scheduled to go into the mall.  These
    are an appliance store, a woman's clothing store and a jewelry store
    (either the Village Jeweler's or Jimmy Logan's place - can't remember
    the name).  The Copper Kettle will be left vacant for the present
    time.
    
    This is what I've heard.

IMHO, a chief reason the Mall fizzled was that there was nothing to "pull"
people off Nason and/or Masin Streets and inside.  There were no Mall
promotions that would regularly entice potential customers to go inside.

I consider it noteworthy that the Mall "residents" being talked about are
ones whose establishments front on Main and Nason rather than inside.

Steve Kallis, Jr.

    I believe the mall needs to have a major anchor store that will bring
    people to the mall and to the down town area.  The mall still does not
    have second floor occupancy.

    I see there's a SOLd sign on the former Walnut STreet auto body. 
    Anybody know anything?  
    
    And what's happening at the former Brooks Drug on Main Street?  Is that 
    all part of the Mall "renovation"?  The permit doesn't say anything
    specific on it.
    
    Sandy

    The old Brooks Pharmacy is part of the Mall.  The new mall owners have
    sold some of the space and they hope to have these in operation by
    Sept. 1st.
    
    Before second floor occupancy is granted for the mall, the mall owners
    were to provide additional parking space on town land located at the
    corner or Nason St. and Summer St. behind the Shoe Store and the Candy
    store building.  The new owners are in the process of submitting a plan
    to the Planning board for the creation of approx. 22 parking spaces in
    this location.

    To continue the discussion on parking, the owners of the Mall have
    given the Selectmen (and the Planning Board I suspect) a heads-up
    that if and when the Mall is fully occupied, downtown parking may
    become an issue (what a pleasant thought- people shopping in down
    town Maynard again).  In the olden days, the merchants were given
    designated parking spaces in various parking lots that would get
    their employees away from parking spaces near the stores.  We have
    asked the Chamber of Commerce to work with the Town Administrator
    to submit a proposal for the re-establishment of these designated
    spaces.  It is my hope that the proposal will place employee 
    parking as far away from the stores as possible.  Of particular
    concern to me is the parking deck, which should never be restricted
    to employee parking, as is currently the case.  Perhaps the proposed 
    22 space lot at Summer and Maple streets should be employee parking.    
    
    Frank
    
    
    

    It is my understanding that all but one of the stores in the
    Mall are under rental agreement!
    
    In addition, although it has not been confirmed, rumor has it
    that a video store (no name announced) has rented at least 75%
    of the old Woolworth Building.  
    
    CVS has been in contact with the building inspector and expects
    to pull a building permit for the old Sokoloff Building shortly.
    
    Dick Sluyski of Mannings will move his files to CVS and operate
    the pharmacy part of the business.
    
    Lando's owns the building that presently houses Mannings, and 
    their plans are to expand their current restaurant and offer a 
    chicken menu and perhaps a pasta menu as well.  
    
    Frank

    CVS has pulled a building permit, at least for the demo work 
    and they have filled a large dumpster with debris from the 
    former Sokoloff Building.
    
    CVS is a large chain and my understanding is that they work very 
    fast once they get started.  It would not surprise me if we 
    started to see some heavy demo work on the front of the 
    building within a week or so.  There is a lot of brick work to
    be torn out to restore the Nason Street side to a store front
    and the interior floor has to leveled to it's prior state,
    so the activity should be robust in the next few weeks.
    
    Other rumors:  I see that the "coming soon" sign has disappeared
    from the new Copper Kettle location.  I hear that they might
    not be relocating after all.  There is also a "coming soon"
    for the Village Jewelers in the *rear* corner of the Mall,
    which might also confirm that they are not going into the
    present Copper Kettle space.
    
    The Knights of Columbus has asked The Selectmen for permission 
    to purchase the small strip of land between their building and
    the driveway to the parking lot, in order to install a handicap
    entrance.  This is part of the old Railroad right of way, which
    was deeded back to the town by the MBTA some years ago.  Most of
    the right of way in this area has already been sold by the town
    to the abutters (Paper Store, China Ruby and New England Appliance),
    which turns the land into taxable property.  The K of C is not a 
    non-profit Corporation and it does pay taxes, at the commercial/
    industrial rate.  As a member of the K of C, I have excluded myself 
    from any discussion with the Selectmen on this proposal. 
    
    While on this tangent, The K of C has embarked on a total renovation
    project of the K of C hall.  The lobby is completed (remember the 
    old Chinese Red wallpaper and paint?), and last weekend we removed
    the 40 year old wallpaper from the function hall.  About half the
    painting is done and by the end of September we will have the walls
    done and the floor refinished.  
    
    Frank

    On August 11, 1992 there will be a public hearing concerning the second
    floor occupancy for the Mall.  The hearing will be in the town hall at
    8:00 p.m..  A major item of this hearing will be a proposed parking lot
    at the corner of Maple St. and Summer St..

    re .76,
    
    Frank, regarding the K of C hall renovations:  are they planning on
    improving the acoustics in the hall?  I've been at a couple of
    functions there and the echo is tremendous.  Music (ie, DJ) sounds
    grating to the ear.  Perhaps an accoustic ceiling would be in order.
    
    Just a suggestion.
    
    Jim

    Jim, the thought of improving the acoustics never entered our minds.
    
    The ceiling in the hall is a sprayed sparkle type material, but 
    we could improve the acoustics with some baffles, which would not
    be much of a problem, given the high ceiling.
    
    Any suggestions as to who to contact for a study?
    
    Frank
    

    Re who to contact re a study:
    
    Unfortunately, no but perhaps there is something in the
    business-to-business phone book under something like "Acoustic..." or
    "Construction..".  
    
    Sorry.
    
    Jim

    I heard that Bob Batson has rented the former Edison Company
    building at the corner of Nason and Acton Streets and will use
    the space for auto conversions to electric power, as well as
    a small retail outlet for batteries and other supplies related
    to electric powered vehicles.
    
    Frank 

    Fantasies Hair Salon is moving "out of the mall" and around the corner
    to Nason Street.  According to the owner, the landlord wanted to
    sharply increase his rent.

    I understand the former DTS (Datachecker) building on Acton Street
    (which was leased by Digital in a prior lifetime), has been leased
    to a software manufacturing company (IPL).  They intend to move
    their corporate headquarters and manufacturing operations and 100
    employees in sometime this fall.  They project 300 employees in
    the next three years.
    
    Another sign of renewal is the former Walnut Street Auto Body Shop
    which has been either rented or purchased by a lawn care company
    formerly located in Framingham.  I don't know the specifics.
    
    Frank

    The "Four  of  Us"  Deli closed and moved out of the Masonic Building
    last week.  They had excellent value in the prepared salads they sold
    at $2.50 and a number of us were "regulars".
    
    Any idea what happened? Did they move or just shut down the business?
    
    Len

    re .69 and the Copper Kettle move, it appears that the Copper Kettle is
    not moving to the mall after all.  I don't know any details, just that
    the sign was removed about three weeks ago and a waitress confirmed
    that the move is off.
    
    Jim

    Rumor has it that another Thai restaurant is considering a Main 
    Street location (the former Four of Us Deli spot in the Masonic
    Building).
    
    Another rumor has Wendy's interested in the Maynard Motel property.
     
    
    Maynard Christmas Parade, December 6th:
    
    The Maynard Food Pantry will be selling hot chocolate, coffee and
    other goodies at several locations along the parade route.  Proceeds
    go to the Food Pantry.
    
    The K of C will be hosting the DEC Railroad Club from 10 to 4 on
    parade day.  A chance to see the Club's HO guage layout, get warm
    and have a snack before, during and after the parade.  Admission is 
    $2. for adults and $1. for kids, with a maximum family charge of $5.
    Proceeds go to the K of C Charity Fund. 
    
    Frank

    For those who haven't noticed, CVS is open and the lines on the 
    first day were very long.
    
    I don't pretend to know very much about retail business, but it
    may be that the triple play of CVS, The Outdoor Store and the Paper
    Store could make Nason Street a real pull for the downtown area.
    
    Frank

I was wondering when they were going to open. I was picking up a prescription
from Mannings and as I left I over heard the lady pharamcist talking on the
phone to someone about CVS - I didn't stay to overhear, but it almost sounded
like they were selling out to CVS or something. I don't want to start rumor's
(for one it is wrong, and for another it doesn't make any sense for CVS to do
something like that), but it seems as the way people are Manning's days are
numbered in Maynard. A far cry from the Mannings I knew in 1980 when I joined
Digital.

Personally I kind of like the lower prescription prices, service without 
being told to wait 20 or more minutes at Mannings rather than the robo-store
I find most CVSs to be.

So yeah, great for Maynard and Nason Street, one more reason why CVS and OSCO
can fix higher prices for medications.*

john

*I have need of two fairly pricey medications not covered by my HMO and I
called all around and found Mannings had a lower price by $10/per bottle.
The chains had the higher prices - the opposite of what most people expect
and assume - I know I didn't expect it.

Huh.  The Beacon reported last Thursday that Mannings was going to close
and sell their database & computer to the CVS.  Has that changed?

No, I guess not, I guess I accurately heard and interpreted that conversation.
I guess then it is no secret. Not being on the Beacon's subscriber's list (or
any subscriber list ($$$) these days), I wasn't aware that there was a public
annoucement of the closing of Manning's. They didn't say anything to me about
it when I was there, like, "When you need the refill go to CVS.", nor were
there any signs annoucing the closing. It seemed like business as usual. Too
bad. I'll miss Manning's for the reason's outlined, and had I known earlier I
could have taken my prescription to OSCO this time before Manning's went away
to get them to exercise their price guarantee.

In reading my reply over again to determine the source of the "Huh" and "Has 
that changed?" I think that I found it:

"I don't want to start rumor's (for one it is wrong, and for another it doesn't 
 make any sense for CVS to do something like that),"

What I meant by wrong wasn't that the "rumor" was wrong, but that I feel it is
wrong to start a rumor.

On the rest of my logic, I was thinking of the whole inventory, not just the
database. Even then if Manning's was simply driven out of business they'd 
probably get much of list free, simply by people going to CVS instead of 
Mannings.

One positive note from me is that as we are part of the Harvard Community HMO
we must get our prescriptions (those covered by the HMO) from CVS because of a
Harvard-CVS deal, so now we won't have to drive to Acton for prescriptions now.

Oh, well, another old business in Maynard is gone. At least the Paper Store and
the Outdoor Store are still left. 

There are three signs on the Manning windows, two say closed on XYZ day 
for inventory,   and the third says all perscriptions have been 
transferred to CVS.  

The Beacon also said that Mr.  _______  (the man who owns Mannings, is 
that Mr Manning?, I forgot from the article) is going to work part time 
at the CVS pharmacy. 


I don't know the family, so I don't know how they feel about this, but 
at least they were bought out and he will work there as he wishes.   
That's a better scenario than them just getting bled dry and closing 
up at some later point.   At least CVS had respect for a small family 
owned business rather than trouncing them.  

    I don't know what the final deal was, but I know that CVS had
    been talking to Dick Sluyski (Manning's owner) for about a year to
    come to an agreement wherein Manning's would move their files to
    CVS, with Dick moving over to run the Pharmacy.  
    
    It appears to me that CVS wanted to combine forces with Manning's
    and did not want to compete with them.  I don't know why.  Maybe
    the Manning files are very valuable and CVS did not want to waste
    time chipping away at Manning's client base.  Maybe CVS did not
    want to get into a community issue against an established Mom and
    Pop store.  Take your pick.  In any event, it appears that CVS did
    a very smart thing in making a deal with Manning's.  CVS is happy,
    Dick Sluyski is happy and a lot of us in Maynard are happy.
    
    The result is that a number of Harvard Community Health Plan clients
    (myself included) will welcome the addition of CVS to Maynard, and
    we will move our perscription records from Acton to Maynard at our
    next fill-up.
    
    An ironic twist is that I believe that Dick Sluyski was also a 
    HCHP client and had to take his own perscriptions to CVS!
    
    To add some Manning history to this event, Irv Manning was a long
    time public figure in Maynard.  He was on the Maynard Board of 
    Health for about a zillion years and lived on Great Road in the
    large farmhouse near Summerhill Road, now owned by Fred Bailey.
    When Irv died, his wife Ruth (my next door neighbor here on Howard
    Road) apparently sold the assets of the Drug Store to Dick Sluyski,
    who had worked for Irv since he was in high school.  Knowing that
    Dick graduated from MHS in 1955, I would guess that has logged close
    to 40 years behind the counter at Manning's.  I can recall many
    times when he would open up on a late Sunday night to fill a
    perscription in an emergency and I will miss that personal service.  
    
    My thanks to Dick and the Manning family for their years of service
    to the people of Maynard.  
    
    Frank

    I too am sorry to see Manning's close...
    
    One word of advice to people transferring prescriptions from Manning's
    to CVS.  I stopped in this evening to ask about transferring
    prescriptions.  I was told that the phone number for CVS is the same as
    was for Manning's.  BUT - The first time you need to get a prescription
    refolled at CVS that was from Manning's allow a few days for it to be
    filled (weekdays).  Apparently, by law, they must call the doctor to be
    sure that the presecription should be transferred.  So plan ahead...
    
    

    I got a letter in the mail yesterday from CVS saying that all my
    perscriptions had been transferred from Mannings to CVS.  Also
    included was coupons for various things including a $3.00 off
    coupon for a perscription.  

    TC Lando's is considering expanding into the old Manning's store.

    I noticed that the French Restaurant (I forget the old name) has
    recently closed and re-opened under the name of "La Mason".
    
    Any info?

    we had lunch there today. it was excellent. $27 for 3 people (not
    including tip, including 3 iced teas.)
    
    this is their lunch menu. (we had the asterisked (*) items)...i had the
    pasta (gratined penne) and it was delicious.  good size portion.
    excellent warm bread.  no liquor license yet. 
    
    APPETIZERS
    
    shrimps: in spiced carrot juice and a Thai lime leaves infusion   5.95
    marinated salmon: with cucumber salas, celery root, and aromatic  7.95
                      dressing
    mixed green salad: w/ tomato concasse /Balsamic-Chive Vinaigrette 3.95
    open raviolis of crab: in lemon-grass and Kaffir boullon          6.95
    soup of the day: lobster tomato                                   2.95
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    PASTAS
    
    fettucine alfredo : w/ wild mushrooms                             6.95*
    gratined penne : w/ shrimps and shitake                           7.95*
    chicken agnolotti: w/ tomato sauce and condiments                 6.95
    bowtie pasta : w/ wild mushrooms                                  6.95*
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    ENTREES
    
    chicken : roasted in ginger. potato pureee and wild mushroom.     7.95
              red wine sauce.
    sirloin of beef : seared in fresh thyme-oil infusion. young      12.95
                      vegetables and a sweet onion sauce
    salmon: seared with herb and vegetable cake and aromatic sauce   13.95
    
    cod fish : roasted filet of cod fish with white bean salad and    9.95
               compote of tomatoes
    
    2-4 waltham st, maynard - 897-3686
    

    Regarding Ma Mason, does anyone know if it is air conditioned?  I seem
    to think that the previous restaurant was not.

Also, do they have a (real) non-smoking section?  The last time we were in 
there, they didn't.

Clay

    Whatever happened to the company (a disk manufacturer I believe) that
    was supposed to move into the old DTS building at 124 Acton Street?  I
    seem to remember that they were supposed to move in during the summer.
    
    The building still looks rather vacant.

    Re: -1
    
    I've heard they'll be moving in any time now.  I believe it's a company
    from Waltham.   Not sure of the name, though.
    
    					Steve

    I was in the cheese shop on Nason Street last week and they told me
    that they're closing at the end of the month (I assume they meant
    August).  They said they've invested a lot in the store, and their
    accountant advised them to cut their losses and move on.
    
    Too bad...although I must admit I didn't think he was/is much of a
    business man...very little advertising, not a whole lot of cheese, high
    prices, and very slow on the service.
    
    Sigh...downtown looks more like a ghost town every day.
    
    ****andrea****

    Can anyone shed some light on the building that was torn down today
    (9/10/96) on Main Street?  Is anything going up in its place?

    The building had been condemned.

    Rumor in front of the site yesterday watching the cleanup was that the
    Aubuchon hardware people are going to put up a new building there.
    Evidently, it's a very strangely shaped lot which gives them access to
    their existing building.