The Cross Street plaza area between Hanover and Salem Streets has a new tenant, Amy’s Nails and Spa.
On the historic Freedom Trail bringing tourists from the Greenway into the neighborhood, the plaza is sometimes referred to as the Gateway to the North End. This term is still shown in the faded awning lettering from the previous tenant at the shop, Nick’s Famous Deli. The pre-Greenway era featured longtime retail store Martignetti Liquors at the location. The property is under a long-term lease to Citizen’s Bank that sub-leases to the neighboring Cross Street shops including DePasquale’s Pasta Shop and Bread + Butter.
We have not confirmed if this is the same “Amy” that previously owned a nail salon on Fleet St. in the space now occupied by Luke Aaron.
Nothing reminds people of the North End and Freedom Trail more than a nail salon… lame…
It’s better than an empty store front. Not ideal but better than nothing. But they will need to do A LOT of business to pay the crazy high rents for that building…that’s a lot of nails and cuticles.
Really? Hair salon? Come on!
I’m sure a much better looking sign will be hung once it opens. Good luck to whomever Amy is and I hope she is successful in that location. I mean who would have thunk that a deli selling $14 cold cut sandwiches would fail? I mean $20 for a sandwich chips and a drink sounds like a great business plan right?
Come on Tix, it failed because Varano couldn’t get a beer and wine license! If he had been able to sell bud light cans for $9 apiece, the place would be alive and booming!
Bosguy, your right a $9 dollar can of beer is the perfect compliment to washing down your $ 15 dollar sandwich but a nail salon?
Not ideal, but what can you do? It doesn’t seem like there were a ton of other options and if I owned the property, nail salon rent would feel the same as sandwich place rent.
Perhaps the North End should be aware of the Politically Incorrect Law of Neighborhood Evaluation: “The number of nail salons in a neighborhood is in direct proportion to its public image.” Corollary: “The more attractive a neighborhood, the fewer nail salons.” Recommended reading: “The Official Rules: 5,427 Laws, Principles, and Axioms to Help You Cope with Crises, Deadlines, Bad Luck, Rude Behavior, Red Tape, and Attacks by Inanimate Objects”. By Paul Dickson, to be published November, 2013, Dover Publications
Very interesting, let’s see what happens….
Are all these nail salons legitimate businesses? I ask this question sincerely. Some are busy, some are empty – but between MGH and North End there must be 10 at a minimum. These are separate from the hair salons which also offer nail services.
What do you mean legitimate? Ashasie, where I typically go, is run by honest hard working people and is always busy. I have been to a few others in the area as well and find the same thing.
PRIME REAL ESTATE RIGHT !!!!!! ATM , NOW THIS , WHAT HAPPEN TO IL PANNINO , BIG LET DOWN
Hey, Dude! We/you created this environment (sadly). Rents are so high on Hanover and other prime spaces, that only very savvy and professional folks like FD can make them work profitably. I completely don’t fault them. In fact, I admire them. I just lament the fact that we are at this stage where small family businesses can’t survive here and we are stuck with this tourist dining Disney Land as the only viable profitable way of surviving.
God Bless Sulmona, Polcari’s, Parziale’s and all of those still “hanging in there” to make this neighborhood as fabulous as it is. The moment people and businesses like this are gone, all is lost (to me) and I will be out of here….