Ristorante Limoncello, Inc. owner Maurizio Badolato received the unanimous support (7-0) of the North End / Waterfront Neighborhood Council (NEWNC) on Monday night for a second location in Boston’s North End. Featuring an Italian menu, “Limoncello 2” will be at 76 Salem Street in the location formerly occupied by Urban Cantina. The original Limoncello will continue to operate in North Square. Represented by Attorney Karen Simeo, the restaurant is seeking to transfer the beer and wine license, modifying the existing 12:00 a.m. closing hour by adding an hour to 1:00 a.m. The occupancy will remain 76 seats on two floors, including the basement.
At 85 Salem St, CNJ Nail Spa presented to the neighborhood council on an informational basis (no zoning variances required). The new nail salon will occupy one of three vacant spots in the location of the former True Value hardware store. Property owner Ken Rothman is leasing out the space to Cynthia Nguyen who will operate the salon. CNJ Nail Spa will open in June/July, with hours of 9:30am-8pm. Twelve stations will be available with half for manicures and half for pedicures. NEWNC members requested more information regarding signage at the location.
Battery Wharf Hotel received the unanimous support of the council (7-0 vote) for alterations to its liquor license related to the build out of a second floor function / event space. Presenting were General Manager Peter Sulow and Attorney Joseph H. Devlin. The cutoff hour for events has been limited to 11:30 p.m. at the request of abutting residents.
State Senator Joe Boncore spoke to the neighborhood council regarding this year’s legislative agenda at the State House. It has been exactly one year since Boncore was elected in the 2016 primary election. The Senator continues to prioritize criminal justice reform, an important part of his campaign platform. “If Massachusetts were a country, we would be locking up more people than any other country in the world,” he told the council. Workforce housing is high on the agenda, with the Senator supporting a $1500 tax credit for landlords that keep rent below certain levels. On recreational marijuana, the legislature is expected to retool the law in the next session creating regulations and a 2% local tax. Other priorities include transportation/MBTA ($5 billion of the State’s total $40 billion budget) and working with State Rep. Aaron Michlewitz on regulating short-term rental (AirBnb).
Discussion regarding a roof deck proposal at 57 Snow Hill Street was deferred at the request of the proponent. This item is expected to be included on the May 2017 NEWNC agenda.
The council also heard a presentation and discussion for a public art project in North Square, to be covered in a separate post.
Nomination forms for the May 20, 2017 NEWNC election are now available at the Nazzaro Center desk. Forms are due back with signatures by May 1st. A Candidates night will be held at the May 8th NEWNC meeting before the election on May 20th (10am-2pm, Nazzaro Center). There are six NEWNC seats up for reelection. Members with one more year remaining on their term will run the election including John Pregmon, Michael Bonetti, Danielle D’Ambrosio, Brett Roman (Election Committee Chair), Gennaro Riccio and Marie Simboli. More information on the NEWNC election.
The April 10, 2017 meeting of the North End / Waterfront Neighborhood Council (NEWNC) was attended by voting members John Pregmon (President), Carmine Guarino (Vice President), Sean Hennessey (Sergeant at Arms), Michael Bonetti, Danielle D’Ambrosio, Marie Simboli, Gennaro Riccio and Brett Roman.
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Ace Hardware of Charlestown looked into renting one of the three spaces, but the price was ‘off the wall — much too high, even for a lucrative business such as Ace. Now, tell me, how does a nail salon afford that space?
Not sure where or why there is controversy here. Are you suggesting they sell more than nails there?
I hope Ace Hardware finds a place to rent in this neighborhood. It’s a great store, and we need a good hardware store. We have had three close over the years (Stuart Street, Cambridge Street, and Salem Street). The only one left, Charles Street True Value, is also great, but it is small and does not have the selection the others had.
The issue with the small hardware stores are they are getting eaten alive from all sides. They are run as franchises and can only distribute the brands that they represent. Margins aren’t great because they now compete with the major box stores like Home Depot and Lowes. I was a big fan of Ben Moore paint and would buy it from Salem St even though I paid a premium. I knew I wanted premium paint and it was far better than the crap sold at either of the aforementioned. But for large purchases, the box stores get the business. Hardware stores only get the single item that you need immediately purchases. For tools everyone competes with Amazon Prime now. I don’t know the margin that Amy will get on nails, but I am willing to bet it’s better than what Ace gets on nails.
I have wondered the same. On Cross, neither Varano nor DiPasquale could make a go of it, but Amy’s seems to be thriving along with the Juicery. Maybe it’s time to invest in Nails and Juice! Oh, oh, oh: A combination Nail AND Juice franchise! Who’s in!?!?
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maybe people shouldn’t be so surprised when retailers that cater to actual residents thrive in the neighborhood. the neighborhood could use a lot more of them. residents first, tourists second, please.
Residents first, tourists second… I couldn’t agree with you more. My beautiful Salem Street is really starting to go downhill. In the last year I’ve seen them open a dog bakery, a candy store, and an open work space. All things we 100% don’t need. And now they’re opening a new nail salon and boxing studio ::hard eye roll::. WHYYYYYY? Who is approving this stuff? Are they just so money hungry that they’re willing to take anyone who can afford to pay their ridiculous rent? And why don’t these retailers and approval board members do a better job of checking the pulse of their customers to see if this is the right area for them?
If you wanted to control what business went into the former True Value Store spaces you could have purchased the building from Ken. He has the right to lease his space out to whomever he decides can pay the rent he is asking. I know from many conversations with Ken that he tried to do right by the neighborhood. In the 30+years I have lived in the North End, I have never heard Salem St described as beautiful. A nail salon , a boxing gym, a dog bakery for all the dogs in the neighborhood, and a candy store to replace the HUGE candy store Dairy Fresh Candy that was a fixture on Salem St for decades are better than MORE RESTAURANTS.
Truth: True Value was a neighborhood retailer. People depended on it. As for nails, it is rare to see all the chairs filled. It’s always residents first, by the way. What are you saying..we cater to tourists first. You’re not being clear in your comment.
heather – i do not think it is a stretch to say the majority of the retail and restaurants in the neighborhood exist for and because of tourists.