Downtown Journal An occasional column about city life Back in the day, the necessary Waterfront morning hangout was the Dunkin’ Donuts on Commercial Street. The caffeinated mecca occupied the corner of Battery Wharf and Commercial – somewhere near where the entrance to the chic Divine Design is today. Starting at 5:30 every morning, cops, Coast Read More…
Mayor Martin Walsh mingled with North End / Waterfront residents and then spoke to the group altogether at his coffee hour at Christopher Columbus Park earlier this week. First, he told attendees that Christopher Columbus Park will be getting a $260,000 new drainage system as part of the City’s FY19 capital plan. The Mayor had budgeted Read More…
Peet’s Coffee at 48-50 Salem Street in the North End is closing its doors for good today, Friday July 13, after opening in December of 2015. Before Peet’s Coffee came into the North End, the location was the site of the bar, Goody Glover’s. According to staff members, the chain is closing due to general Read More…
City Councilors Michelle Wu, Kim Janey and Lydia Edwards filed legislation to remove as-of-right designations for chain stores in Boston’s neighborhood business districts. The proposal, entered at today’s Council meeting, would amend the City of Boston’s Zoning Code to regulate formula retail uses, also known as chain stores, and require a conditional use permit for Read More…
The proposed Starbucks at the corner of Hanover and Cross Streets has been strongly opposed by many North End residents and businesses. Last week Mayor Walsh encouraged the applicant to withdraw the proposal, and since then we’ve learned it’s been deferred indefinitely. If the Starbucks does indeed get withdrawn or denied, what would you like to Read More…
Petitions for both Citizens Bank and Starbucks at 198 Hanover Street have been deferred indefinitely, as announced at the North End / Waterfront Neighborhood Council (NEWNC) meeting on Monday night by President John Pregmon. Pregmon said he spoke to Attorney Daniel Toscano, who represents Starbucks Coffee Company, earlier on Friday and both items were removed Read More…
The North End of Boston has changed a great deal since I lived there between 1991 and 2003. When I was a young kid, my family spent many weekends shopping at old Haymarket. Not crazy about being drowned in crowds of hot, sweaty people and rotting vegetables, it was not my favorite weekend activity. So Read More…
Mayor Marty Walsh came out strongly against the proposed North End location at the Charter Realty development on Cross Street, between Hanover and Salem. “After hearing the concerns from residents about sustaining the culture and historic nature of the North End, I encouraged the applicant to withdraw the proposal to locate a Starbucks at the entrance to Read More…
I am a former North Ender born and raised there. My entire family is either still living there or in the surrounding suburbs (and none of them are opposing anything). My grandparents came to the North End 100 years ago and quickly bought their own building where they lived all their lives. Luckily, I was Read More…
Things to know for Monday Today is Monday, July 2 and if you’re looking for a new restaurant to try out, Anthony Contarino, a restauranteur and amazing chef, has brought his restaurant Tre Monte to the North End on Salem Street. Here’s what else you need to know for the week ahead… 11:00AM 215th Army Read More…
Little Italy is a symbol of Italian culture and flavor, no different than many neighborhoods in Boston. Look at neighboring Chinatown, people flock there and here for the same reason: to taste a little Italian or Chinese food and feel the culture, not to sip a cup of coffee from a place its residents will Read More…
Opponents of a proposed North End Starbucks made a powerful showing at a nearly three-hour public meeting on Thursday night. The issue at hand is a take-out license request by the coffee company under consideration by city officials at 198 Hanover Street, part of the Charter Realty development along Cross Street. The gathering was moderated by Read More…