As we look for ways to bring vitality and new business back into our City, Newton Patch has begun running a column called Visions for Vacancies. This solicits input and ideas from readers about selected empty storefronts throughout the city, asking what they would like to see.
So far, the column has asked for ideas on Kaplan Test Prep (Newton Centre), Newton Highlands Bank of America, West Newton Sweet Center, All About Shoe (Newtonville), Marshall’s Plaza (Needham St), and now 341 Washington St (former Dry Cleaners).
The “I Wish This Was” campaign attempts to do something similar by soliciting input from passersby to see what kinds of retail or cultural uses they would support. We have not tried this in Newton, but the idea has been broached.
Each case provides a means for collecting input on what people say they want to see in our vacant storefronts. This is a useful first step that complements the City’s conversations with the business community, landlords, and other interested parties. Of course, we also need to couple this with a realistic assessment of what the market (and our residents) can support.
And – as has been noted here elsewhere – we probably need to think beyond retail in some cases.
When I moved to Newton a dozen years ago, one of the first things I looked for were antique shops. This continues to be an under-served market. Another opportunity is with basic gift stores. Where does one buy bees wax pillar style candles and nicely made soaps, as examples? Another one is a chocolate shop selling either their own nicely made (American style) product — or a shop selling hard to find, fine international chocolates (not the common commercial brands).
I’ve got more: a shop with reasonably priced curtains and drapes (e.g., Country Curtains). A great spice shop. An alternative to Winston Flowers.
And lastly, I’ve dropped my most important “want” for Newton because the industry is almost dead: a fine fish monger.
@Hoss: I never took you for the candles and curtains kind of guy. Learn something new every day.
The antique mall in Upper Falls has all the antiques your heart desires.
I would like to see a kitchen shop. I needed a new dish drainer and couldn’t find it in Newton. I had to drive to Framingham to a Target big box store to get it.
Upper Falls can’t handle the traffic of a large supermarket, however, we could use a small version of a Trader Joe’s type market. Or, a Family Dollar type store. Sometimes bargains are scare in Newton. Or, dare I say it, a thrift shop?
A non-boutique thrift shop would be great, as would a non-high-end kitchen shop. It’s hard to find useful, affordable things in much of Newton.
Agree on all of the above. We have lost a few gift stores around the City over the past year, and it would be useful to understand why. Food retail/grocery/produce in Upper Falls would be interesting, and the right concept would work great with the community.
I’d also love to see a hobby shop in either the Highlands or Newtonville to complement Green Planet toys. Something to offer up model cars, planes, maybe a few games.
(And yes, I know my inner nerd is showing.)
One question I have – How do people feel about a performance space of some kind in the village centers? Or do we think that this would unduly compete with other institutions around the City
@Chris, I’d love to see a performance space of some sort. I probably go to half dozen music shows a year at the Natick Art Center as well as occasional kids theater there. I’d love to have something comparable in Newton, booking a mix of local and nationally known acts.
Chris Steele — Sudbury seems to be doing a lot of things right with small retailing. I don’t know what the trick is with that town, do you?
There’s still a nice gift shop in Newton Highlands on Walnut St., near the T stop (can’t remember its name).
@Hoss – I’ll look into it. Thanks
I’d imagine that part of the trick for Sudbury would be lower rents.
Bring back a Brigham’s Ice Cream Parlor in some village on the South Side. Cabot’s has a lock on the Northside and it certainly gives a certain vitality to Newtonville, even if it’s not directly in the center of the village.
For kitchen shops, try China Fair on Neecham Street. No frills, but they have everything.
Thanks. I had no idea. Assumed it was just china.
@Chris – I’ll take a performance space! (as if no one saw that coming…)
Bob’s comment brought back great memories of the Newton Centre Brigham’s. Hoss reminded me of Captain Marden’s fresh seafood that used to be in West Newton. Hmmmm, maybe we could combine those two… fish ice cream? Uh, nah! I do miss both places though.
I’m totally on board with performance space. In Newton Centre I could envision a seasonal, public-private-partnership working well between the city and Union Street restaurant, to create a performance space on the green.
Personally, I’d love to get a good gym here in Newton. The Gold’s Gym in Needham played that role for 20 years, before Work Out World took over and ran the place into the ground. I know we have existing fitness clubs like BSC in W. Newton and over on Wells Ave. And of course the Y and JCC. Chestnut Hill is getting an LA Fitness and maybe an Equinox as well. But I really miss Gold’s. They served a different price point than any of the other clubs, and attracted a very diverse clientele. Best of all, they were a real GYM. Attracting a Gold’s [or similar] to Newton would likely require a change in parking requirements.
Mike Striar — Capt Marden’s is exactly what I was referring to. Whole Foods is filling in appropriately, but a local fish broker that knows the product and loves the business, they are not.
In terms of publicly funded performance space — why not use our $200mm NNHS investment appropriately?