The TAB’s Jim Morrison has confirmed what hungry burrito fans have been waiting to hear — but those who dread Newton will become the next Brookline surely fear: Anna’s Taqueria is coming Newton Highlands.
Although Jim’s article doesn’t provide the address, Anna’s has been seeking permits to take over the former Rox Cafe at 27 Lincoln Street, which had previously been home of Bakers’ Best for 27 years.
Greg: I heard that the space is going have ice cream as well. True?
Greg, I’ve only heard positive responses and excitement so far about this News. The Highlands merchants and neighborhood in general will benefit from more economic activity. I’m not sure why having a popular business fill a vacancy in the neighborhood is occasion to take a shot at people who worry about over-urbanization.
@Steven: When I think of Anna’s, I think of Brookline because I’ve enjoyed both of their Brookline locations on multiple occasions. (they’re also in Cambridge, Boston and Somerville). Then again, when I think of Brookline I think of vibrant, pedestrian, bike and mass-transit friendly village centers with lots of independent restaurants and retailers and I can’t help but wonder what “people who worry about over-urbanization” are worried about.
As someone who made a “Newton not Brookline” comment:
— Anna’s Taqueria, more than welcome
— Large, ugly buildings out of scale with village centers, not welcome
Hope the clarification helps. 🙂
@Greg. Anna’s Taqueria will hardly turn Newton Highlands into a satellite of Brookline even if the original Anna’s is in that town. Nor will the huge number of kids and adults who flock there destroy the village character of the Highlands. The hoped for crowds don’t appear to be at all different than the throngs of people from every part of the Boston metropolitan area that used to come to the Village throughout the year to for an ice cream cone, frappe, or sundae at the original Brigham’s ice cream store. Anna’s will bring a sense of vibrancy back to the Highlands and be much more village friendly than another nail salon or bank. I think just about everyone in the Highlands is very glad Anna’s is coming to town.
I agree Bob, we’re not in danger of turning into Brookline, but …
@Gregg,
I’m intrigued about your reference to “mass-transit friendly village centers”.
Do you believe most of Newtons villages fall into that category? Maybe I’m misinterpreting the “mass” part?
@Simon: Most of our villages, but not all are served by the Green Line, Commuter Rail and/or buses. But I’m sure we all agree that the service and options could be better.
@Gregg
I absolutely agree. But when it comes to transit, Brookline is much better served. Most locations are just a couple of minutes walk to at least one form of transit, if not two.
Not only that, but they also stop at very conveniently at locations – something Newtons services do not.
The Mayor of Newton should concentrate on local public transportation needs before he adds density.
Oh, and I’m absolutely delighted Anna’s is coming to Newton Highlands!
I think Anna’s is the perfect kind of business for that space. It will draw people to the Highlands and provide a quick, inexpensive, family-friendly food option.
Best news ever.
Looks like it may be time soon for a Burrito Slam among Ann’s, Tango Mango and Los Amigos.
I lived across the street from the original Anna’s when it opened, and still make any excuse for midday doctor appointments in Brookline to go for a chicken super burrito. I’m not in Highlands a lot myself, but this is good news- I hope they keep the space filled for a long time.
As for the “becoming Brookline” comments, I’ll take them as the humorous asides I believe they were intended to be.
What Doug said. I’m not a big fan of using those winky faced emoticons, but I’m sure they might have been helpful here in reference to Brookline.
Heck, I probably should also use a winky face while noting that the plastic bag ban passed by Newton aldermen last night was based in large part on the bag ban presently in place in….wait for it… Brookline!
Awesome news. I wanted them for Newtonville. Newton Highlands will do just fine. I ate them for 2 years straight when I came to Boston and walked by one of their stores on the way home!
Note on impact… For our family eating habits, Anna’s will just divert dollars spent at Tango Mango in Newton Center. I miss the old Rox, though. Anna’s might actually give us a reason to patronize the Highlands business district. Besides Bread & Chocolate and Bea’s Antiques, the Highlands are pretty much not a destination for commerce.
@KarenN: I share your concern for Mango Tango, a really terrific family run business.
There is a theory that sometimes clusters of similar businesses can generate more customers collectively than separately. That’s why Chinatowns work. Hopefully multiple burrito joints in Newton begets more burrito customers — and inspires more people to eat locally — rather than simply shifting the same customers from venue to venue.
Just wondering, did Anna’s get special dispensation from the City to allow take out of multiple burritos in plastic bags? I <3 Anna's Taqueria for Super Burritos!
Note to Anna’s: I have eaten at your Brookline establishment twice and loved it. Years apart. Both times a space to park opened up like the Red Sea and facilitated my lunching there. I have longed for more frequent visits, but Brookline is mostly a place I pass through where I am unable to park. So it is with delight that I look forward to having your foodstuff available in Newton Highlands where parking still exists for those of us who don’t cycle and can’t walk distances. I think you will revitalize the area, bringing in old and young hungering for your South of the Border victuals. Welcome!
Anna’s is one of my family’s favorites. It will be a great addition. I’ll still walk into Newtonville to Los Amigos though, just because … Walking. Options are generally good. Hopefully there’s room for them all.
I think the rent on that space is $20k per month so I hope that all the newton highlanders can consume at least $50k per month in burritos to make it a profitable venture and not just decoration for that depressed village
@Newtongal: I’m not sure about the rent but STRONGLY disagree with the characterization that Newton Highlands is a “depressed village.” Not only do we have a fantastic array of restaurants and bars (including a charming new sushi restaurant and a soon to open new coffee shop) and a lot of terrific specialty stores but the Highlands is home to the Hyde Center, which provides skating in the winter, the winter farmers market and all those free movies, concerts and even like Shakespeare in the summer.
Stop by and visit some time!
I just got an email the other day that another thriving newton highlands store is closing is shuttering it’s doors at the end of this month. I will let you guess which one it is. That street suffered some very significant losses in recent years. The clientele that patronize that street are very demanding and very thrifty. It is not a fun combination if you are a retailer. The clientele also is constantly hitting the stores up for donations. It is ironic having the wealthy constantly bothering poor mom and pop businesses for payola to fund their lavish new playgrounds and other frivolities when the poor merchants are barely making ends meet.
A-ha! Now you’re saying something entirely different, Newton Gal.
If you’re saying that running a small bricks and mortar business — especially a retail business – in one of our village centers is very challenging. Totally agree.
But I still totally disagree with your characterizing the Highlands as a “depressed village.” That’s just not reality.
@NewtonGal, One event that uses donations is tonight’s Soup Social at the Hyde and Newton Highlands pizza is a frequent participant donating soup to the event. Not sure if others ask them for “payola” but they seem to be good neighbors along with our other merchants.
Unfortunately, Groot, the Soup Social has been cancelled because a snow emergency has been called by the City. Parking is banned on all roadways and that means no parking at all for those that might otherwise attend.
Housekeeping note: I have removed a series of comments from this thread (as well as responses to those comments because they would no longer make sense) after notifying the poster that they were inappropriate.
There’s a snow emergency? This is the first I’ve heard of it. Thanks for the information Bob!
If only someone had technology to send alerts to little devices people carry around with them to find out about such things!
If the Highlands soup social is rescheduled can someone post the new date here? I enjoyed last years and put my name on a paper that was circulated to join a Highlands email list. Have not received any emails and Groot’s post today was the first I heard about it. But last year’s was pretty well attended so word of mouth might be enough for a capacity crowd.
@BruceB – to join the Highlands mailing list, go to http://groups.google.com/group/newtonhighlands
@BruceB, according to John Rice, the Hyde does not have any Saturday nights open until April, so the next Soup Social will be January 23, 2016.
The vendors have to be told by 10:00am if the event is on so they can start making soup.
On the plus side, the ice rink should be cleared of snow for tomorrow.
Re the Highlands Google Group/email list, anyone who lives, works, visits or is interested in the Highlands can join the list by sending an email to [email protected]. You should receive a confirmation email so check your inbox.