This is a step in making Newton Centre cool… kinda.
Blackbird Doughnuts is opening up on Union Street. That makes the street a pretty interesting culinary destination, with places like Comedor, Farmstead Table, Health Bar, Woops!, and the venerable Rosenfeld’s Bagels all right there. Then you have the stretch including Central (both the bar and cafe), Galit’s Treats, Sycamore, Little Big Diner and a long list of others.
I’d love to see Union Street turned into a pedestrian-only location on Saturdays during the summer to allow these stores and restaurants a more festival-like atmosphere. Then we can bring them some attention.
Also, Blackbird has a small shop near its bakery in Allston Brighton as well as several other stores in the South End, Fenway, and Havard Square. Now, if we could bring them a few more customers by increasing the density….
Take back what I said 20 mins ago, Chuck….THIS is the best post of the day!
@Chuck. Your suggestion about turning Union Street into an auto free zone on Saturdays is a 10 strike. We only get the chance to do that one day a year in Newton Highlands on our “Village Day”when the village square on Lincoln Street is off limits to motor vehicles. A magical transformation takes place and the entire square turns into a gigantic meeting place for the entire community. I think it probably has much of the feel that the village square had a century and a half ago when most of the buildings that are still there were constructed. The Crown Jewel of Newton Highlands.
I just don’t get it. Newton Center keeps attracting these niche business and often they have bizarre hours of operation that make you wonder about there long term viability. Examples: Galits between Bill’s and the former Murray’s. The martial arts studio in the old Zoots location on the other side of Murray’s. The other martial arts type studio on Union Street with bizzaro hours of operation. I don’t see these adding to the viabilty of Newton Centre. Blackbird Donuts? Just don’t see it.But I don’t eat donuts.
What Newton Center needs is a nice wine shop and something like Brother’s Marketplace that recently opened in Waltham. I want to get off the T after work and be able to pick up a bottle of wine and a few groceries before walking home.
https://brothers-marketplace.com/
Super excited that another small business with good products is coming to Newton. I am all for local business and not another bank or real estate office. I don’t eat alot of donuts, but that could change quickly.
Claire, it’s going to do great, a lot of people love donuts. And they make darn good donuts. But I do agree that every functioning square needs a good packie.
Yes Blackbird will bring a “cool” vibe to NC & a huge “yes” to closing off Union St on occasion during the summer /fall – I love that idea.
@claire Murray’s wld be such a perfect location for a market, wine shop or place with prepared foods. Maybe Judith’s Kitchen wants to venture over with a second location in the city. Wouldn’t that be great?
I love Chuck’s idea about Union St being closed to traffic on summertime Saturdays. I’m happy this donut shop has chosen to locate in Newton. If businesses like donut shops had to put up with the same local regulatory crap as cannabis shops, no new businesses would come here.
After three ballot box votes in favor of regulating marijuana like alcohol, and several outspoken prohibitionist City Councilors getting their walking papers in November’s election, a few holdovers are continuing to block cannabis licenses in Newton. Meanwhile commercial spaces like Murray’s Liquors in Newton Centre sit vacant and the city loses cannabis tax revenue every single day.
Blackbird Donuts will be a wonderful addition and I would love to see a Brothers Marketplace type business in Newton Center.
Hate to disagree with my friend Chuck, but Union Street does not have great potential for car-free days. Like most of Newton Centre it has shops on one side only. (It’s amazing. As big as Newton Centre is, the only storefronts that face each other directly across a street are Icon Hair and Lee’s on Sumner and Farmstead and Station Diner.)
I was a skeptic, but as I see Blackbird nearing completion, I think it is a good use of a small space and adds a hip factor that is missing from Newton Centre