I try not to share too many chamber related things here. But I believe last night’s Council of the Whole meeting about the challenges restaurants are facing as as result of COVID-19 is worth viewing (it’s only one hour). I’d also like to share the TAB’s story and the Globe story about reducing liquor license fees as a way to help our struggling restaurants.
City Council hears from Newton’s struggling restaurants
by Greg Reibman | Oct 2, 2020 | Newton | 18 comments
If you don’t have time for the full hour, I recommend listening to the 17 minutes (20:25 to 37:25) to hear restaurant owners speak: Eloquent and insightful descriptions of their plight and how it’s really the plight of all of Newton, since independent restaurants are so key to Newton.
Any plans to open Langley Road like Moody Street for pedestrians only?
I went by Needham’s town Centre on a Friday night and it looked like it was a party! All ages.
I also hope Newton does not outlaw heaters like Brookline just did on Wed. Very anti-business.!
This meeting was bang on!! Now the Mayor needs to get on board because CC definitely is.
Kim, my understanding is that the city was willing to close Union Street if the merchants supported it, but they got lukewarm support for it.
I’m interested if there were any initiatives proposed by businesses that didn’t get implemented.
I agree completely with you that other communities made things work in ways that actually seemed like special experiences. That was especially meaningful for people who had been isolated during the spring.
As it is, we’ve basically run out of time. This winter will be cruel. I believe that the only thing that will save small retail (and child-care, and public services, and …) will be a massive federal investment in rebuilding.
Bruce Henderson is correct. The section where restaurant owners talk of their struggles is the most powerful part of an already powerful presentation. I drafted a recent article for the TAB reporting how the Newton Highlands Neighborhood Area Council was encouraging residents of our village to patronize our threatened small businesses, particularly restaurants. It echoed what so many others have articulated about the importance of these threatened businesses to the life and fabric of the city and to individual villages. I’m certain there would be strong public support for making the tax modifications that Greg Reibman knows are necessary to save as many of these community treasures as possible.
Correction: The TAB article was a collective effort of the Highlands Area Council with the enthusiastic support and participation of all nine members. I didn’t mean to imply that is was wholly my effort. I just cracked a first draft.
Mike you wrote “my understanding is that the city was willing to close Union Street if the merchants supported it, but they got lukewarm support for it.
Greg’s counterpart in Waltham reported that many of the merchants on Moody Street were initially not supportive due to concern of the lost parking. But the Waltham mayor went ahead and the reluctant merchants have come to see that it has actually benefited them due to the significant increase in foot traffic.
That’s called leadership
The chamber was disappointed that we were never invited to help facilitate conversations with Union Street businesses before a decision to not close the street to cars was made.
As Claire points out these decisions require leadership. It also requires salesmanship.
I do not know how the questions to Union Street merchants were posed or what they were asked (for example, were they asked how they felt about a full street closure, one lane closure, weekends or night time only closures?).
I wholeheartedly agree that an accommodation should be made for Newton businesses. Our elected officials should not be tone deaf during this unusual times. Some adjustment to liquor license fees is in order.
Greg, it seemed that someone or some group needed to step up. Call it leadership, statesmanship, vision, creativity. Someone needed to make the call rather than waiting for someone else to make it. It didn’t happen.
Today I saw Belmont Center has one way traffic, restricted roadway, and street cafes on both sides. Quite busy. Looks festive. One of any number of communities that managed to turn an improv into a destination.
At some point, Newton has to learn how to try out new ideas, ideas with risk but also potential great reward. And not just try them out. Make thoughtful experimentation part of our culture. We needed it this summer.
I am glad V14 posted the link.
Newton’s response to date is disturbing. Newton’s population is 30% greater than Waltham’s. Our average household income is over 60% greater. Even before the pandemic, Waltham’s restaurant scene was more vibrant. City Hall needs to wake up.
“Newton’s population is 30% greater than Waltham’s. Our average household income is over 60% greater.”
AND we have a distributed village model that should support more clusters of unique dining and social experiences. Placemaking is critical to create loyal customers, both locals and visitors. In addition, during the pandemic, they reduce the crowding that a central business district might suffer.
It was fortunate that West Newton and Newtonville’s construction could be accelerated during the pandemic. It is unfortunate that they aren’t complete and thus feel barren. Places like Los Amigos are booming with takeout and people are standing around on temporary gravel.
I don’t have the answers. I just know that there are a bunch of amazingly creative and visionary people in Newton who love this city and are invested in it. Somehow we haven’t engaged to craft a collective civic vision, one that would help us now in these crazy times but also into the future.
Let’s be realistic too. It was never going to be easy with so many people and institutions knocked on their heels, or on the backs, by the pandemic. 2020 dumped bushels of lemons onto all of us. But other communities somehow crafted artisanal lemonade out of it. I fear we’ll still be bickering around the edges of things well into a dreadful winter.
I can’t help but think that closing streets would be counterproductive now that restaurants are going to be relying increasingly on take-out to stay alive through winter weather. Against all odds, three courageous restaurateurs have opened new places recently in Newton Centre–Thistle and Leek (outstanding) where Comedor was on Union Street; Jamie’s, also on Union Street, replacing The Station; and Sushico at the site of the former Central–a huge vote of confidence in themselves and also in the community.
They are courageous. Every restaurant owner and worker is these days.
But just so folks don’t get the wrong idea about how dire things are: Thistle and Leek’s change of ownership predates COVID. The other two are the same owners reinventing their existing restaurants.
I’ve been so sad to see some of our restaurants leave – including Rox Diner which I loved. I hope life is kind to Paul, he was always kind to me.
I hope the city pulls out all the stops to help our businesses survive the winter. If they don’t, we will lose pieces of our community we can’t easily get back.
Can the City sponsor some kind of takeout version of restaurant week this winter? Prix fixe multi course meals?
What about a City run contest? Take pics of yourself getting takeout, tag it on social media and get a prize?
Have a “Support Newton Restaurants” week where there’s a massive media push to get people to grab food.
Can some restaurants setup sidewalk kiosks in front of their restaurants? I was in France around Xmas one year and a lot of the restaurants had outdoor kiosks for passersby with things like crepes and warm drinks. People sat at tables outside and consumed them even though it was 40 degrees. Plus it could be something festive for the holidays.
I hope City Council can come up with some ways – maybe totally outside the box – to help restaurants get through the cold months??
MMQC,
Great ideas! Here’s an excerpt from this week’s Farmers’ Market newsletter about an upcoming, month-long restaurant contest:
“Newton & Needham restaurants are joining forces and launching a new reward program, where you can win prizes just for dining local.
It’s no secret that the pandemic is taking its toll on local restaurants. Several of our beloved dining establishments have recently closed and others are hanging on by a thread, facing the possibility of shuttering over the coming weeks and months. But, instead of throwing in the kitchen towel, Newton and Needham’s restaurants are rolling up their sleeves, and rolling out a fun program that’s sure to be a hit at a time when we could all use a little boost.
From October 15th – November 15th, diners can win prizes for patronizing Newton and Needham’s restaurants. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. Grab a cup of coffee, bagel, or slice of pizza to go. Have lunch at one of the new restaurant parklets. Or, dine indoors at a physically distanced table. Every time you patronize a local restaurant you’ll have a chance to win a prize–like a gift card or swag–and you’ll be helping restaurants keep their doors open.
Learn more about this month-long contest at the Farmers’ Market on Saturday, October 10th and Tuesday October 13th. Stop by the Newton Needham Dining Collaborative table, sign up to participate, and maybe even head home with one of the prizes they’ll be giving away at the market!”
Many city council members are justtoo busy with “social justice issues” to deal with existing residents and businesses
… or maybe they’ve been eyeing all the commercials parcels for residential development?