Craft Been Cellar announced to customers via email today that it will be closing its Newton Centre store on New Year’s Eve.
This is from that email….
At the heart of it, we picked a difficult first location. While we love our space, it was ultimately too big and too pricey. To ensure a secure future for our world-class Staff Beer Geeks, provide a good value to our loyal and incredibly awesome customers, and forward Craft Beer Cellar’s mission, a change was necessary. We are all saddened by this difficult decision. It is our firm belief that CBC Newton will be able to provide an even better experience for our customers as a result of this transition.
…..Optimally, we would have had a seamless move from our current to our new location. However, the lengthy licensing, leasing, and approval processes have made it impossible to remain open, in the traditional sense, for a few weeks. It has been a roller coaster, with a prime location falling through at the last minute. Hang with us, it’ll be worth it
The store will be open regular hours today, Dec. 30, from 10am – 10pm. On Dec. 31 until 8pm, with a target re-open date in early February 2015.
hope the new location is close by and doesn’t fall through
That’s a good-sized space (as the Beer Cellar discovered) about to be left empty. Not to mention the smaller space next to it that’s had no permanent tenant for well over a year. Here’s a project for the new year: Can’t somebody be persuaded to open a grocery store in Newton Centre?
Maybe the Board of Aldermen can step in an set the rent for this property at a level this business can afford. Isn’t that how it works in Newton?
Elmo: I presume you’re trying to be funny but you’re going to have to explain how.
I miss the reasonably priced women’s clothing store “344.” The other women’s stores are too expensive for me.
I had not seen the email- dang. The good news is it seems there is a definite plan to reopen in Newton, and that it just hit a snag. Wonder where it will be. If I find out, I’ll post here.
Re 344, that store had a couple of branches which all seem to be closed now. Re Beer Cellar (not sure why I’m on their mailing list, but I got the message this morning), it does seem odd that they don’t mention their new location. Maybe they’re afraid of jinxing the deal. Re Centre Street, I can remember any number of useful businesses that have come and gone on that block over the years, but not until recently have there been so many long-running vacancies. I really don’t understand who benefits when rents are set so high that properties remain empty and deteriorating for months or even years at a stretch. Perhaps some tax lawyer who isn’t off in St. Barts for the holidays could explain it.
@Amanda: The email (quoted above) says a hoped for location “fell through” so I’m assuming they don’t have a spot yet.
I was in there tonight – one of my favorite local stores! – and it seemed like they may well even stay in Newton Centre village. He said nothing was confirmed yet and so they couldn’t say, but seems like they will be close by. Hope so!
Was in there last night too. Sounds like the new location is close by and is more or less a done deal, but they didn’t want to jinx it. Let’s hope so. They said they’d be announcing the new location pretty soon.
Hoping they announce there new store soon. And yes there are many vacancies. I wonder why y the landlords keep rents so high if there are vacancies.
Any news on the old Bakers Best?