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Chestnut Hill Mall to get a taste of New Haven
By adamg on Fri, 02/06/2015 - 8:54pm
Boston Restaurant Talk reports Pepe's Pizza, which had planned to open up in Washington Square in Brookline, now plans to take over the Papa Razzi space in the Chestnut Hill Mall.
Your move, New Mall Across Rte. 9, whadaya got?
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Comments
Not impressed
I fear Pepe's will lose it's authenticity and character in Chestnut Hill Mall. They will pay some steep rents to maintain space in an overpriced mall frequented by entitled rich people.
Washington Sq. in Brookline isn't cheap, but it is cheaper than the mall, and certainly more down to earth. It's also much more similar in character and appearance to their Wooster Street location in New Haven.
http://theamericanmosaic.blogspot.com/2014/01/a-look-at-new-havens-woost...
Your concern about
Your concern about authenticity may already be true at the original location...or so I've been told. I wasn't around 40 years ago to have Pepe's but I do prefer Sally's if I'm in New Haven.
While the original location
While the original location of Pepe's has certainly gentrified somewhat, it still retains the original much look, feel, and most importantly, patronage. The new location is just going to be a glossy spot for the mall goers who are in the mood for some pizza. It will be so far removed from the original experience. Case in point, isn't this up the street from the new, very expensive movie theater with the waiter service?
Agreed
Being in a mall just changes the fundamental feel of any restaurant, especially one that relies on a dose of gritty, down to earth nostalgia. I remember thinking how strange it was when Krispy Kreme opened up here in the Pru--the difference between a street-level restaurant where enthusiastic fans (I wasn't one of them) could line up in the wee hours and a sterile mall corridor seemed huge. If I were selling "authentic" cult pizza, I'd have gone for a real storefront and not the most precious mall in boston that most students can't even get to.
Eh...
Eh... I'm not so worried about it losing its authenticity. The Manchester, CT location is in a mini-mall and looks surprisingly like the original. It's kind of weird, actually.
The pizza is also just as delicious.
They do have good clam pizza,
They do have good clam pizza, it will make people come back for more.
I think they should open up a place on Washington st, near Millenium place tower hot new up and coming area.
Doubly Not Impressed
Actually that location, where The Fireplace is, in Washington Square is one of the largest and most expensive pieces of restaurant real estate in the area.
But anyhow there is no need for a Pepe's anywhere in the area. We already have many pizza places that are FAR superior to it. This whole idea that New Haven has the best pizza is a fallacy.
Nothing can top places like Ernesto's [North End], Pino's [virtually just up the street in the circle], or Pinnochio's [Harvard Square]. Hell, even Regina's [a virtual chain] is far better. The Allston location they took over from Sports Depot is great.
White-clam pizza
Fair enough to support the home team, but do you know a local pizzeria that serves white-clam pizza made with fresh clams? I'm told that's a Pepe's specialty that's not found locally.
Not a Shellfish Fan
Clams are gross. And not appropriate pizza toppings.
Clams on pizza, chocolate
Clams on pizza, chocolate chip bagels, and stores that sell fried fish, pizza, chicken, and ice cream over a single counter are all gross.
It's a matter of taste.
I know people who don't like Pepe's. I get it. But growing up a few miles away, Pepe's will always be the best I've ever had. It's a particular style unique to New Haven. May I ask? Have you ever had Pepe's pizza? I can't tell from your post.
Entitled rich people
While I agree that being in a mall does alter the character of a restaurant, making it somewhat chainlike, even when it's not, any post that just assumes that people who shop at Chestnut Hill are just "entitled rich people" loses all value. Very obnoxious thing to say. Lots of people might drive over there who are not entitled or rich. Keep it in check.
Tom Brady, Gezzelle and The
Tom Brady, Gezzelle and The Krafts all from Chestnut hill will go to Pepe's to try their white clam pizza!!
Where did anyone say that?
Was calling it "precious" really that offensive to you? Have you er...been to the Chestnut Hill Mall?
Ok--just saw it in top comment but sheesh...come on. Does that really seem inaccurate to you? It's pretty much a whirling epicenter of ladies who lunch, college students who aren't fazed by spending $100 on a pair of yoga pants, and so on. Not a lot of beat-up cars in that parking lot and if you don't have a car you are SOL.
The Chestnut Mall got a bad rap for that I felt (being rich)
Filenes and Bloomingdales were actually two of the cheapest places to find good deals on clothes in the area back in the day. There were also several shoe stores that weren't too bad. Everything else is pretty fancy now, but there was never really anywhere to eat except for Charlies and that little coffee/ice cream place across from the Crate and Barrel entrance back in the day.
It also used to be the only place in the area to rent movies (videosmith on the 2nd floor in the 1980s, and then downstairs after that).
I mean, it was no Dedham Mall, but it wasn't uber rich back in the day.