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Man, you let a Starbucks into South Boston and look what happens
By adamg on Tue, 12/20/2016 - 9:29am
In August, a Starbucks got approved in City Point. Now it looks like another frou-frou coffee chain is moving in, specifically, Caffe Nero, at 416 W. Broadway. Now, granted, that's a bit closer to the part of Southie already irredeemably lost to yuppies, but still, makes you wonder how long until a Whole Foods or Trader Joe's moves in.
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Comments
Caffe nero
I haven't been in the one in Downtown Crossing but it looks like a very inviting place. It seems to have siphoned business from the Pret a Manger next door.
Cafe Nero and Pret A Manger
Are the Au Bon Pain and Dunkin Donuts of England. They are everywhere over there. Nothing special at all.
PaM
Pret a Manger is a bit of a walk away, not next door. If anything, it's taking business from Boston Common Coffee Company which is a short walk away, and a locally-owned company to boot. While they (BoCoCoCo) would consistently fumble my order, their everything bagels were pretty bomb (I speak in the past tense since I don't work around there anymore, ergo they don't exist anymore-sorry guys).
You're both correct.
Caffe Nero did recently open a 2nd branch next to Roche's & Pret, and around the corner from the site you're thinking of next to Legal Crossing.
(Aside: Wish a Mary-Lou's would open up to satisfy my coffee sweet tooth. PS Gourmet is the closest and they opened up a Rozzie branch earlier, but a distant 2nd IMO)
my bad
I haven't worked in that area since March, so it probably opened since that time. My apologies.
While I appreciate Pret as a more conscientious corporate chain (whether it's greenwashing is another story), it seems like DTX is at peak high-end coffee (though anything that takes away biz from the 2016-and-we-still-use-styrofoam DD is fine in my book). I suppose it would be fitting if another Pret a Manger opened in the former U Food Grill spot.
Rumors that Caffe Nero is
Rumors that Caffe Nero is coming to East Boston anyone know about this.
I wonder which part of Eastie .
South Boston has all the
South Boston has all the sophisticated resturaunts and cafes ,
What about East Boston?
Great potential places for Starbucks or Caffe Nero in Eastie
my opinion.
1) Old Mamma Catina's location London and Porter streets in
Eastie
2) Corner of Bremen and George Visconti way across from ymca
In Eastie.
3) Maverick and Chelsea streets in Eastie the old Rapinos location.
4) old Haynes Jewelers location in Central SQ in Eastie.
As Casey Affleck would say
GO BACK TO STAHBUCKS.
Cafe Nero - Yes / Wings - No
I am looking forward to Cafe Nero. It is a fine establishment with great quality food and coffee and good clientele.
Wings place...bleh.
- the original sobo yuppie.
There goes the Neighborhood!!!
....
The more chains there are
The more chains there are there, the more everything looks like the states the transplants left to find opportunity here before they move back home for whatever reason. This one probably would have caused less discussion because it tries to be less of a take out place and a little bit more like a regular restaurant with food.
Only if that state was London
Only if that state was London.
I left the Southwest to come here and, back in the day, there were no chains out west either...that is, until a bunch of Bostonians fleeing the cold moved out there and ruined everything.
Stay out of Arizona and Nevada, bunch of freakin' naggy, gossipy puritans!
People move there from all
People move there from all over. That location has grown a lot, and that alone causes more of those businesses.
clarification
those weren't bostonians. those were people from weymouth, braintree and natick. BIG DIFFERENCE.
- the original sobo yuppie.
the more everything looks
Are you SURE we haven't driven through this town before?
From The Rocky and Bullwinkle Movie
Oh no,
Oh no,
God forbid that stores that people want to shop at move in to a neighborhood.
Welcome to Boston, friend!
You haven't had much experience with South Boston, I take it.
Not everyone wants the same
Not everyone wants the same things, or a lot of these interchangeable businesses in every location. That's why we have zoning boards, regarding this topic more broadly.
Not why you have zoning boards
Zoning isn't a matter of who, but what. So you can zone an area to keep out restaurants, but you can't legally allow a Dunkin' Donuts, then block a Starbucks, say (not that people don't try).
That's correct, but they go
That's correct, but they go over many proposals and sometimes they determine that certain locations aren't best for the business proposed. It's not just zoning boards, but also planning boards, and everything else that determine what gets built. This isn't really specifically talking about that location, just the process overall.
To add to the other comment,
To add to the other comment, not entirely disagreeing with you, but a lot of people are probably happier with what feels like a lot of zoning than less.
Experience
Adam, I think your statement just feeds into a stereotype of our neighborhood. Many of us, both life long and transplants still live here because we love the place.
This neighborhood is undergoing a major transformation. In another decade, this place will be unrecognizable. It has been overdeveloped in some neighborhoods. Other areas could definitely use a makeover. No dispute here.
If we're vocal about something, it's because we care about the neighborhood. Just like anywhere else in this city.
Cafe Nero and the other new businesses are a good thing. Not all of us are some kind of anti-developement 'Luddite.'
I know South Boston has a reputation for being vocal and that makes it a target sometimes.
UHub has it's South Boston detractors, I kind of get a kick out of them. I just ask that you try and not lump all of us into a single entity.
I would love a Trader Joe's
I would love a Trader Joe's in Southie. Near the W. Broadway T would be AMAZING.
Yes!!!
Closest trader joes is in back bay which isnt that far but it would be nice to be able to walk to one.
How is it possible that there
How is it possible that there isn't a completely automated coffee shop?
You can get machines for office and home
If you are into that.
Which part is lost?
Which part of Southie is the one irredeemably lost to Yuppies?
Re: Caffe Nero: My favorite place, now. They're getting a little too common all around the place but the interiors are always warm & comfortable and the prices seem right (I only get coffee, though, so don't know).
Their cold brew is soooooooo
Their cold brew is soooooooo good.
great!
This is awesome. The neighborhood has arrived. IDK why people make such a fuss. It's great that we have great businesses coming in; it will raise everything up. I hear Dudley may get a Starbucks soon too - good for them. Soon there will be nice neighborhoods for everybody.
why complaining?
This is a great thing - more business in the area, and fantastic business choices. We are getting better served, and it's raising the quality of the area. I hear there is a Starbucks slated for Dudley too. It's high time everyone in all neighborhoods of the city gets a chance to have good coffee. Plus it creates jobs.
Now I'm curious
Why do these chains that seem mostly confined to Boston keep opening up in Andover specifically? UBurger and Caffe Nero both moved in last year, right next door to each other, but the chains don't have anything else outside of the city proper. Maybe a franchisee in common? I don't know how to even begin to look this stuff up, but it's just weird. Andover is so far outside of the city, I don't understand the logical jump.
Nero is also in Wellesley,
Nero is also in Wellesley, specifically the Wellesley Hills Train Station. They po'd a bunch of locals by ripping off some unusual menu items from the Dorset Tea House directly across the street from them.
I've been to the Caffe Nero in the South End a couple of times.
Pretty crummy espresso, and not cheap.