Around Town

Several Openings Anticipated at Arsenal Yards in Coming Months

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Arsenal YardsArsenal Yards in Watertown, already featuring several restaurants and retailers, has several new additions coming in 2022 and early 2023. The following information was provided by Arsenal Yards:

Arsenal Yards, the thriving new neighborhood in Watertown from Boylston Properties and Wilder, is celebrating continued growth and development with the opening of many highly anticipated dining, shopping, fitness, and entertainment venues throughout the neighborhood this summer and fall.  

Since its official redevelopment and expansion at the site of the former Arsenal Mall in 2017, the lively 1 million + square foot mixed-use neighborhood has flourished into a dynamic destination and neighborhood hub. Residents and visitors alike can eat, live, work, play, and experience all that the high-energy community in Watertown’s historic East End has to offer with dining, shopping, and entertainment right at their fingertips.  

With the goal of further expanding its lineup of popular restaurants, retailers and service and entertainment offerings, Arsenal Yards is eager to welcome many exciting additions to the neighborhood this year. Openings coming soon include Pokeworks, Taffer’s Tavern, Restore Hyper Wellness, Central Rock Gym, Bond Vet, and F45 Training, along with new offerings including a Starbucks, James Joseph Salon, AT&T and GNC all slated to open before the end of the year, and KinderCare in early 2023. Blvd & Bond, the neighborhood’s residential offering with 302 units across three buildings, is nearly 100 percent leased, while all life science space within Arsenal Yards and the new building at 100 Forge is entirely leased as well.

Business

Charles River Chamber Hosting Young Professionals Happy Hour

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The following information was provided by the Charles River Chamber of Commerce:

The Charles River Chamber will host a Young Professionals Happy Hour at Mighty Squirrel Biergarden at Arsenal Yards in Watertown. Date and Time: Thursday Jul 14, 2022, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM EDT

Location: Mighty Squirrel Biergarden, 130 Arsenal Yards Blvd, Watertown 

Fees/Admission: free, open to members & nonmembers

Soak up the summer weather with craft beer and networking in Watertown! Our Young Professionals Happy Hour heads to the newly-opened Mighty Squirrel Biergarden right in the center of Arsenal Yards. Join us to unwind after work and make lots of new connections with young professionals in the area. The space is dog-friendly too!

Around Town

President of Watertown Company Named to Small Business Leadership Council

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Lyndra TherapeuticsJess Ballinger President and Chief Operations Officer, Lyndra Therapeutics was named to the National Small Business Association Leadership Council. Lyndra Therapeutics, a Watertown-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company working to make daily pills a thing of the past, recently announced that President and Chief Operations Officer Jess Ballinger has been named to the National Small Business Association (NSBA) Leadership Council, joining other advocates from across the country as they work to promote the interests of small business to policymakers in Washington, D.C.

Lyndra Therapeutics is pioneering long-acting oral therapies based on its proprietary LYNX™ drug delivery platform, which has the potential to transform virtually any oral therapy into weekly or monthly pills. Lyndra is focused on central nervous system (CNS) disorders, especially conditions impacting mental health. The company is also committed to advancing its platform to tackle major public health and global health challenges, including opioid use disorder and malaria. 

“I’m so excited about the progress our team at Lyndra has made to fundamentally change how people take their medicine, but I’m just as proud of the way we’re doing this: as a women-led company that truly embraces and understands the importance of diversity and inclusiveness,” stated Ballinger. “I’m honored to join the NSBA Leadership Council and to be able to bring my passion for science and DE&I to this team of expert small-business leaders.

Around Town

New Stone & Tile Store Open in Watertown; Does Kitchens, Bathrooms and More

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Charlie BreitroseUltimate Stone Surfaces opened on Mt. Auburn Street in late May. Ultimate Stone Surfaces recently opened a showroom in Watertown where customers can take a look at samples and get help envisioning their dream kitchen or bathroom. Paul Pereira and Douglas Goncalves have been installing countertops for years, but recently decided to start their own business, said Juliana Freitas-Silva, who runs the showroom located at 694 Mt. Auburn Street.

Business

Watertown’s Express Tire Looks to Bring Back Old Time Gas Station

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Darren CummingsExpress Tire & Auto has given the gas station next door a new look. There’s a new feel at a Watertown gas station, where the new owners want to bring back the experience of an old-time fill-up station. Express Tire & Auto took over the gas station next door on Main Street in ealy May, and owner Darren Cummings gave it a makeover and a new attitude. “I’m trying to bring back the old-fashioned gas station feel,” Cummings said. “You pull in, a gas attendant is there, he is going to wash your windows, greet you with a smile, be accommodating, fill your washer fluid no charge.

104 Main Street

Possible Main St. Project Has Restaurant Owners Worried About Future

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Crown CafeDiners enjoy a meal at Crown Cafe on Main Street. The future of the restaurant is uncertain because a development has been proposed that includes the restaurant’s property. The new owners of the Crown Cafe invested tens-of-thousands of dollars into the space on Main Street and the restaurant began serving food in January. Just a few months later they worry whether their investment will be for nothing, and the space where their business sits may be demolished to make way for a proposed five-story mixed use development near Watertown Square. One hope for the owners may be a grassroots effort started to try to stop the development by making the area a historic district.

Business

Watertown Restaurant a Finalist in National Contest for “Serving Their Community”

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Watertown’s Ritcey East has chosen as one of five finalists in a contest run by Toast for restaurants who make a difference in their communities. The winner will received $10,000, and voting is now open. The restaurant on Waverley Avenue, is “serving up a safe place for the LGBTQ+ community and a fresh take on comfort food,” according to Toast. Ritcey East was nominated by a fan of the restaurant because it is “a small, queer-owned biz that kept all their staff during the pandemic and continues to partner with local charities.” Say hello to our Built for You $10k Contest Finalist, Ritcey East!

Business

Watertown Travel Specialist Joins National Group Classic Cruises & Tours

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Watertown’s Mena Tuccinardi has joined Classic Cruises & Tours. The following announcement was provide by Cruise & Travel Experts:

Local Travel Expert Mena Tuccinardi has joined a new national travel affiliation called Cruise & Travel Experts. Tuccinardi has served the New England communities for over 30 years as a Business Development Manager by helping travel agents plan memorable family vacations, cruises, honeymoons and tours. “Classic Cruises and Tours is pleased to be part of an organization of travel specialists who are expertly-trained, customer-focused, and who work side-by-side with a collection of the industry’s leading brands and boutique travel suppliers to deliver exclusive values and special privileges to our clients,” said Mena, new Cruise & Travel Experts member. “In addition to my extremely personalized service, my clients can expect to receive exclusive travel amenities ranging from discounts, shipboard credits, cruise escorts, spa credits, airport transfers, complimentary shore experiences, cocktail parties and gifts.”

The partnership will provide clients of Classic Cruise and Tours with a number of exclusive travel perks and services, many of which are only available from a Cruise & Travel Experts affiliated agency.