Is Alex and Ani Bringing Positive Energy to Wellesley?

Rhode Island-based jewelry shop seems to be eying a Wellesley location, sources say.

  Bangles and positivity are the goal of Alex and Ani, a jewelry store which seems to be looking at opening here in Wellesley. There are a couple of job postings appearing on the web for a Wellesley store, such as a Store Manager and a Part Time Keyholder position. The Swellesley Report is looking into the details, but believe the jewelry store will move into the former EDENS location, next to the new home of Kidville Wellesley.  The company was founded in 2004 by Carlyn Rafaelian, according to the company website. Her jewelry design is a matter of family tradition, and her father taught her the value of products made in America and made with eco-friendly materials.  From the company's mission statement:  Carolyn believes that every …

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PHOTOS: Kidville Wellesley Opens

Kidville Wellesley opens this weekend in music-filled grand opening party.

  The Rockin' Railroad rolled into Wellesley this weekend, as Kidville celebrated its grand opening. Parents, bloggers, and even one of Wellesley's Selectmen attended the ribbon cutting, and stuck around to check out the store's new play space and boutique, and to hear the Rockin' Railroad play some music. Guests were asked to donate new or lightly-used kids' clothing for a local nonprofit Room to Grow.  “When I walked into Kidville with my daughter for the first time, I knew I had to find a way to bring such a fun and interactive place to Boston where families will grow together and make great connections,” says Cathy Tai, partner and franchise owner of Kidville Wellesley in a press release. “It’s a one-stop solution for families with …

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Wellesley VW Planning to Renovate and Stick Around

Board of Selectmen discuss an upcoming agreement with the Linden Square dealership, part of which includes renovations.

  The Linden Square Volkswagen dealership is looking to extend its lease--and some changes in the area could be coming as part of it.  The current agreement between the town, Wellesley VW, and Federal Realty, which owns the property, expires at the beginning of 2014, but they hope to extend that to 2033 with the new proposal. This first means approval from the Board of Selectmen before putting the matter before Town Meeting.  On Jan 1, 2014, if this agreement is not approved, or the original is not extended, the zoning reverts to mixed use/retail. This lease agreement was last extended by Town Meeting in 2010. Along with the extension of the zoning and their lease, Colonial Auto Group which runs Wellesley VW, plan to renovate the building…

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What Business Would You Open in Wellesley?

If you could open one kind of business in town, what would you go with?

Assume money was no object and the only limit your imagination: what kind of business would you love to run in Wellesley?  It could be a store you feel would perform well in the city, or a business that would provide a much-needed service. In the last year we have seen comings and goings, such as an Old Fashioned Barber Shop Opening in Linden Square, or Wellesley's Upper Crust Closed, (at Least for a bit). Would you love to have your own bar? A coffee shop? Maybe there's something off-the-wall you've seen work really well in another community.  Whatever it is, share your ideas with your neighbors in our comment section below. 

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Businesses, Your Free Patch.com Home Is Here

We encourage business owners to claim listings in Patch Places to better promote their business and inform Wellesley Patch readers.

  Pirozzolo Company Public Relations is just one of the local businesses who claimed their listings on Wellesley Patch in the last week. Will you be next to take advantage of all our Directory has to offer?   When Wellesley Patch launched, editors and freelancers ventured to local businesses in order to collect information for our Directory. Now, Patch Directory is a spot where users can find descriptions, hours, accepted payment methods and more. All users can add events taking place at local spots, rate the business on a scale of one to five stars and add a review. But owners of local businesses get extra bonuses when they claim a listing. Owners or managers should search for their business listing and select "claim your listing" in …

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Wellesley's Upper Crust Closed, at Least for Now

The pizzeria chain has closed several locations, and its future is uncertain.

Patch Facts

5 Things You Need to Know Today: Aug. 14

The Board of Selectmen met last night.

1. The Board of Selectmen met briefly last night. 2. On the table was primarily 900 Worcester St. and various other town issues. 3. Waterstone at Wellesley will have a housing lottery Sept. 17.  4. Have you been by the "Cod Squad" truck recently? 5. We're working on getting an open date for Carter Dayton Home, at the old Whole Foods location.

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Roosters Old Fashioned Barber Shop Opens in Linden Square

An old-timey shop at Wellesley’s newly reformed square.

Roosters Men’s Grooming Center opened its doors Saturday at 180 Linden St. The dark, wood-paneled shop harkens back to a time when a shave and a haircut may have actually been two bits. A haircut at Roosters includes a shampoo, head massage, steam towel, powder, aftershave and cologne for $35, according to owner John Santanella. The seven-step hot lather shave is also $35, and full beard-trimming services are offered as well. Santanella had been researching franchises for a year before settling on Roosters. “I lived and worked in London a few years ago, and one of the highlights of my week was a trip to the local barbershop on Saturday mornings,” he said in a statement. Roosters has locations throughout the country, but the Wellesley shop …

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What Happened Here?

First Republic Bank Beginning to Take Shape?

The bank was supposed to take over the old Blockbuster location toward the end of last year, but there has only been a sign on the façade, until now.

First Republic Bank was scheduled to move into the old Blockbuster Video location at 284 Washington St., but since the store closed in December 2010, and a bank sign went up in June, there has been no activity at the location. Today, however, there was a wooden structure built outside of the supposed to bank location with workers moving in and out. Could the bank open soon?

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Bret Silverberg

6:48 pm on Thursday, February 23, 2012

Interesting, Chip. I'll follow up on that one.   more ›

Local Tech Startup Develops Weight Loss Pill

The pill includes a device that, when swallowed, expands in the stomach.

Local startup company Allurion Technologies is in the process of developing a pill to treat obesity. According to a bostonherald.com story, Allurion CEO Jonathan Wecker said the way it works is by taking “endoscopic pressure out of the situation.” “We have a medical device that fits in a pill and expands in the stomach over several months,” he told bostonherald.com. The pill’s device will push against the walls of the stomach to mimic the feeling of being full, according to the story. “You really don’t feel it,” Wecker said. “Inside the stomach, we don’t have the same receptors we have on the skin. You’ll feel a sense it’s there, especially in the first week or two, but not an overarching sense.”  Allurion was founded by a pair of Harvard …

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