Hey, there! Log in / Register
West Roxbury shocker: A bank on Centre Street is closing
By adamg on Wed, 09/23/2015 - 8:00pm
The Eastern Bank branch on Centre Street at Lagrange is closing in December, apparent victim of a tiny parking lot off a busy intersection. No word if it will be replaced by another bank, a funeral home or a pizza place.
Neighborhoods:
Free tagging:
Ad:
Support Universal Hub
Help keep Universal Hub going. If you like what we're up to and want to help out, please consider a (completely non-deductible) contribution.
Comments
My guess
is a pizza place, or another nail shop.
The condo developer, Argiros,
The condo developer, Argiros, will gladly take over that spot.
Oh no
So sad that such a beautiful neighborhood, so recently threatened by non-luxury condos (between the graveyard, the train tracks, the liquor store and the very busy intersection) has another set back.
Eastern Bank also closing in Kendall Square
The bank just sent me a notice, probably because that's the branch where I originally opened my account (back when they were still Wainwright Bank). Are they closing any others that you know of?
Rennovations?
I think they may be redoing that building. Although I could be confusing 1 Broadway with 1 Kendall. One of those two is being gutted and redone I thought.
Just a darn minute there....
It could just as easily be converted to the fourth pillar of Centre Street... A hair salon.
Closing due to tiny parking lot is no shocker
The bigger question is what were they thinking to open any kind of retail there in the first place. A Domino's or the like that mostly does delivery is the sort of pizza that could survive there.
This is going to sound shocking ...
To somebody who has never actually been there, but there's a whole string of businesses there that do quite well without any offstreet parking at all - starting with the Corrib right across the street. Deno's has been there forever, as well. In fact, most of the businesses on that stretch of Centre seem pretty stable - even the good ol' Pu Pu.
The issue with that particular spot is more the corner location of the parking lot: Given how busy that intersection is, it's very difficult to get in and out of the spaces.
Many Eastern Bank branches have no parking at all
at least the ones I go to somewhat regularly: Davis Square, Harvard Square, Central Square, (soon-to-close) Kendall Square, Back Bay, and downtown Boston.
I don't think their branch a couple miles further up Centre Street, in JP, has parking either.
Filled with Corrib diners
There are always spots available for bank patrons in that lot, unless it's the evening and they have all been taken up by people eating at the Corrib.
Bring back Brookline Carpet! (Strangely located in Wext Rox.)
This will allow Eastern Bank
This will allow Eastern Bank to closely concentrate more on one of their Core Competencies.
WHOOOSHH WHOOOSHH Ruining the WHOOOSHH WHOOOSHH fourth innings WHOOOSHH WHOOOSHH of Red Sox tv broadcasts. WHOOOSHH WHOOOSHH
Bank branches almost obsolete
I've always liked Eastern Bank, low/no fees and personal service when rarely needed. What surprises me is how many bank branches still exist. I see Citigroup is now closing all 17 MA branches. Sadly, President Obama was correct years ago when he said ATM's were replacing the need for tellers. Other than taking out a loan, who under 50 even goes to the bank when deposits/withdrawals/balances can all be done at the ATM? Direct deposit and bill paying on-line, etc. Yet, I see TD Bank opening branches (mostly empty) left and right. I know they're fairly new to this region and seeking market share but I also see some of the smaller banks opening new branches. Almost reminds me of the video store on every corner in the 80s, now obsolete.
I do
I do and I'm under 40. I'm in the bank at least once or twice a month.
Roommate has the same bank as I do, and I go in to pay my rent via a transfer at a teller. Sure I could write a check, but someone still needs go to the bank (even an ATM) and deposit it. My bank also does wire transfers via their website, but its really just some outsourced wire transfer service, so it takes 3 days for the transfer to happen and I get charged a fee to do that. Plus going to the bank gives me a reason to go for a walk at lunch and get out of the office.
Furthermore, I don't like depositing money into the ATM, as you have to wait for someone to empty out the ATM for your deposit to be processed (well the full deposit anyways). Plus I often have business checks to deposit from clients, so if I go into the bank, the tellers usually just clear the entire amount right away since I'm a regular customer and they are business checks. No waiting for the deposit to clear.
And I take out cash via a teller a good chunk of the time. I hate walking around with a ton of 20's, so I'll go in and request bigger bills at a teller.
I'm not alone.. I went into the bank last Friday and there was a line. Yeah it was payday but there still was a line out the door.
Use your phone
You can deposit checks through your phone. I think most banks have this app now. I love it. Now I only go to the bank occasionally to get quarters for the old-style parking meters near work.
there's still a delay
There's still a delay with that. Typically 24 hours. Same as an ATM.
My bank is a 30 second walk from my front door. The time it takes me to take an accurate photo of the check I can be in the bank being waited on.
I go to a teller once in a
I go to a teller once in a while to deposit a large check(i.e., a rent deposit returned to me by my previous landlord) because I feel better doing it in person, but that's once every few weeks at the most.
Not for me
My Girl Scout Troop has its account at Eastern Bank and they are really great to us. I do use ATMs, but during cookie season I have to deposit thousands of dollars in cash and coins. Good luck getting THAT in an ATM envelope. They also make change so we have enough ones, fives, and tens to stock the cash box.
Crossing my fingers that they open a branch in Rosi Village. oh please oh please oh please...