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Brighton Center must be changing: It could get a fancy-shmancy coffee place
By adamg on Fri, 01/26/2018 - 10:30am
Alex Byer couldn't help but notice the new plywood that's gone up on a vacant storefront on Washington Street at Winship Street. Brighton Center already has several places to get a cup of coffee, but none of them spell it "caffè."
The British-based, Italianish chain, whose first Boston outlets were in JP and in one of the new luxury buildings in Downtown Crossing, still has to go before the Brighton-Allston Improvement Association, the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Boston Licensing Board before it can open.
The BAIA considers the proposed caffèhouse at a meeting this Thursday at the Brighton Elks on Washington Street. The meeting starts at 7 p.m.
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Comments
Sign of the times
That's how you spell "cafè" when you tweet too late at night.
Or you're pretending to be Italian
And speak a language where that's how you spell it.
Better than nothing
At least it's not a bank branch or a hair salon.
or a sports bar.
or a sports bar.
Unless I'm mistaken, it's
Unless I'm mistaken, it's replacing a bank.
It's a British-based chain of Italian-style caffes, and it's
not very good, in my view, based on a few visits to the South End one.
Better than Starbucks
Worse than pavement.
Not better than Starbucks in my opinion...
It is kind of like Petes, which is a little too dry for some reason for my liking, but that is just me.
(I drink hot black coffee, usually dark roast)
Agreed. Fancy? A joke.
Agreed. Fancy? A joke.
It's weird
My Israeli coworkers love that place. Say its the best place to get real Italian coffee in the city.
I should also note we have one at the end of our block where our office is...
I don't see it.. then again I like Dunkin Dishwater.
Settle down ...
Caffè Nero is just European for "Starbucks".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caff%C3%A8_Nero
About damn time
That was a vacant former TD Bank for what feels like at least five years. Imagine not collecting any rent that whole time. What recession?
Before or after?
Was that a Rent-A-Center before or after it was TDBank?
I can never remember.
Been here since 2004
And I don't remember that being a Rent-a-Center at all. And I used to host trivia at the Briar frequently.
Maybe I'm thinking of Boomerangs
It was a Boomerangs before TD Bank...maybe that's what I'm remembering. But I could have sworn it had the awful blue & yellow look of a Rent-A-Center at some point.
You're right, or I'm wrong too
I think it was a Rent-A-Center before it was Boomerangs.
TD paid the rent on an empty
TD paid the rent on an empty storefront for 10 years.
Great
No wonder their stock treads water. Glad I sold most of it.
Less local?
Noticed this this morning too. I am excited that this space is being filled. I wonder how it will effect Cafenation down the street. Brighton Center is getting fancy
Cafenation
Cafenation should up it's game, how bout renewing all it's old furniture, or even painting the place, enough with the watery coffee!
Cafe Nero, might not be the Starbucks over the pond, but probably the best coffee Brighton Center has ever had!
They did paint the place a
They did paint the place a couple of years ago. But I think they chose bad colors that make it look dingy.
It's a tough space: long shoebox, north-facing windows, so it always looks dark in there. They need lighter colors on the walls.
Yeah, I've spent a lot of time there. They care about quality, but they don't always make the best decisions.
Cafenation
Glad to see a vacancy filled but if i'm in that neighborhood, Cafenation will continue to get my money.
As long as
Cafenation stays right where it is and doesn't get hurt by them, great. It's one of the reasons I miss living in that area - amazing turkey club and ridiculous housemade balsamic glaze.
What is it?
What makes this place so special that a local shop can't replicate (and probably do much better)? Nero is no more interesting than any other coffee chain.
Feel free to write up a business plan
get funding and open a shop in the area.
economy of scale?
economy of scale?
Nice places to sit and read or meet
I have hung out there when I got in super early for an interview. Also when waiting to meet others. It is a nice hang out space.
A nice hang out space?
A cafe that doesn't exist yet is a nice hang out space?
downtown crossing
Have never been in there as I prefer the coffee at work, but when I pass there in the morning, it looks like a very inviting atmosphere. I like the décor with the bookshelves, and the comfortable looking chairs and couches. There is always a good crowd there. I always wish I could sit there in a corner with a cup of coffee and a book instead of going to work.
It's better than a Starbucks
My company is located nearby the DTX Nero. A few months ago, we decided to skip the umpteen flights of stairs in a full fire drill in our building. We met up at the Nero instead and waited until we got the all-clear e-mail. It's not a bad working environment for a few hours. The atmosphere is much more homey than a Starbucks. The WiFi allowed for full streaming screen-sharing with audio.
The coffee was just okay. The pastry was fairly tasty.
I’ve been in all three a few times.
They are very nice and cozy but the coffee and pastries are disappointing. The espresso is ok.
Remember when they opened in JP?
and per some commenters, they should have been barred from opening to prevent the corrosive influence of corporate chains or some such nonsense?
It's a shame how that's exactly what happened and now JP is nothing but banks and national chains.
Oh wait...
i remember
As I recall, it replaced a bank branch.
I actually went there for the first time the other week. It was fine. Also haven't noticed any negative impact on locally-owned City Feed or Seven Pond. And another coffee shop has just opened a couple blocks down on South St, so clearly this place is meeting a previously unmet demand.
Downside: big chain that keeps getting bigger
Upside: one of the only places where you can still find the increasingly elusive single espresso.
I'll always go for the independents, but when there isn't one around Nero is a nice place to be. FAR nicer than Starbucks, especially the SBs that have drive-thrus.