framingham.com (*** TEST SITE ***)

Category: Business

about businesses in Framingham, Massachusetts

Nobscot Shopping Center Gets New Property Manager

Nobscot Shopping Center, 770 Water St., Framingham, MA

FRAMINGHAM, MA– The long awaited “October 1st announcement” about the Nobscot Shopping Center has arrived a day early.

In an email from Steve Sylven of SuperValu Inc., (NYSE: SVU), he informed me that, “As of October 1st, Boylston Realty Advisors will be acting as property manager for the Nobscot Shopping Center”, and added, “We will be working with them to finalize design plans and market the plaza to potential tenants “.

Steve also commented that they are “still in the early planning stages, but as more concrete plans come together, [they] will share them”, and that they are “are committed to making the needed improvements to the property and actively marketing the space to new tenants”.

Boylston Realty Advisors offices are (more…)

September 30, 2011
Nobscot Shopping Center to be Redeveloped

Formerly a Coutryfare Star Market grocery store, the largest retail space in the Nobscot Shopping Center has sat vacant for nearly a decade.

FRAMINGHAM, MA – Since reporting that the owners of the Nobscot Shopping Center had demolished the vintage sign that stood out front for the past half-century, there have been only small bits of news about the property’s future.

I had this article almost finished last night, but was waiting for a reply from Steve Sylven, an official spokesperson for SuperValu Inc., (NYSE: SVU)

While most of the complaints about the shopping center have been directed at Centercorp Retail Properties, Inc., the listed agent for the plaza — it appears Centercorp’s hands are literally tied, preventing them from doing anything at the plaza.

According to Steve, “SuperValu”, the parent company of (more…)

September 21, 2011
What’s Next for Nobscot Shopping Center?

Nobscot Shopping Center's Countryfare Star Market has been vacant for most of the past decade. Mall owner Centercorp Retail Properties, Inc. recently announced plans to refurbish the property and hire a new leasing agent to attempt to revitalize the strip mall. (Photo taken September 3, 2011)

FRAMINGHAM, MA – After we ran an article on September 13, 2011, “Centercorp to make Nobscot anouncement October 1st”, Framingham resident Beth Escobar, (who had been in contact with Centercorp Retail Properties, Inc. Property Manager Terri Desjardins), leaked the news that the company now intends to fix up the Nobscot Shopping Center property and hire a new leasing agent in hopes of getting new tenants to lease the now mostly vacant strip mall.

The news was then leaked to the Nobscot Neighbors group, and to the Metrowest Daily News, and since then ideas and suggestions have been swirling around on a Nobscot email list about what types of stores local residents would like to see in the plaza.

After reading several of the ideas — which consisted mostly of thoughts about what chain or specialty grocery store may lease the vacant former Countryfare / Star market, (which is the largest retail space on the property), and hopes that CVS would (more…)

September 18, 2011
Framingham Foreclosure Real Estate Auctions

This home at 11 Campello Rd. is slated to be sold at Public Auction September 29, 2011.

FRAMINGHAM, MA – Due to economic conditions, more owners of residential real estate than usual are facing foreclosure.

While some properties sold at Public Auction can be purchased below market value, buyers should be aware that many times such properties have been neglected, and in some cases have been damaged or had items such as plumbing fixtures, copper heating pipes and other items removed.

In general, property purchased at foreclosure auctions should be examined even more closely than property sold on the normal residential real estate market.

In addition to structural or cosmetic problems, (more…)

September 16, 2011
Centercorp to make Nobscot anouncement October 1st

Vintage Nobscot Shopping Center sign demolished by Centrecorp.

FRAMINGHAM, MA – On July 29th, 2011 we ran an article, “Annie’s Book Stop in Nobscot Calls it Quits” about one of the Nobscot Shopping Center tenants and mentioned the Town’s growing dismay with Centercorp Retail Properties, Inc, the owner of the shopping center.

Following our article, on September 4th, 2011, Megan McKee, the local correspondent for the Boston Globe ran and article, “Officials set focus on mall vacancies“, which quotes Framingham Selectman Dennis Giombetti as saying “They [Centercorp] have done nothing but thumb their noses at us for a very, very long time,” and mentions the possibility that Framingham could seek to take the shopping center, (and other similarly distressed properties), by eminent domain — but that it would only be as a “last resort”.

On Friday September 9th, 2011, after finding Centercorp had destroyed the landmark sign in front of the Nobscot Shopping Center, we posted an article, “Nobscot Landmark Disappears“, with photos showing the sign as it was on September 3rd, and the empty base that remained on September 9th.

After we ran that story, Danielle Ameden of the Metrowest Daily News interviewed Terri Desjardins, Property Manager for the shopping center, then posted (more…)

September 13, 2011
Nobscot Landmark Disappears

FRAMINGHAM, MA – On Saturday, September 3rd, (2011), I was shooting photos of the Classic Car Cruise-in at CJ’s Northside Grill, and decided to take some photos of a few other things near Nobscot’s Water Street / Edgell Road / Edmands Road intersection.

After shooting photos of the boarded up gas station, the old meeting hall, the vacant Jiffy Lube building, I was driving through the Nobscot Shopping Center parking lot, and decided to get out of the car and shoot a few photos of the shopping center. (more…)

September 9, 2011
Framingham Residential Real Estate Sales (August 2011)

52 residential properties were sold in Framingham during the month of August 2011.

FRAMINGHAM, MA– There were a total of 52 residential real estate sales in Framingham during the month of August 2011.

Of the properties sold, forty three single family homes were sold at an average sale price of just over $370k, ten condominiums sold at an average price of $113.6k, and two multi-family properties sold at an average of $223k.

On average, single family home which sold during August had been on the market for just over 10 weeks, while condos had taken nearly 4 months to sell. Of the two multi-family homes, one had been on the market for well over a year, and the other sold within (more…)

September 3, 2011
Framingham S2 Security Expands Latin American Operations

Framingham, MA based S2 Security, expanding sales in Latin America of its IP-based integrated physical security network appliances.

FRAMINGHAM, MA – (Press Release) — S2 Security, the leader in IP-based integrated physical security systems, announced today that it has increased its international workforce and forged new and expanded partnerships to meet the demand for its products and services throughout Latin America.

“These markets are important to S2 and we are looking forward to expanding our already strong relationships and providing increased capabilities to our clients”

S2 Security appointed Doug Macias as director of sales for Latin America and the Caribbean to oversee expanded operations and bolster S2’s longstanding presence in the region. In addition, S2 has grown its (more…)

August 9, 2011
Forbes Framingham Geek Data Skewed and Outdated

If Framingham is truly the #3 Geek-dom in the USA, there should be a good market for these! Order all you need online at: www.pocketprotectors.com

FRAMINGHAM, MA – Forbes.com has published an article titled, “Geekville, USA: America’s 20 Geekiest Cities“, and people all over town are patting themselves on the back for our new claim to fame as the #3 “Geekiest City” (town) in the USA.

Scott O’Connell of the MetroWest Daily News re-reported the findings in an article titled, “Framingham ranked third ‘geekiest’ U.S. city in Forbes survey“.

For his article, O’Connell interviewed three people who he must have thought were “Framingham geek experts” — Gary Sinewitz, (President, PC Healthstop), Brian Tilzer, (VP of eCommerce & Business Development, Staples Inc.), and Alison Steinfeld, (Director, Economic & Community Development Department, Town of Framingham).

I’ve known Gary since high school — he’s a geek. (But come on Gary, did you really mention “Prime Computer” and “General Motors” — they both shuttered their operations in Framingham 20 years ago — you need to get out more often).

Brian, I don’t know — but his job title makes it sound like he knows some geeky stuff.

Alison, was unsurprisingly surprised at Framingham’s new found (more…)

August 7, 2011
Framingham Brewery Grand Opening Celebration

The tasting room at Jack's Abby Brewing, LLC, Framingham, MA

FRAMINGHAM, MA – For the past few months people around Framingham have been hearing a lot about Jack’s Abby Brewing.

Brothers Jack Hendler, Eric Hendler and Sam Hendler — along with Jack’s wife “Abby” have been making appearances throughout Framingham and area towns touting each new beer as they ramp up production.

Today, Framingham Selectman Dennis Giombetti, along with Bonnie Biocchi, (President, MetroWest Chamber of Commerce), Donna Kelleher, (Chair, Chamber Board of Directors), Bill McGinley (Member, Chamber Board of Directors), and a host of friends, family, media and beer lovers met in the tasting room of the brewery for (more…)

August 4, 2011