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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
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
Annie’s Book Stop in Nobscot Calls it Quits

Soon the lights will be out for good at Annie's Book Stop / Espresso Paulo & the Nobscot Gallery in the Nobscot Shopping Center, Framingham MA, (July 28,2011 photo)

FRAMINGHAM, MA– Nobody can blame Paul Ashton, he’s made more of an effort than most to keep the small business he operates in the Nobscot Shopping Center alive — waiting, hoping for an economic rebound, or at least some signs of life.

On Thursday July 28th, Ashton, owner of Annie’s Book Stop & Espresso Paulo sent out a press release, regretfully announcing he is closing up shop.

Although he hasn’t set an exact closing date, starting Friday, July 29th, he will be holding an “Everything Must Go” sale.

In his press release, Ashton commented, “Obviously I feel quite sad about this. The book store has been in this plaza for over 20 years, and I have owned it since 2000. As other booksellers, both new and used, have found, book-buyer habits have changed significantly in recent years.”

Citing recent trends in online shopping, Ashton went on to explain (more…)

July 29, 2011