Tuesday, April 2, 2013
What's your take?
Last week, the Board of Selectmen voted to deny a request for a proposed 118 sq. ft sign at the entrance* of Westford Plaza after a discussion that included discussion on... Upon being asked why the sign was even needed due to all of the plaza's stores having signs visible from the road, the Selectmen were told that the store signs are more than 100 feet away from the road itself (except for D'Angelo's, which is 83 feet), and are only visible out of the corner of the eye to most motorists. Today, we want to hear your take. Should the Selectmen change their mind on the sign to help businesses inside the plaza? Did they make the right call in attempting to manage the type of growth along the 110 corridor? Would the sign be a good idea once…
Friday, March 22, 2013
With Town Meeting rapidly drawing closer, Board unable to resolve last few changes to proposed bylaw
The Westford Planning Board voted unanimously at Monday evening’s meeting to recommend temporary dismissal of Article 20, which amends the town’s Zoning Bylaws concerning sign regulations, from the Town Meeting agenda. With the annual Town Meeting looming a mere five days from its meeting, the Board reached the difficult decision after two months of public hearings. Director of Land Use Management Chris Kluchman again provided Board members a revised draft of the proposed amendment that differentiated between the existing and proposed sign bylaws. Some of the more challenging issues that have left the Board at a standstill involve portable signs and the reduction in size of wall signs. Incorporating those changes without drawing the ire …
Friday, March 8, 2013
Evviva Cucina, an "Italian-inspired pizza bar and kitchen", will look to provide Westford with a unique and enjoyable dining experience according to general manager Nick Harron.
Have you ever wanted traditional Italian fare alongside pizza that has hot dogs as a topping? Are you looking for a restaurant that hopes to provide locally sourced food but can get you in and out during a lunch hour? Do you need a restaurant with all these things located right next to Minot’s Corner? If so, Nick Harron thinks he has just the place for you. Evviva Cucina, Harron’s new “Italian-inspired pizza bar and kitchen” located in Cornerstone Square, is looking to provide a unique experience for everyone from parents and professionals on the go to folks looking for a fun place to hang out or enjoy a mix of traditional and trendy takes on classic Italian comfort food that includes natural ingredients from local and regional sources…
Monday, January 14, 2013
The new shopping plaza just off Exit 32 has been open for a few weeks now, but opinions continue to vary on what its long term impact will be on the businesses of Westford.
While it has drawn a wide array of opinions over the past few years, one fact cannot be disputed: Cornerstone Square is here, and it has had an impact on life in Westford. However, with just a few weeks since its stores began to open for business, the question still remains on what long term impact it might have on businesses in the immediate area and throughout Westford as a whole. Despite the years of work and argument among residents over what that impact might be, according to American Commercial leasing agent Dusty Burke, Cornerstone was able to lease 92 percent of its non-medical storefronts prior to any stores actually opening, compared to 50 to 70 percent he normally sees at other shopping center openings elsewhere in the …
Friday, January 11, 2013
Store begins sell-off of stock.
Tewksbury's HomeGoods, reported on Friday that will it be shutting down iby the end of the month and relocating to Cornerstone Square. Shoppers were greeted with a huge sign announcing that the store was moving and a 25 percent off sale on all merchandise. HomeGoods specializes in home furnishings and decor. Friday afternoon, company officials confirmed that the Tewksbury store at 1900 Main St. will be re-locating to Westford, alongside a new Marshalls. Both stores are owned by parent company TJX Companies. According to Doreen Thompson, vice president, Corporate Communications for TJX, the Tewksbury location will close no later than Feb. 1. "We expect the store to re-open as part of a Marshalls and HomeGoods combination store on March 21, …
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Pierre Richard believes Westford, and in particular Cornerstone, will provide a good venue for his latest Elements franchise.
The road to Westford was long and winding for Pierre Richard, but after years of looking at a location in the area to set up shop, the North Shore entrepreneur set down roots this fall at Cornerstone Square with his fourth Elements massage franchise. Beginning with his first store in Beverly, which opened briefly in 2007 and then reopened in 2009, eventually becoming the top store in the nationwide chain by 2010, Richard’s expansion brought new locations in Acton, Marlborough and an upcoming location in Salem, NH in addition to the new Cornerstone venue. He was well versed about the business aspect of therapeutic massage from seeing his mother make a living in the profession and had established himself in the world of car sales with …
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
You gave us some undercover suggestions to see whether or not the new Market Basket has what you want to buy. Here's what we found.
A 2011 study from the Boston Consumers' Checkbook indicated that an average household would save $1,638 a year if they shopped at Market Basket, but do those price savings turn into a more limited selection? The other day we asked you to e-mail us your suggestions on things we could check on at the new Market Basket, and here's what we found from what you asked us to look for. Our inspection occured at approximately 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 15 Things The New Market Basket Has That You Asked For Things The New Market Basket Does Not Have That You Asked For Somewhere in Between What are your thoughts on the New Market Basket? Tell us in the comments!
Friday, December 7, 2012
The holidays are here, and we're wondering what should go into the place where the Christmas Store was last year.
This year, that seasonal Christmas store at Westford Valley Marketplace has moved a few doors down, leaving an open spot just right across from the McDonald's stoplight on 110 waiting to be filled. Any new banks or stores selling liquor, toys, stationary, sports apparel, video games, electronics, groceries, pizza, or donuts would face some stiff competition from the current neighbors. Still, would it be possible for a store in one of those categories to move in? Or maybe something else? Or will it remain empty for awhile? And of course, how will the emergence of Cornerstone impact tenancy there? Let us know what you think in the comments!
Monday, December 3, 2012
It's been a source of discussion over the past few months, and now the discussion moves into a new phase as Market Basket's second location opened on Sunday.
It's official: Westford's second Market Basket is here. The long awaited anchor store for the new Cornerstone Plaza saw a flurry of activity on Sunday, opening a store with a layout more comparable to its other newer stores in New England than its first location in town at Westford Valley Marketplace. DeMoulas corporate operations manager David McLean said that far from closing the old store, Market Basket hopes to grow its brand by supplementing the new store with the old store, something it has done elsewhere. "It's always more rewarding to grow with a town that has helped our business grow, something we've done in places like Bourne, New Bedford and Brockton, just to name a few," he said. McLean also said he hopes the newer stores in …
Thursday, November 29, 2012
It became official on Tuesday night, but now we want your take.
In a 3-1 vote, with Bob Jefferies opposing and Jim Sullivan absent, the proposal to transfer the liquor license of Parent's Market to the a new package store now slated to open at Cornerstone Square was approved by the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday night. The move fulfills the goal of Article 19 at Fall Town Meeting, which sought to petition the legislature for an additional liquor license specifically for Cornerstone Square. Opponents have said during the debate that four package stores almost directly on Minot's Corner will harm all of the stores and cause safety issues, among other concerns. Supporters meanwhile have believed that increased traffic at the corner will separate each plaza, making all of the stores viable, and that …
Less Ismore
10:05 pm on Tuesday, April 9, 2013
I say give them the sign. And on the BK and Wendy's maybe it's time to give in to drive-thru's also. You can get a prescription but not a burger come on people. Most of the people against all of this are considered blow ins. If these N-I-M-B-Y's. feel so strong about issues like this maybe the should move to rural New Hampshire. Like the saying goes if you don't like the smell of cow manure. Don'… more ›