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Caffe Nero setting up shop in former Symphony Petco space

Window displays in the space that formerly housed the Petco Unleashed store in Symphony inform the public that Caffe Nero will soon open there.

Hopefully their presence won't adversely impact business at the independent Oak Leaf Bakery across the street.

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Comments

I hope it doesn't impact them either. I really like Oakleaf!

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And there's also the Pavement coffeehouse a few blocks away.

I appreciate the ample seating at Nero, but the coffee (and chai) i've had there was not good. The other day I walked past two of these places within a few blocks of each other. Tired of them, would rather have something else in this space.

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I was just at that Petco right after Christmas. So it wasn't closed long.

I can see why. Weird location, you wouldn't know it was there unless you lived or worked in that area. Plus I just can't see a pet store being that successful there. I was there because I was killing time before I got my haircut.

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We seem to be in the midst of a major pet store die off. I think everyone is on recurring delivery for food now.

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I get a big box of dog food delivered to my house via amazon every 2/3 months. That was the only reason I would visit a pet store before (and possibly buy some extra treats/toys/leashes).

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“You wouldn’t know it was there unless you worked or lived in the area.”

It’s a store in a neighborhood in Boston. Who else would go there other than people who live and work in the area, and people who googled “Boston pet store?”

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My point was, it's around the corner from Mass Ave on Edgerly. Unless you knew it was there, you wouldn't know. Verses the stores along Mass Ave.

I feel the same way about the Bread & Circus Whole Foods over there too. Just tucked in a corner. You can't see either (Petco or WF) from the Westland intersection with Mass Ave. Again unless you knew it was there, it's not visible.

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yeah, went there a few times when I had to stop at the CVS or occasionally the WF.

Besides being tucked away (and overpriced), I don't think this particular part of the city has a high concentration of dog owners? They would have been better off near all of the retail by Fenway Target/Landmark center since at least it's more of a shopping destination.

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I found it priced competitively with any other Petco and cheaper than even my beloved Pawsh or Fish-n-Bone.

And as a dog owner who lived there for years, I gotta disagree. Source: My dog HATES other dogs and I spent every walk detouring to avoid running into at least a half dozen at any given time.

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... one of their most profitable stores according to the manager I spoke to when I went in to take advantage of their closing sale. He had no idea why they were being shut down, but now it seems like it might have been the landlord not renewing the lease. He also told me they got significant patronage from people attending the BSO & Pops, particularly on matinee days.

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Sounds like cybah was completely mistaken on this one. I can’t think of a much better tenant than a hot international coffee joint. Caffe Nero is absolutely killing it in Boston.

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If Caffe Nero is a "hot international coffee joint", then the Olive Garden is a "World Class Italian Eatery".

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It's like the 1990's with Starbucks all over again.

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sigh

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Back in the 90s, Starbucks was the kind of place you could spend hours in. They've lost that sense, and Nero's picked it up and ran with it.

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Caffe Bene on Mass Ave (above the Blick Art Supply store) has good "hangout" ambiance. And they are open til 11pm weeknights and midnight on Friday/Saturday, unlike the other coffee chains in the area.

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because they use it (and other coffee shops with wi-fi) as a workspace. I've done this.

(Starbucks also gives unlimited free coffee refills if you are a Gold member, though I don't think I've ever taken more than one free refill per visit.)

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Really? I've been gold for years, and never knew that. Thanks!

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The Westland, slated to open "Fall 2017" in the old Symphony 8 space, has not shown any sign of life, and no online updates.

However, the web site does sport an amazing archival image of early 20th century traffic at the Huntington/Westland/Mass Ave intersection, including an above-ground trolley (the modern Green Line E branch is underground at that spot).

https://westlandboston.com

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and had a route similar to today's #1 bus.

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you are correct, of course...somehow I got disoriented by the perspective of Symphony Hall's facade

Now I'm wondering when they got rid of the tracks on Mass Ave.

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Oh geez, I've been hitting the Westland's page for nearly a year waiting for an update. Many fond memories of Tiger Lilly's and their famous scorpion bowls back in the day when I lived in what was basically a tenament (with three other equally poor and under-employed friends from college). The neighborhood has really changed. ::sigh::

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Please don't bemoan gentrification. Even as recently as 2002 when my wife lived in that area, you stabbings and whatnot. It is still a little sketchy at night, despite the rent going up.

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but I can tell you Nero will be no rival whatsoever for their baking.

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#1 think I miss about living over there. Best cupcakes around. And I have had a LOT of cupcakes.

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Last month I was in London and liked the ambiance, service and coffee (and once, hot chocolate.) They were a magnet for Italians, and most of the staff was Italian as well.

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