Business

Massachusetts residents yesterday sued Sur La Table and the Container Store after they say got junk mail even though they never gave the chains their addresses.

In separate lawsuits, Judith Monteferrante and Elizabeth Christiansen say the data mining the chains used to dredge up their addresses based on their Zip codes and credit-card information violates Massachusetts consumer-privacy laws.

In March, the Supreme Judicial Court - the state's highest court - agreed, ruling stores could not require Zip codes to complete a credit-card purchase.

Although the owners of the Bulfinch Hotel on Merrimac Street have already announced a name change to the Boxer, this being Boston, they need formal approval from the Boston Licensing Board.

At a hearing this morning on the proposed name change, board Chairwoman Nicole Murati Ferrer was dying to know: Why "The Boxer?"

Emily Antonelli, who also needs board approval to become the hotel's new manager, tried to explain:

"I think they were trying to capture the fighting spirit of the independent person in Massachusetts," she said. "It's a little more abstract, not so much a dog."

During the public-comment section of the hearing, nobody spoke against letting the hotel change its d/b/a. The board votes tomorrow on both the name change and letting Antonelli become the new manager.

Interested in adding the power of video to your social justice or nonprofit work? Learn to use video to not only educate and inform, but to spur action and engagement. Join Socializing for Justice for a Skillshare on Video for Social Change on June 3rd, 6:00 - 8:30 PM.

SoJust hosts events that draw progressives of all stripes that share common values but may work on different issues. We create social spaces that allow for the possibility of cross-issue connections and run a Skillshare Series, hosted by The NonProfit Center*, which builds our individual capacity to make a difference in the world.

Register at www.sojust.org - Newcomers always welcomed!

Fee: $10-$20 (sliding scale) is split with the trainer.
Limited space - register ahead of time.
Credit cards accepted online. Cash only at the door (if space available).

SCHEDULE
6:00-6:30 Socializing - bring your own dinner
6:30-8:30 Training and Q & A

Video for Social Change: Using Video for Activism, Education, and Nonprofit Work

Our go-to guy for Rochie's news, Matt O'Malley (yes, yes, that Matt O'Malley), issued an alert tonight after a trip to the West Roxbury Roche Bros:

BULLETIN: @Roche_Bros moved the location of the eggs, made room for more yogurt.

We haven't seen a shakeup like this at that market since they moved the ice cream.

HubSpot, which offers online marketing software from its offices in Kendall Square, today launched a referral program: Refer a software developer to them, and if they hire him or her, you get $30,000.

Aston Martin Lagonda and an Aston Martin dealership in Waltham are racing at each other full speed in a dispute over whether the car company - whose cheapest model goes for $122,400 - can open another dealership in Wayland.

Aston Martin of New England on Linden Street in Waltham, says the plan would cut its sales dramatically and wants $3 million in damages. The dealership is currently the only place in all of New England to buy a new Aston Martin.

At Suffolk Business School's "Build Boston" forum about casinos last Thursday morning, Stephen Crosby, chairman of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, shared a brief, private chat with No Eastie Casino co-chair Celeste Ribeiro Myers. Crosby conveyed the commission's goal to facilitate a process wherein communities see as many benefits and as few consequences as possible from expanded gambling. Myers politely shared with Crosby her concerns that "communities are being worked by the process instead of the other way around." She also shared her frustration at community members' inability to get any real data or answers from Suffolk Downs or the City.

In an editorial, the Jamaica Plain Gazette rhapsodizes about how Roslindale completes JP, in part because Roslindale hosts all the trailer-trash kind of chain stores that would otherwise try to muscle their non-local way into the pristine Elysian fields of Jamaica Plain:

It has been easier for local-business-minded JP to fend off the likes of Family Dollar when we all know we can go to the one already in Roslindale Village. And while a big-box store coming to JP would face protests, many of us have popped into the Rozzie Staples, which is not much farther from central JP than Jackson Square is.

Roslindale ed. note: Maybe it's time for a field trip to the JP Whole Foods to see what a real local, non-big-box store is like, one that managed to get built without any protests, let alone arrests. Well, no more than three, anyway. And it's not much farther from Rozzie Square than Grew Hill is.

Meet like-minded progressives at Connecting for Justice on May 23 from 6-8:30PM at Lir Irish Pub and get connected to great social justice organizations in Boston. Have you been lurking on SoJust? It’s time to meet the friendly faces of the group that’s grown to almost 2250 members, hosted 150+ events and fostered hundreds of connections since our founding almost 7 years ago.
SoJust is all about building a cross-issue progressive community and network in Boston. We're doing it by putting the SOCIAL back in SOCIAL JUSTICE. We focus on creating welcoming spaces that foster relationship-building across issue silos. Join us if you are ready to go BEYOND ALLIES and build a CROSS-ISSUE PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT.
RSVP at http://www.sojust.org (our main website) and view Member Profiles, Message Board and Calendar of Progressive Events.
Cost: $5-$20 collected at the door. Newcomers always welcomed! 
(every $10 includes raffle ticket for a $25 Trader Joe's gift card)
Complimentary appetizers will be provided.
This is not a meeting - it's a fun networking social!
No Program. No Speaker. Just Us. For Justice.

Homegrown Karmaloop and some California woman who leads an organization for "professional groupies" are battling over the right to sell things with the word "Plastics" on them.

In a pre-emptive strike, Karmaloop this week sued Yvonne Nicoletti, a.k.a. Lexxa Vonn, for the right to continue producing trucker hats that say "PLASTICS" on the front and "She's fabulous but she's evil" on the lower brim.

Nicoletti runs the Plastics Professional Groupies, and had sic'ed her lawyer on Karmaloop to get it to stop selling the caps, claiming she owns the trademark on the word "Plastics."

News item: Yankee Candle unveils Boston Strong-scented candle, says it features "a heartwarming blend of cinnamon, baking spices, and a hint of freshly poured tea."

What do you think Boston Strong smells like?

The Boston Business Journal reports Barbara's Bestsellers is talking to the company that controls commercial space in the station about re-opening in another space at the commuter-rail station.

Do you often get stuck in conversations? Not know how to approach people at networking events? Join Socializing for Justice for a fast-paced, fun & interactive Skillshare on the Art of the Schmooze on May 6th, 6:00 - 8:30 PM.
SoJust hosts events that draw progressives of all stripes that share common values but may work on different issues. We create social spaces that allow for the possibility of cross-issue connections and run a Skillshare Series, hosted by The NonProfit Center*, which builds our individual capacity to make a difference in the world.
Register at www.sojust.org - Newcomers always welcomed!
Fee: $10-$20 (sliding scale) is split with the trainer.
Limited space - register ahead of time.
Credit cards accepted online. Cash only at the door (if space available).
SCHEDULE
6:00-6:30 Socializing - bring your own dinner
6:30-8:30 Training and Q & A
SoJust's Co-Founder, Robbie Samuels, who is well known for his schmoozing skills, is this month's trainer.
Art of the Schmooze

Businessweek gets somebody to calculate the costs.

John Antonellis is our guest writer on today's post. John has been a resident of Eagle Hill in East Boston for close to 15 years and a homeowner there for 12. He is the Lead Instructor at the Harvard Bridge Program, a worker education program for employees at Harvard University.

Something stinks in East Boston, and it isn't the litter and garbage that we're fond of bemoaning. It isn't the piles of horse manure from the stalls at Suffolk Downs, but you're getting close. On Wednesday night the stench was emanating from a meeting to present and garner community input on Suffolk Downs' plan to improve the roadways around the proposed casino - put on by the mayor's Host Community Advisory Committee's (HCAC). Or was the meeting run by Suffolk Downs? From an observer's point of view, it was hard to tell the difference, since audience members were forced to stare at the Suffolk Downs/Caesars (SDC) logo for a half-hour as we waited for the meeting to start.

Looks like Warby Parker, which undercuts chain prices on prescription glasses through its online store, is looking to set up a physical store in Boston.

H/t Matt Karolian.

Through the end of the year, the Globe reports.

A lawsuit by key members of the local taxi industry against upstart Uber is now a federal matter - San Franisco-based Uber yesterday had the suit transferred from state court to US District Court in Boston.

In the suit, Boston Cab Dispatch and EJT Management charge Uber, which lets customers use a smart-phone app to arrange a ride, violates state law, which requires taxis in Boston to carry medallions.

The companies charge Uber lets drivers refuse rides to certain neighborhoods. As East Boston residents know, city law prohibits medallion drivers from refusing rides there.

Alaska Airlines? Sure, why not?

The Globe reports Vornado Realty Trust, which left a giant gaping sore in the heart of downtown, is pulling out of the Suffolk Downs casino proposal because state officials dared to ask it for detailed financial information on its executives, to make sure they aren't actually organized crime figures or illegal ivory importers or something.

Mind's Eye Yarns in Porter Square is up for sale; if nobody wants to buy it and keep it open, it'll shut down later this spring.

Earlier:
Another bit of old Boston gets ripped out: Windsor Button to shut down.

H/t Cara.

Blanchard's of Allston on Harvard Avenue has posted an apology and explanation for the way some customers wound up having their credit cards used for transactions halfway around the world.

Initially, reports from the experts were that there was no evidence of a data compromise in the Blanchard's systems. After receipt of still more recent complaints, Blanchard's continued with further investigation by another independent IT expert and malware in point of sale software was discovered on Friday.

Once the malware was discovered, the company immediately took down its primary credit card terminals. Blanchard's continues to investigate, but it believes that the issue was contained by Saturday and the malware neutralized and removed. At that time, the credit card terminals were brought back up.

Blanchard's continues to work closely with payment card brands and issuers to identify the accounts that may have been compromised, so issuers can employ enhanced fraud security measures immediately on potentially impacted accounts. In addition, the company is assisting federal and state law enforcement authorities with their investigation.

The Herald reports the supermarket chain will open up shop in Landmark Center.

Sarida, on Birch Street, is closing in June.

The Globe reports it's starting to happen, due to the tight rental market in Boston. Also, undergrads looking for fall apartments? So, so screwed.