East Boston Savings Coming to Former Murray Sandler Site

Bank to anchor new commercial site at Concord Avenue and Bright Road.

A new bank is coming to Belmont and it will be housed in the town's newest commercial development. East Boston Savings Bank will be opening a branch office by year's end at the newly-constructed retail site at the corner of Concord Avenue and Bright Road, according to a statement released by Richard Gavegnano, the bank's chairman and CEO. The 4,000 square-foot office will house a full-service branch as well as a loan center with commercial and residential officers serving the local market in and around Belmont, according to Gavegnano. Once the home of the Murray Sandler Skate Shop, the site is being developed by Prospect Street resident Robert Orfaly to house a one-story brick retail "village" for two to five tenants at 58-60 and 70 …

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Belmont Resident's Store Where Coffeephiles Dwell

Opening today, dwelltime – between Harvard, Central squares – for those who appreciate coffee.

Americans have had a long love affair with coffee. Americans average about nine pounds ofcoffee beans a year per person. If a pound can make 40, 6-ounce cups, that comes to around 20 gallons. A quick tally of coffee shops around Belmont's Cushing Square adds up to at least two local businesses and two national chains. All seem to be doing well, as places to enjoy coffee, food, friends and community.  Israel Fridman, a Belmont resident for over two decades, learned to appreciate coffee in his native Mexico City. He remembers growing up in his neighborhood with coffee and chocolate roasting shops, which filled streets with aromas he has long associated with an enjoyment of friends sharing good drink and food. A chemical engineer, Fridman …

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Center's Subway Opening 'First Week in June'

Co-owner says challenge periods over allows a two month build out to begin.

Early this week, Chris Cho was leaning against what remains of the counter where once frozen yogurt was served at the former TCBY store at 59A Leonard St. Since late last year when the long-time Belmont store closed, the store's front windows have been glazed over as the location's future was debated. That inactivity will soon end as Waltham resident Cho and his co-owner, fellow Dartmouth grad Enrique Colbert, will begin directing the transformation of the store into Belmont Center's first "fast food" outlet with the introduction of a Subway's on Leonard Street. Cho, who owns with Colbert five other Subway franchises in the area, was going over blueprints after the town's review of their January application got Belmont's stamp of approval …

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Franklin Tucker

10:58 am on Friday, March 23, 2012

That is from the co-owners application to the town. They reiterated that point at the Zoning Board as salaries, rent, taxes etc .   more ›

Under Construction: Murray Sandler Redevelopment Begins

Development an active site nine months after receiving town's OK.

One clear indicator that a project is actively under construction is the presence of a port-a-potty. And that, along with trucks, material and workers, are busy stripping down the building that once housed the Murray Sandler Skate Shop on Concord Avenue. According to Office of Community Development's Director Glenn Clancy, demolition began at the location a few weeks back as the site is being prepared for the construction of a retail center at the corner of Concord Avenue and Bright Road. The work comes nearly eight months after the Belmont Planning Board unanimously voted to approve the site plan submitted by developer Robert Orfaly and his development team to build a one-story brick retail "village" that will have two to five tenants at …

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Belmont Business Owners: 5 Fast, Easy Steps to Better Connect with Customers

In this quick video, we show you how to claim listings in Patch Places to better promote your business through Belmont Patch.

When Belmont Patch launched nearly two years ago, editors and freelancers ventured to local businesses to collect information for our directory. Now, Patch Places is a spot where users can find descriptions, hours, accepted payment methods and much more for spots around town. All users can add events taking place at local spots, can rate the business on a scale of one to five stars, and can add a review. But owners of local businesses get extra bonuses when they claim a listing. Owners or managers should search for their business listing and select "claim you listing" in order to make updates to the page. A form will pop up asking for your name, contact information, and proof of ownership. Within a few days, someone from Patch should …

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Patch Picks

Looking for Suggestions: New Businesses You Like

Opened yesterday or last year; storefront, restaurant or high tech: businesses in Belmont

Since the economic downturn in October 2008, businesses are slowly coming back to Belmont, filling storefronts, taking space in office buildings and from out of homes. Some are traditional, others innovative, but all are bringing commerce to the Town of Homes. Our Patch Picks column this week ask you to help us find these new neighbors: Which are the best new businesses that have made Belmont home? Whether low tech or high end, we want your suggestions by Wednesday so we can add it to our article coming out on Thursday. Add them in the comments thread to the side, or email me at franklin@patch.com

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