148588 Mon Jul 19 16:02:00 -0700 2004 10 12 Boston Area 0 796869 I apologize in advance for the semi-political message but it has to do with preserving space for independent and interesting restaurants and cafes. As J Bert noted in a post below, chain restaurants are starting to edge into Davis square. Diesel cafe is apparently fighting for its lease with, according to the very helpful counter folk, a national chain restaurant with a location in Harvard square. They told us that we "wouldn't be happy about" the quality of the chain restaurant but were unwilling to say which one, yet. If anyone knows, please enlighten us! In addition, I just found out that the former Bertucci's location on Elm street is being opened as a Subway :-(. I'm sure the landlord would disagree, but I'd frankly rather see it stay vacant! One of the charms of Davis for me is the relative lack of big chains (Starbucks, Dominos, Dunkin', McDonalds, that's about it). I'd hate to see it turn into a Harvard square clone where the independent businesses get shunted to the margins while the center is dominated by restaurants and stores which you could just as easily find in Newark or Peoria or Los Angeles. If you're concerned, please come raise the issue at a city council meeting or at tonight's (19 July) meeting of the Davis Square Task Force at 7 in the Senior Center/Tufts building on Holland St. Help keep Davis square safe for hounds. Mike Mon Jul 19 16:02:00 -0700 2004 0 Mike 1 796874 Hmmm, sounds like Peet's. Ergh. I can't imagine they could possibly kick out Diesel though. Maybe I'm naive? There are plenty of other vacant spaces they could take if they wanted to (although geez, FOUR coffeeshops in one square seems like a lot). Wish I could be there tonight. I'll see if I can swing by on my way home. -- dillard Mon Jul 19 16:40:20 -0700 2004 796869 0 dillard 2 796875 I thought it was Peets till I read that the Diesel folk mentioned people wouldn't be happy abt the quality of the place coming in...tho yes Peets is a chain, the quality is excellent, and I don't really get the feeling they are out to squash the little guy. Though maybe that's ME being naive now. Keep us posted, Mon Jul 19 17:19:31 -0700 2004 796874 0 twentyoystahs 3 796885 It very well may not be a coffee-shop type trying to take over Diesel, as the counter-person said national chain restaurant. I would guess that it is something like an Au Bon Pain. Plus, something like that would have the finances to push out Diesel by upping the rent offer to the landlord. Who knows though...just a guess. Mon Jul 19 18:26:05 -0700 2004 796875 0 Sugar 4 796901 Just a quick note to say that I talked to Jack Connolly, the area's alderman, last night and he hadn't heard about Diesel's problems. As a good politician should, he knows both the landlord and the owners of the Diesel and said he'd check into it and see what's up. I'll update this thread when I hear more. Mike Tue Jul 20 08:53:16 -0700 2004 796885 0 Mike 4 796902 The only ones I can think that would fit the description are Peet's or Finagel A Bagel. Chili's, Friday's, Legal, Uno's are all too big for the space. Au Bon Pain is already so close. That's very dissapointing about Subway in the old Bertucci's spot. The Somerville Journal reported last week that Joshua Treee owners are opeing a tapas/brick oven pizza place on Highland (across from Disc Diggers I think). I'm not such a fan of Joshua Tree food so I hope they do better with the new place. It would be great to have a brick oven pizza place again. Tue Jul 20 09:15:26 -0700 2004 796885 0 SEH 5 796903 That space across from Disc Diggers looks like it's going to be a restaurant or bar. They put in those tall windows that open to the street. Tue Jul 20 09:44:24 -0700 2004 796902 0 Andy T. 1 796904 if Diesel gets bonked, i'm finally, seriously, going to have to think about renting some space on a forgotten side street to open my own coffee shop. Just for me. And anyone who wants to, can come in and buy coffee and food to help pay for it. And none of those damn wifi people. I have been in Boston several years and every year I have to sit down to figure out "what's left" that's even a little bit interesting... and coffee shops have taken a bigger hit than anything else. It's maddening. This is O/T but I do have to observe that Abercrombie, after taking over the best block in Harvard Square and forcing out the interesting places including the Tasty, is now OUT OF BUSINESS. Good riddance, but their absence won't bring back any character to Harvard Square. Tue Jul 20 09:46:20 -0700 2004 796869 0 J Bert 2 796930 Please, let's not turn this thread into an off topic "chains are evil" fest. Let's keep the talk focused on chow. Thanks. Tue Jul 20 19:35:15 -0700 2004 796904 2 The Chowhound Team 1 797008 just read in the new issue of the somerville news that diesel signed a new 5-years lease. Wed Jul 21 20:45:14 -0700 2004 796869 0 lynn 2 797049 True enough. This is great. A link to the story is below. Mike Link: http://www2.townonline.com/somerville/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=47021 Thu Jul 22 18:34:21 -0700 2004 797008 0 Mike