NEW COFFEE SHOP ON BRATTLE ST?
It looks like the Au Bon Pain on Brattle is closed and being replaced with a new cafe/bakery. Does anyone have any details?
windupbird
Jan 24, 2008 07:02AM
23 Replies so Far
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From what I've heard it is going to be an independent cafe (the daughter of a family friend is one of the owners - full disclosure). But I actually know no more than that! Even without this tangential connection to the place I am excited for an independent spot in HS and hope it does well.
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where on brattle is this?
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I think the OP is referring to the old 1 Elliot Street location of Caffe Paradiso.
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It's near the corner of Brattle Street but not actually on Brattle - a couple of doors down from the Bertucci's IIRC
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According to the link below it actually IS on Brattle...
27 Brattle St Cambridge MA
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well if it's in the general vicinity, it would be greatly welcomed, at least by me--esp. if they serve up high quality coffee. (is it too much to dream of a terroir or intelligentsia outpost right in the square?)
in any case, they would be hard pressed to be worse than caffe paradiso, which was one of the crappiest cafes i ever did set eyes on. frankly, given the constant crush of people at the peet's and other cafe-type places in the area, i think there's plenty of demand for such a place.
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The nerd in me is screaming out the the proper term for that locus is "Brattle Square."
And good!!! I don't mind ABP but honestly, how many does one need within a 200 yard radius?
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I always wondered at their decision to have two in such close proximity...
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Awhile back, a friend of mine who was in business school read a case study about either Starbucks or ABP, I forget which, where they had done studies indicating that people would walk on average something like ten feet out of their way for a spontaneous purchase. So they probably wouldn't mind having a few even closer together!
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That study clearly did NOT sample chowhounds!!!!
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Well, it turns out that Starbucks actually came to realize that they overdid it on the number of locations. If you can believe it (shock and awe), they actually started *cannibalizing* their own business---i.e. they weren't actually adding any new customers with new stores, just spreading them more thinly...Not to mention creating a depressingly uniform landscape and pissing lots of people off in the process...but I digress...
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It is in the former Warburton's then Au Bon Pain space. Right next to the soon-to-be-defunct Jasmine/Sola, which is next to Brattle Florist. NOT former Cafe Paradiso spot.
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Sheesh. Thanks for that. I couldn't figure out how the Cafe Paradiso spot became an ABP without me noticing.
I'm seconding the hope for Terroir coffee. I don't get to H. Square a lot but I'm hooked on the coffee at True Grounds in Somerville. Something about people who are THAT nuts about anything makes the hound in me happy.
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While that ABP isn't special, I've been there every Sunday for almost 20 years during the break of a drawing class (back to when it was Warburtons). I'll miss it but am sure that a real independent cafe will be a plus. Interestingly, Lee's coffee shop around the corner on Church is still there and even has the same folks running it. The coffee is a little weak but it may be one of the last places in Harvard Square to get a diner breakfast.
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Wow -- your drawing must be very good after 20 years of classes! :-)
Thanks for saying something about Lee's. I've always wondered about the place. No one ever mentions it.
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I've gotten tasty greasy breakfasts there (at Lee's). But you have to be in the mood for just that. I don't like the coffee though.
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Sounds like you and gourmaniac are on the same page about their coffee, but sometimes a tasty greasy breakfast is just what the doctor ordered. I'll keep it in mind -- glad to know what it's all about and what they are good for.
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I despise ABP. Good riddance! Now we just need to work to get the one in the Holyoke Center closed.
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ha! i'm generally with you, but i have to admit, there is something sort of endearing, in a sketchy, skeege-y kind of way about that ABP...
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I liked ABP when they actually had good bread, those petite pain rolls with butter were great with soup (tomato basil, my favorite). Can't stand all those pastries they have now.
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I have gotten confirmation from a friend of the owners that they will be serving terroir coffee!! from what i've heard it sounds like it is going to be a great place...cant wait.
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I poked my head in there last night and saw some of the construction. It looks like it is going to be a very cool space!! Exciting!
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today's harvard crimson reports that it's going to be called Creme Cafe and it should open in April. the owner is the daugther of one of felipe's co-owners
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