All updates from the month of October 2004 are listed below.

Updates for October 14, 2004
Written by Justin on October 8, 2004 at 8:43PM

Dick's news and a container store?

• Well, Dick's Sporting Goods has been approved after what seemed like a fairly short approval process. The store will be going into Sherwood Plaza where Decathalon USA was located previously. According to a quote from a Dick's representative in the MWDN, demolition of the Decathalon building and the adjacent Starbucks Coffee will be complete by the end of the year, with the new 68,000 sq. ft, two-floored Dick's and adjacent Starbucks with outdoor terrace opening in June 2004.
• While I was expecting that the property at 1265 Worcester Street was more likely to be demolished than fitted with new retailers, it turns out that the latter will now be the case. Instead a new tenant is coming in: The Container Store, which supposedly sells containers and the like. By the way, the link to this and the Dick's news is http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=80469.
• Also, check this out. With the demolition of the Wonder Bread factory, the Natick Mall is acknowledging the development on their website, http://www.natickmall.com, and there's even a webcam!
  
• In addition, the Circuit City officially opened today, and Ray Borque was the celebrity guest. I'm hoping to add some pictures of the store later this weekend.

That's all. E-mail me using the feedback link if you have anything to contribute.

Updates for October 8, 2004
Written by Justin on October 8, 2004 at 11:02PM

Circuit City is now open!

• The new Circuit City store in Natick, at 1398 Worcester Street, will officially open on Thursday, October 14th, and will hold grand opening sales through next Saturday. However, a call placed to the store indicated that the store actually opened today. Either way, the store looks amazing and is a huge improvement over the pink appeal of the Loew's Theater. A celebrity appearance is scheduled. The La-Z-Boy store is visibly under construction and will probably open sometime around next March or so.
  
• Now, of course, is the question of what happens to the old Circuit City, located at 1450 Worcester Street. I'm predicting that it will be demolished for a parking lot. It's really lousy real estate, and is also fairly hard to see from Rte. 9.

Hopefully I'll be able to get some pictures of the new and old sites sometime next week, and I'll add them to the site when I do. In addition, please send your thoughts and stuff to the feedback link, and have a great week!

Updates for October 2, 2004
Written by Justin on October 2, 2004 at 9:47PM

Wonder Bread is falling down and more!

• Obviously, the big story is the demolition of the Wonder Bread factory adjacent to the Natick Mall. In order to make way for the new Natick Mall addition, the factory must be removed, as is happening. Despite the fact that the new construction is facing many appeals, GGP is going forward with the demolition of the factory. On September 28th, amidst a crowd of former Wonder Bread employees who had just eaten a buffet of Twinkie Sushi and Devil Dog Truffles, the first strikes of the bulldozer took place. As of October 1st, all of the windows have been removed and the rear wall of the building that faces Macy's is about half gone. The demolition is slated to last about six weeks, and WCVB (Channel 5) has a report of the demolition available at http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/3767564/detail.html. Additionally, the MWDN has a story available at http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/businessNews/view.bg?articleid=79178.
• But that's not all. Also in Natick, construction at the Famous Footwear/Children's Place seems to be well underway. The old signage section has been entirely demolished in front of the Children's Place, with most gone in front of the Famous Footwear. Also, there are new windows in front of both stores.
• Also the Circuit City store appears completed, and really good on the outside! No word on when it will open, though. Plus, it looks like construction of the new La-Z-Boy IS underway after all, and butts up to the left side of the Circuit City as previously noted.
  
• In yet other news, a Filene's Basement is headed to the former Frugal Fannie's at the Rte. 30 Mall. In a story from the Framingham TAB, http://www2.townonline.com/framingham/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=91450, it opened in 1978 at the Framingham Mall, but left due to the fact that Target wanted the space for their flagship store. Hmm, suspicious because Target did not even open on the site of Filene's Basement, but that Filene's Basement left even before Target presented before the Framingham Planning Board back in 1999. Either way, Filene's Basement is gutting the facade in order rebuild the site to their specifications. The site has a long history of failed stores, and I'm planning to get a site up about it's history soon. The Filene's Basement is set to open in mid-November and will employ 70 people.

That's it for now. Send me your comments and memories using the feedback link if you have anything to contribute.