All updates from the month of July 2008 are listed below.

Papa Razzi to open tomorrow in Framingham
Written by Justin on July 22, 2008 at 10:48PM

• Framingham/Natick Retail sources inform us that Papa Razzi, the Italian restaurant chain that announced plans to open in the former Bennigan's Grill & Tavern location this past winter, will finally be opening their doors tomorrow. The restaurant, which will compete with the Bertucci's restaurant across the street and the long-speculated Maggiano's Little Italy (possibly slated for the Natick Collection), focuses on modern Italian cuisine. The source also informed F/NR that some of the most popular dishes at the restaurant include the Melanzana Fritta appetizer, a Margherita pizza renowned up and down the east coast, Spaghetti Bolognese, the Panzanella salad with salmon, and for dessert - the oak toasted fruit pizza. You may want to eat accordingly.

Eight Nouvelle units sold in last 13 months
Written by Justin on May 21, 2008 at 6:36PM

• It doesn't seem to be a good time to be in real estate, particularly if you're trying to sell 215 luxury units that are under construction.
• In April 2007, 22 of the units had been sold. But in a recent update, the president of Otis & Ahern, the real estate firm responsible for selling the units, indicated that while 40 units had been reserved, only 30 had been purchased - meaning that in the past 13 months, only eight units were sold.
  
• The MWDN has a full story online at http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x1192322366/.

A Nouvelle sales update, and info on the garden
Written by Justin on July 22, 2008 at 10:37PM

• The Boston Globe featured a piece last Sunday about the rooftop garden being constructed atop the Natick Collection expansion for the use of the Nouvelle at Natick condominiums. Work has begun on the garden, which will feature extensive insulation that will allow the garden to require only 12,000 gallons of water a year for watering purposes - about the same amount as a single family home rather than the over one million gallons that would be expected.
• The story also features an update on the amount of units sold. In May, Framingham/Natick Retail told you that 30 units had been sold. Between then and July 20, no additional units have been sold.Through efficient construction, thedoesn't seem to be a good time to be in real estate, particularly if you're trying to sell 215 luxury units that are under construction.
• Check out the full piece at the Globe's Green Blog at http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/greenblog/2008/07/natick_collection_to_boast_areas_biggest_rooftop_garden.html.
  

July MetroWest retail tidbits
Written by Justin on July 22, 2008 at 10:29PM

• Across the street from Papa Razzi, the British Beer Company - located in the former Chili's Bar & Grill - seems to be opening their doors soon as well. The eatery, which offers renderings of their future home on their website, has a band scheduled to play on Friday, July 25. Might that be their first day in business?
• Thanks to Nouvelle and the Cloverleaf Apartments, there's affordable housing available now in Natick - but not so many takers. The full story is at http://www.wickedlocal.com/natick/news/x544087211/Affordable-housing-available-in-Natick.
• WWE wrestlers Batista and MVP, along with R&B singer Ne-Yo, are starring in a set of commercials for the f.y.e. music/video chain. The commercials were shot at the f.y.e. at the Natick Collection. More information is available from The Business Review at http://www.bizjournals.com/albany/stories/2008/07/07/daily42.html.
  
• Few details are available on the closure of Owen O'Leary's, the Irish pub located at the bottom of the Hampton Inn on Speen Street. While the Natick location closed July 3, the Southborough location on Rte. 9 remains open. Hotel management told the MWDN that O'Leary's had the opportunity to renew their lease but chose not to, and the hotel has already started searching for another restaurant to take the space. More details at http://www.wickedlocal.com/natick/news/business/x19927805/Owen-OLearys-closing-Natick-pub.