Business

Fees for Liquor Licenses, Others in Watertown Waived for 2021

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Watertown Town Hall

The Licensing Board voted to waive fees for liquor licenses and other fees charged to do business in the Town of Watertown for all of 2021 in an effort to help them endure the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. On Thursday night, the Board heard a proposal to eliminate the annual fees for liquor licenses for restaurants, which is $2,700 for most. After a discussion, Licensing Board members decided that not just those, but also fees for other businesses should be removed for 2021. Other communities have already made changes to their liquor license fees, said David Doneski, the attorney that works with the Licensing Board. Newton and Needham approved a 50 percent reduction in fees, and Malden and Quincy waived the entire fee.

Real Estate

Two Watertown Condominiums Sold This Week

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See the properties that sold this week on the Watertown real estate market. $865,000 – 22 Priest Road Unit 1, Condo – Townhouse, 2,009 Living Area Sq. Ft., 7 Room, 3 Bedroom, 2 Full & 1 Half Bathroom

$289,000 – 62 Carey St. Unit 1, Condo – Garden, 600 Living Area Sq. Ft., 4 Room, 2 Bedroom, 1 Full Bathroom

Sponsored by:

Around Town

Check Out the Open Houses Around Watertown This Week

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Plenty of properties for home buyers to visit in town this week. $999,000 – 29-31 Bromfield St., Multi-family Home – 2 Family, 2,685 Living Area Sq. Ft., 2 Units, 11 Total Rooms, 5 Total Bedrooms, Open House: Sunday 12-1:30

$999,900 – 37 Langdon Ave., Single Family – Detached Colonial, 2,855 Living Area Sq. Ft., 9 Room, 6 Bedroom, 1 Full & 2 Half Bathroom, Open Houses: Saturday 12-1 Sunday 12-1:30

$950,000 – 25-27 Stuart St., Multi-family Home – 2 Family 2,696 Living Area Sq. Ft., 2 Units, 12 Total Rooms, 5 Total Bedrooms, Open Houses: Saturday 11:30-1 Sunday 11:30-1

$389,900 – 52 Duff St.

Business

New Hotel Opening on Arsenal Street by End of 2020

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The Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton is scheduled to open by the end of 2020 at Arsenal Yards. The following information was provided by Boylston Properties:

Boylston Properties and Stonebridge Companies today announced that the Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton™ Watertown Boston is scheduled to open at the end of December 2020 in the heart of Arsenal Yards. The hotel will be a welcomed addition to the limited hotel options that currently exist in Watertown, which is a growing destination for Boston/Cambridge leisure travel, business travel within the exploding biotechnology industry, and patients and staff of the well-established medical community in Boston, to name a few. The property will operate as a Hilton franchise, owned by a joint venture of Boylston Properties and the Stonebridge Companies, and managed by Stonebridge Companies. In an ideal location directly on Arsenal Street, and just minutes from Cambridge and Boston, the hotel serves as a gateway to historical attractions and new and upcoming venues.

Business

Boston Restaurant Opening Second Location in Watertown

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The following announcement was provided by Arsenal Yards:

Boylston Properties and Wilder proudly announced today that they’ve leased 3,000 square feet at Watertown’s Arsenal Yards to local celebrity chef and restaurateur, Jason Santos. Following the success of Buttermilk & Bourbon in Boston’s Back Bay, the nationally-recognized chef will open his second location of the popular restaurant in the new neighborhood in 2021, bringing a taste of Southern hospitality to Watertown. The New Orleans’ inspired restaurant will be an exciting addition to the eclectic mix of offerings at Arsenal Yards, which will offer a true neighborhood experience with its more than one million square feet of retail shops, residential apartments, life science space, and a 146-room hotel when construction is completed in Fall 2021.   

“For a chef of Jason Santos’ caliber to open his next restaurant at Arsenal Yards only adds to the incredible level of buzz that Arsenal Yards and the town of Watertown is currently receiving,” said Bill McQuillan, Principal at Boylston Properties. “And while COVID-19 continues to greatly impact our communities and neighborhoods, we couldn’t be more grateful to share some positive news about one of the best chefs and restaurant groups in Boston. Our team is committed as ever to creating a unique place for people to work, live, and simply just enjoy, and Jason and Buttermilk & Bourbon are the perfect complement to this lasting, energized experience that we’re creating at Arsenal Yards.”

Around Town

See the Winners of the Watertown Mall’s Scarecrow Contest

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The winner of the 2020 Watertown Mall Scarecrow Contest, the Waltham YMCA’s “Fred Haymaker Playmaker.” The Watertown Mall announced the winners of the 2020 Scarecrow Contest. “We would like to thank all of this year’s Scarecrow Contest participants,” Mall management said. The Third Place Scarecrow Contest winner, “Essential Workers” from Four Seasons Preschool. The Watertown Mall is proud to announce the winners this year:

First Place – Waltham Family YMCA, “Fred Haymaker Playmaker”

Second Place – Watertown Boys & Girls Club, “The Godfather”

Third Place – Four Seasons Preschool, “Essential Workers”

Hoping to see more creative entries next year!”

The entries in the 2020 Watertown Mall Scarecrow Contest.

Real Estate

Four Watertown Homes Sold This Week

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Two condos and two single family homes were purchased this week. $1,200,000 – 136 Russell Ave., Single Family – Detached Colonial, 2,228 Living Area Sq. Ft., 8 Room, 3 Bedroom, 1 Full & 2 Half Bathroom

$559,000 – 31 Nyack St., Single Family – Detached Cape, 900 Living Area Sq. Ft. 5 Room, 3 Bedroom, 1 Full Bathroom

Sponsored by:

$580,000 – 6 Hilltop Road Unit B, Condo – 2/3 Family, 1,663 Living Area Sq.

Business

Watertown Eating Institution Starts GoFundMe Effort to Keep Doors Open

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Deluxe Town Diner in Coolidge Square. The owners of Deluxe Town Diner have started an effort to try to raise $100,000 to keep the Coolidge Square institution afloat through the COVID-19 pandemic. Donors who give $100 or more will get a gift card worth $110 to use at the diner. Owner Don Levy posted the following information on the GoFundMe.com page:

Our family owned diner, has been serving Watertown area since 1947, the Covid19 pandemic has in big ways Adversely impacted our business,We survive the 3 months doing take out only, and now its necessary to ask for some help, ” TO KEEP THE DOORS OPEN”.  Due to restrictions we  are only  able to service, “less than half of our customers”.  We are asking our loyal customers and friends to donate, and to also buy future food at the diner gift card. $100 cash payment, we will issue $110 in diner card to be used now and in the future , when we are back to the normal.