Tuesday, January 29, 2013
In this column, you ask a question and Patch tries to find the answer.
With the news last week that developer Salvatore Capital Partners is still on track to convert the former gas station to a Starbucks coffee shop, residents have many concerns on the project. This week, one Patch reader -- who was greatly concerned about the traffic at the already-busy corner of Main and North Streets -- asked... Question: "Will Starbucks have a drive-thru?" Short answer: "No." The town of Medfield has a bylaw that prohibits food establishments to have drive-thru windows, something residents can see applied to other eateries in town. That bylaw will also be applied to whatever business eventually goes into the former Friendly's restaurant. About this Column "You Ask, Patch Answers" is where we strive to find answers to…
Friday, August 10, 2012
On Wednesday, the ZBA approved the request to convert the former Friendly's building into the town's second Dunkin' Donuts coffee shop.
Medfield’s Board of Appeals on Zoning has issued a unanimous decision approving Dunkin’ Donuts application to convert the former Friendly’s building at 563 Main Street into a coffee shop at the corner of Routes 109 and 27. Dunkin’ Donuts franchise owner Michael Cavallo (representing DLT Family Limited Partnership), who also owns the Dunkin’ Donuts at 270 Main Street, told the ZBA during the hearing process that he plans to spend $500,000 to renovate the property. ZBA members Stephen Nolan, Douglas Boyer, and Thomas Reis determined the shop would not create a public safety hazard and approved the application with the following conditions: The applicant will now need to go before the Board of Health and the Board of Selectmen for a food …
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
The Board of Appeals on Zoning is expected to issue its decision tonight on the application from Dunkin' Donuts franchise owner Michael Cavallo to convert the former Friendly's building into a coffee shop.
The Board of Appeals on Zoning is expected to issue its decision tonight regarding a Dunkin’ Donuts going into the former Friendly’s building. The meeting starts at 8 p.m. at Town Hall. Local Dunkin’ Donuts franchise owner Michael Cavallo filed an application with the town to convert the former Friendly’s building at the corner of Routes 109 and 27 into a Dunkin’ Donuts restaurant. Cavallo, of Sharon, owns several Dunkin’ Donuts including one at Medfield Commons which he would continue to operate. He said he hopes to make the 563 Main Street restaurant into an “upscale" Dunkin’ Donuts that would sell ice cream out of the former Friendly's walk-up window. The public hearing on the matter was closed on July 11, therefore, the ZBA will not …
Here's a look at today's events.
1. Forecast for Wednesday: The National Weather Service based in Taunton says mostly sunny. High near 86. Light southwest wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph. Wednesday night: Partly cloudly. Low around 69. South wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm after midnight. 2. Town Hall Meetings: 3. Library Events: 4. Community Events: 5. Charitable Opportunities
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Traffic engineers for Dunkin' Donuts told the Board of Appeals on Zoning that their new store proposed at the former Friendly's might have customers in queue for 25 to 30 seconds as they wait to enter Route 109.
Dunkin' Donuts is hoping to renovate the former Friendly's site into a new DD store. Traffic engineers for Dunkin' Donuts say it may take customers a few extra seconds to enter traffic, and may add 140 vehicle trips a day, but the traffic pattern should be the same as Friendly's had when it was there. Abutters say a DD "will wreak havoc on the morning commute" when it currently takes them three to five minutes to pull out of their driveways now, without a tenant in the building at the corners of Routes 109 and 27. What do you think? Take our poll and let us know. Have more to say? Tell us in the Comments.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
The Board of Appeals on Zoning meeting tonight will include a continued public hearing on a special permit for a Dunkin' Donuts to occupy the former Friendly's site.
The Board of Appeals on Zoning will hold a meeting tonight at the Town House which will include an 8:30 p.m. hearing on a special permit request for a Dunkin' Donuts to go into the former Friendly's site. Are you still following this story? Is it still of interest to you? Take our poll and let us know. Will you attend tonight's ZBA hearing? If so/not, tell us why in the comments.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
For the second time in as many years, a major motion picture was filmed in a vacant building in Medfield. On Thursday, Kate Winslet was at the former Friendly's to film a scene for her new movie, "Labor Day."
Actress Kate Winslet was in Medfield Thursday night to film a scene in her new movie, “Labor Day.” In 2010, Winslet's Titanic co-star, Leonardo DiCaprio was in town to film "Shutter Island" at the former Medfield State Hospital. On Thursday, the corner of Routes 109 and 27 was the hub of activity all day as the movie crew “re-opened the former Friendly’s restaurant (which closed in October) for the movie that stars Winslet as a single mother and Josh Brolin as an escaped convict. The encounter between the two, and Winslet’s on-screen son, takes place over Labor Day weekend. One of the scenes takes place in a Friendly’s Restaurant in the early 1980s. “They were actually in the area earlier in the year to find an appropriate house to do a …
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Medfield's Historic District Commission met with Michael Cavallo, a Dunkin' Donuts franchise owner on Tuesday to review plans to convert the former Friendly's building to an "upscale Dunkin' Donuts." Both sides plan to meet again on June 5.
Dunkin’ Donuts franchise owner Michael Cavallo has filed an application with the Medfield Historic District Commission for a certificate of appropriateness – a signoff required before obtaining a building permit with the town. Cavallo, of Sharon, owns several Dunkin’ Donuts, including the one at Medfield Commons, and is interested in converting the former Friendly’s building on 563 Main St. into an “upscale Dunkin’ Donuts,” according to HDC officials. “They filed an application with us and during the presentation they gave us copies of what the building will look like … Although they didn’t discuss it, I had heard from others that this is going to be an upscale Dunkin’ Donuts, that they’re trying to compete with Starbucks,” said HDC member…
42.18545
-71.30945
563 Main St, Medfield, MA
/articles/historic-district-commission-reviews-application-to-convert-former-friendly-s-to-a-dunkin-donuts
/locations/7038559
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Temperatures today have hit the mid-80s, so here are some tips on how to stay cool.
It's late afternoon and temperatures are approaching the high-80s for the day. It may be hot, but here are some ways you can cool off today. 1. Grab a cone. What better way to beat the heat then with some ice cream. Stop by Friendly's on Main Street in town or head down Route 109 into Westwood for a visit to Bubbling Brook. 2. Take a dip. If you have a pool, or a friend who has one, there's no better a time to spend the whole day soaking in the water. Let those fingers and toes get prune-y! If you don't have a pool, consider a trip to one of Medfield's swimming spots, like Hinkley Pond. 3. Stay in. Today's heat can be dangerous. The National Weather Service advices to stay inside as much as possible and keep hydrated. The NWS says heat is …
42.186775
-71.3051
Medfield Public Library
468 Main St, Medfield, MA
/articles/5-ways-to-beat-the-heat-4
794928
/locations/4825217
Tax Payer too...
8:52 am on Friday, July 13, 2012
DD's model is to turn customers around quickly. That means high volume, i.e. traffic. To complicate the process, the former Friendly's site is not on the eastbound side of 109, so the morning commute will have to cross traffic not once, but twice as it enters and exits. The DD at Medfield Commons works because it's on the "right" side of the road and the entrance and exit aren't 20 yards from a … more ›