A reader shared with us some photos of recent goings on in Wayland Square. First, cool signage on the new eyewear boutique, Opt.
And also, the new pub being built in the former funeral home on Wayland Avenue. Looks like it should be a nice place to have a beer(s) outside.
Update: This project was done by the City without the involvement of RIDOT, which makes the entire situation worse actually. Urban Design by RIDOT! Was the City complicit? I’m almost at a loss for words about the...
Photo © Amanda Jordan A reader submitted the above photo of the new bus shelter on Angell Street near Wayland Square. As the reader pointed out, it is near Wayland Square, actually just past the intersection with...
Photo by Bret Ancowitz A quick walk through Wayland Square revealed three new storefront vacancies faster than you can say, “national economic calamity:” Liberty Travel: This very high profile site (corner...
Greater City Providence
Guest Post
Jef Nickerson
Bret Ancowitz
Nice to see that progress is being made on the pub. I believe that the funeral home is still operational, though – the multi-car garage being transformed is just a small part of the building.
Good for Irish Wakes then
The pub is indeed going in the former garage space for the funeral home, which is still operating. In fact, the funeral home owners are the ones opening the pub. Having an outdoor deck like that in the Square (the second establishment to open with a deck here in the past year) will indeed be a nice addition.
I’m mixed on the white on white Opt facade. I know they are aiming for a cool minimalist simplicity but the stark white treatment doesn’t match the rest of the building it’s in and that approach, in what is essentially a parking lot fronted strip plaza, somehow doesn’t work for me and, dare I say it, looks a bit cheap.
The big questions for the square in the next year in my mind are:
– What will, if anything, go into the vacant Chico’s space? Will it take the seemingly usual 2-3 years to fill any open space here?
– What will happen with the former United Way (whose name I still can’t say or type without gagging a bit… I’ll never give to them locally again) Building after the temporary use by Brown finishes within the next year or two? Extensive work was done inside to house the brain and mind groups that are there until their new campus home opens, which one would presume would make it more marketable. Will Brown move something else there or will it sit empty?
What’s the other Wayland establishment with an outdoor deck?
To Bret- In this economic climate, do you think that it’s necessary to bash a first time business owner who risked it all do do major renovations to the space that he’s occupying? Shouldn’t Opt and their design team be applauded for doing something different to set themselves apart?
As for the pub, I think it will be a great addition to the square.
to H.: I should have said patio. The new bakery at the intersection of Wayland, Angell, and S. Angell has put seating and patio tables out front in the previously empty space there which I think changes the whole feel of the Square when that area and Starbuck’s patio are both full. McBride’s will make for the third such space overall in the Square.
To Jessica: I hardly felt I was bashing the place. just giving an aesthetic opinion with no connection to how they run their business.I actually am due for new glasses and probably will go there soon. But let’s not get carried away by the “design” elements here. I mean, they just covered the brick and painted it white. We’re not talking Frank Gehry here. As I said, I appreciate the effort, it just misses for me.