Storefronts shift in Square

Wave of new businesses fill once  empty storefronts
By George P. Hassett

In the place of a beloved coffee shop now sits an empty storefront. A prominent building that once housed non-profit companies has been reduced to rubble. A storefront, home to two upscale restaurants in the past six months, is unfilled. These are some of the noticeable changes Davis Square has seen in the past few months — and these are signs that business in Davis Square is as healthy as it has ever been, according to the ward alderman.

Storefronts shift in Davis Square
  ‚ÄúChange and turnover is good for a business district,‚Äù said Ward 6 Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz. ‚ÄúIt‚Äôs a sign that this is a desirable place to be.‚Äù
   The transformations in Davis Square business include; Mr. Crepe replacing the Someday Caf√©, the demolition of One Davis Square with the new building housing a Boston Sports Club, a CVS and the non-profits that previously operated out of the building with the exception of the Department of Transitional Assistance, O‚ÄôNaturals being replaced by a Mexican Restaurant, and an Italian restaurant at 400 Highland Ave. Also, Enterprise Rent-A-Car will leave its 377 Summer Street location and the delicatessen, Deli-Licious has moved into 20 College Ave. in the spot where Nick‚Äôs Roast Beef once did business.
   Gewirtz said that most of the new Davis Square establishments are locally owned and operated.
   ‚ÄúI‚Äôll always do everything I can to promote small, local businesses. They contribute to the flavor and character of Davis Square. People don‚Äôt want big, generic, mall-like spaces in the middle of Somerville,‚Äù she said.
   The importance and charm of locally-owned businesses is the reason Gewirtz lobbied for the Someday Caf√© to remain open once its lease had expired, she said.
   Tanya Hahnel is one of the former Someday Caf√© employees now trying to resurrect the coffee shop. The Someday was dealt a knockout blow when owner Gus Rancatore forgot to renew his lease and the owner of 51 Davis Square Richard Fraiman quickly made plans for Peter Creyf and his restaurant, Mr. Crepe, to move in.
  The Someday was so well known as a gathering spot for a community of dreadlocked artists, tattooed hipsters, college students and caffeine lovers that when its demise was announced, crowds of over one hundred people attended meetings and mounted a campaign to ‚ÄúSave the Someday.‚Äù
  Hahnel said there had been plans for the new Someday Caf√© to move into Razzy‚Äôs Pub at 585 Somerville Ave. but scheduling conflicts made that impossible. She said the co-operative of former Someday employees now want to open someplace closer to Davis, possibly Sacco‚Äôs Bowl Haven at 45 Davis Square, where a separate entrance would be created for the caf√©.
“What’s most important is we stay true to the character of the Someday,” Hahnel said.
  Gewirtz said she plans to have dinner with Rocco Antonelli, owner of  280 Elm Street (formerly the Mini-Mart) to discuss his plans for the space.
  Keith Martin is the proprietor of Davis Square‚Äôs latest deli — Deli-Licious. He said he was not concerned about the recent wave of change in the area.
  ‚ÄúThe changes don‚Äôt bother me,‚Äù he said. ‚ÄúI‚Äôm confident in my business and I hope we can be part of the growth of Davis Square but the important thing for us is to keep serving Boars head meats and making good sandwiches. It‚Äôs that simple.‚Äù