All updates from the month of August 2006 are listed below.

From the rumor mill...
Written by Justin on August 27, 2006 at 10:29PM

• A little off the triangle, but in the Nobscot neighborhood, could changes finally come to the long-anchorless Nobscot Shopping Center? Word seems to be going around that leases at the center are not being renewed, and much if not all of the facility will be replaced with a Hannaford supermarket. Of course, the plaza hosted a supermarket for many years in the past before M&M Supermarkets pulled the plug on "Countryfare Star" several years ago. We'll keep you updated as (or should) more information becomes available.
  

Another temporary retailer on Rte. 9
Written by Justin on August 26, 2006 at 12:47AM

• This time it's "Boston Costume", which appears to be located in the former Oriental Warehouse building near Landry's and the 9/27 intersection in Natick. Not sure if it is open yet, but according to a Craigslist job posting, they're still looking for "HOT LOOKING HALLOWEEN SALES PEOPLE", who will wear "AWESOME SEXY HALLOWEEN Costumes" while assisting customers. Thanks to Michelle from ThisIsFramingham.com for sending that along
  

You grew up in the western suburbs if...
Written by Justin on August 26, 2006 at 12:39AM

• An interesting retrospective quiz in the Boston Globe several days ago. Kind of hard to describe, check it out for your self at http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/08/24/thanks_for_the_memories/.

Improvements slated for Rte. 30
Written by Justin on August 26, 2006 at 12:33AM

• The MetroWest Daily News recently reported that plans are in effect to utilize money from the Natick Mall and Lowe's projects to upgrade Rte. 30.  Signals will be upgraded so that they can be timed by remote control, and changed quickly when the need arises. Additionally, Lowe's is in the process of making $230,000 of improvements to the stretch between their store and Beacon Street. $75,000 of the $1.4 million that the town earned through Natick Mall expansion mitigation is being used for a traffic study that will evaluate what changes need to be made to provide a smoother ride.
• The story can be found at http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/businessNews/view.bg?articleid=138167.
  

The party is over at Sherwood...
Written by Justin on August 16, 2006 at 1:48PM

• Party City in Sherwood Plaza East is no more and the space appears to be up for lease. Meanwhile, in that part of the center, new facades are underway for Town Fair Tire, Brunswick Home & Billiard, and Minado.
  

A mall construction update from the MWDN
Written by Justin on August 16, 2006 at 1:35PM

• There's an update to the ongoing construction at the Natick Mall in today's copy of the MetroWest Daily News.
• With 409 days to go before the mall's opening in September 2007, work on the new mall and its attached parking areas. As Framingham/Natick Retail readers are well aware, the mall is being constructed on a small site, so the project is growing even more so vertically than horizontally. The price tag for the project so far is $500 million, making it General Growth's most expensive and largest mall expansion.
• There's more at http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=138027. I'll be adding some pictures from the article to the Natick Mall Expansion page shortly.
  

J.C. Penney close to lease signing
Written by Justin on August 16, 2006 at 1:20PM

• For the first time, Natick Mall officials have acknowledged that J.C. Penney will be coming to the center in the former Macy's. While both parties are negotiating the final terms of the lease, a "handshake" deal is currently in place. Should all go as planned, the 210,000 sq. ft. store initially constructed in 1994 will receive an minor interior renovation to meet Penney's specifications, and the store will open in March 2007 at the same time as the new adjacent Parking Garage F.
• The full MWDN story is online at http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=138042.
  

Halloween Outlet takes up residence in the Triangle
Written by Justin on August 11, 2006 at 3:07PM

• The excellent local blog ThisIsFramingham.com is reporting that the former Borders Books & Music has become a Halloween Outlet for the time being.
  
• Meanwhile, Atlantic Retail Properties is in the process of finding a permanent tenant(s) for the space; their leasing information can be found at http://www.atlanticretail.com/pdf/FraminghamMA_FormerBorders.pdf.
  

Cloverleaf Apartments project approved
Written by Justin on August 11, 2006 at 3:03PM

• Apologies for the delay, but the Cloverleaf Apartments project was approved earlier in the month (August 2, to be specific). The project will create a 10-story apartment complex on the premises of the Cloverleaf Mall, with 98 one-bedroom units and 85 two-bedroom units.
• More information on this can be found on the MWDN website at http://www.townonline.com/natick/opinion/view.bg?articleid=549480.