Business

by Rick Winterson  It’s always a pleasure to welcome new enterprises to South Boston.  One of these, with the picturesque name of “Sushi Guys”, is an example.  Exactly a month ago, Sushi Guys opened for business at 283C Old Colony Boulevard, in a handsome new building along Old Colony on the block between Vinton and Dorchester Streets. The cuisine at Sushi Guys is deliciously Japanese throughout.  There’s an incredible variety of menu selections that will satisfy every hungry customer.  We chose to dine on tasty bowls of miso broth accompanied by a serving of delicately flavored rice – the kind of rice called “sticky rice” by many South Bostonians (and that’s a compliment).  For entrees we decided upon maki, those sliced rolls of expertly crafted [...]

By Carol Masshardt Dominique Nelson, can turn an ordinary, imperfect, sun backed sidewalk into a stunning work of art. A twenty-five-year-old, life- long South Boston resident, she is an accomplished artist and teacher with a unique honesty and joy in who she is. The chalk drawings outside her East Broadway home near “H” are only the most obvious of the creations. She began drawing when her wise mother thought she needed to express more, and later at Boston Arts Academy and Mass. College of Art. If you know her mother, Luanne Litif, you will hear unmitigated, well-deserved pride and respect for a talented young woman who didn’t always have an easy course. Dominique is currently the Foundations Director at Artists for Humanity, where she teaches [...]

By Carol Masshardt It’s a new name and a new, but familiar owner, Jenna Spaudling, 33, in a reconfigured, but the same space as the popular Broadway Dog Spa. It is a time to congratulate former owner, Michelle McDonnell, who opened on December 16, 2005, and retired at the end of March, and to welcome into her new role, trusted groomer, Jenna. Michelle set a standard for a work ethic and searched for talent over her years. “I can be a micromanager, I know that, but didn’t have to be with Jenna. She’s ready to take over.” And Jenna has been preparing for  this step over most of her life. “I started volunteering at Alliance for Animals when I was six years old,” she said [...]

Andrew Square and the neighborhood directly around it are being rapidly expanded and renovated.  This includes the very substantial “On the Dot” development and future plans for rebuilding the McCormack residences, as well as the recent opening of the novel “flat iron” building at 400 Dorchester Street.  This architecturally striking building combines ground floor retail space and five floors of living space above that overlook the Square from the triangle formed by Preble and Dorchester Streets. So far, the ground floor space in 400 Dorchester Street includes a barber shop, a Dan McCole mural, and a soon-to-be-opened restaurant.  The owner is Joshua “Josh” Weinstein, who presently owns a restaurant in East Boston named “The Quiet Few”.  In his own words, he will continue the “community [...]

A virtual abutters meeting (via ZOOM) is now scheduled for Wednesday evening, February 28, at 6 p.m. Last October, Native Sun opened for business on their premises at 115 K Street, at the corner of East First Street.  The actual entrance to Native Sun’s premises is at 538 First Street.  Native Sun is a licensed Retail Recreational Cannabis Dispensary – the first of three total cannabis dispensaries that will eventually be granted licenses in South Boston.   It is owned by a business called Holland Brands SB LLC; it received its license from the Boston Cannabis Board.  And as you know, “cannabis” is Latin word that means “marijuana”. Recently, Native Sun decided they must expand the hours they are open for business.  In order for [...]

By Carol Masshardt If the opening day of October 7, 2023 is any indication, South Boston is returning the affection for the transformation of Joseph’s Bakery on K. St. to the new location at the corner of L. and Broadway. Annie Nikollo, and her husband, Vani, with daughter, Vicky, were determined to carry on a long tradition started in Greece, and to the continue the work they love. Annie’s has much that is well-loved and familiar, but with a refreshing new space. “This is what I love and I’m excited. We will have most of the old favorites, cupcakes, cannoli, all baked goods, and pies for Thanksgiving, made right here along with more breakfast sandwiches and some lunch choices. What is most important to me [...]

Carpenter Latisha McQueen 50, has built a life around her trade, including having a hand in the new Old Colony Development. Both practical and thoughtful, she is as at home in beautiful buildings, including the Boston Public Library, as in construction sites. “It hasn’t always been easy, but I do love what I do, and it gave me a way to support my son,” she said. “Carpentry in particular means understanding numbers, and math, and sometimes you get on a job that you know is going right, and you can feel proud to be part of it. Of all the trades, carpentry was the best because I love beautiful buildings.” Life, beyond work, has had its share of challenges for Latisha, who grew up in [...]