Business

Recently, South Boston Online read in Boston’s media that a move was afoot to reduce – or perhaps even eliminate – the buffer zone between authorized shops legally allowed to sell “cannabis”, which is actually “marijuana”.  This buffer zone is supposed to measure at least one-half (0.5) mile between any and all such shops. Several more variances from this restriction have been requested from City of Boston authorities by potential vendors.  We were told that around the Downtown area, the City of Boston has allowed three such variances. Perhaps a few facts should come next: Cannabinoids are a large (over 100) family of hemp plants, one of which contains THC. CBD is “cannabidiol”, which is sometimes confused with THC.  CBD comes from other, low-THC hemp [...]

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 [...]