Anna Jacobs
Features Reporter
With the decade coming to a close, here are five memorable places in Newton that have come and gone within the 2010s.
Freeze: Most true Wabanites fondly remember Freeze- the ice cream, Italian ice, and candy shop tucked behind the Waban Starbucks and across from the Waban T stop. “I remember going there after school from Angier and always wanting to go to Freeze. It wasn’t exactly amazing ice cream but you always got a good bang for your buck,” recounted junior Milan Patel. Freeze closed in 2014 and has now been replaced by a Physical Therapy and Acupuncture office.
Pinkberry, Sweet Tart, and Yogurtland: Around 2013-15, a wave of frozen yogurt shops passed through Newton. They popped up in Chestnut Hill and Newton Center but were only able to stay open for a couple of years. For most people at South, they are reminiscent of good times in middle school. “My friends and I used to always go to Pinkberry after orchestra concerts in middle school. I always looked forward to it,” said junior Annaliese Poley. All three frozen yogurt stores closed between 2015-17 and although they are missed, they were replaced by great new businesses: Tender Greens, Galit’s Treats Cafe & Bakery, and Bottega Fiorentina respectively.
Peet’s Coffee: Located in Newton Center near Sweet Tomato’s and across from J.P. Licks, Peet’s Coffee was a nice place to sit and talk or get some work done. “They had really good pastries, my family and I used to go there on the weekends,” recalled sophomore Yonik Rasamat. Unfortunately, it closed in 2018 after reports that it simply was not pulling in enough money, leaving Newton with one less good coffee shop.
Tedeschi / 7/11: Open 24/7, Tedeschi’s added some diversity to Newton, a city that seems to shut down after 9 pm. Its existence saved many high schoolers from the terrifying possibility of not having the proper assortment of snacks at 2 am. “I miss it so much. I didn’t even live that close to it but the fact that it was the only 24-hour store near me makes its absence really prevalent,” remarked junior Devin MacBain. After closing in 2018, it still sits uninhabited on the corner of Centre Street heading towards Route 9.
The Bagel Place: Both employing and serving many South students, the Bagel Place broke a lot of hearts when it closed this year. “Any time my friends or family wanted a good bagel we would always just to the Bagel Place. It was super convenient and was just a friendly place to go,” said sophomore Sri Paladugu. After closing recently at the end of this summer, the store has been replaced promptly by the Pressed Cafe.
