Mt Wayte Plaza
The Mt. Wayte Plaza is a dead strip mall at the corner of Mt. Wayte Ave and Franklin Street Framingham. The once thriving plaza is now mostly fenced in and since February 2015, has only one tenant. A few years ago the plaza owners promised local residents a complete redesign which would revitalize the area.
The official Address of the Mt. Wayte Plaza is 444 Franklin Street, Framingham MA 01702.
Current owner is Framingham Franklin LLC and managed by Samuel Adams, who father use to own the plaza.
Recent Mt. Wayte Plaza Timeline
- September 3, 2012 - Framingham Selectmen vote for a task force to see what can be done with the near-empty plaza. Emitted Domain is an option.
- December 6, 2012 - Samuel Adams gives a sneak peak of the designs to the Framingham planning board. The redesign estimate value at $10 million.
- March 6, 2014 - Developer formally asked for approval for redesign of Mt. Wayne Plaza project estimate is now $6 million
- August 7, 2014 - Framingham Planning Board unanimously approves Mt. Wayte Redevelopment Project
- December 23, 2014 - The Society of St. Vincent De Paul store closes and doesn't relocate elsewhere.
- February 23, 2015 - Dunkin Donut moves out of the Mt. Wayne Plaza
- February 28, 2015 - Dunkin Donuts opens at 430 Franklin Street (in front of the plaza)
- August 11, 2015 - Planning Board grants an additional six months to expand plaza.
- November 16, 2015 - Town Planning Board formally asks for the large blue signs to be removed.
- April 27, 2016 - Mt. Wayte Plaza is put up For Sale for $5.5 million
- August 6, 2016 - Planning Board complains about the lack of progress on the Plaza and unanimously votes not to extend the development permit.
Plaza Facts:
- 6.7 Acres For Sale for $5,500,000 (As of September 19, 2016)
- Property was assessed at $3.5 million in 2012
- Main Building is 53,000 square feet formerly occupied by Big D
- In 2012, there were rumors that Market Basket was going to move into the Plaza.
- There are 198 parking spaces in the current parking lot.
Stores that Use to be in the Plaza
- Big D / Price Chopper Supermarket October 1961 - April 2001
- IGA
- CVS
- Rob Roy Coiffure
- TCBY Yogurt
- Taylor Rental Center
- Optical Shop.
- Swimming Pool store
- Photomat
- Friendly Cleaners & Laundromat
- Jon Snow's Shell Station
- O'Brien's Package Store 1998 - 2004
- St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Shop
- Dunkin Donuts
- Tony Maenzo Barbershop - Still there! It's the last business in the plaza.
What ever happened to the 400 Restaurant?
In 2007 the 400 Restaurant and Bar was re-opened into a quaint, neighborhood Italian-style restaurant. While the exterior still maintained its original charm and character, the inside was redecorated with the North End, trattoria-style design.
The 400 Restaurant closed its doors at the end of December 2013 because the owners, Bob and Amelia, were not able to secure a long-term lease.
Soon after the restaurant closed, Dunkin Donuts took down the building and put up a new Dunkin Donuts.
Dunkin Donuts vs Framingham Franklin LLC
According to local residents, there was a bit of a bad break up when Dunkin Donuts left the plaza. Immediately after they left new fencing was put up around the plaza to prevent Dunkin customers from parking in the nearly empty plaza.
Dunkin Donuts did have a bit of a hurdle opening their new locations, as the planning committee wasn't sure that there was enough parking for the anticipated morning traffic. This was partly due to the limited parking with the new fencing.
According to the aerial view, in 2013 the 400 Club had 21 parking spaces, whereas the new Dunkin Donuts has 17 parking spaces. 400 Club customers would park in the plaza when there were limited parking spaces.
Dunkin Donuts isn't the first place to move out of the plaza and relocate nearby: O'Brien's Package Store did that back in 2004 and open next door, between the TD Bank and Convenient Store.
What could go in Mt. Wayte Plaza?
Just some thoughts...
How about converting the Jon Snow's Shell Station to a Stop and Shop gas station or perhaps Cumberland Farms can open a gas station and future store? The could use the facility as a test market for their franchises.
The Plaza isn't too far from Framingham State University, how about opening the first Amazon.com bookstore on the east coast?
Over the past few years, Micro Breweries seem to be the hot thing in Framingham. How about the newest microbrew restaurant: "A wonderful restaurant near downtown Framingham, Framingham Pale boasts one of the area's premier outdoor dining courtyards. A cross between New England tradition, Boston beer gardens, and a Revolutionary farm house, this truly is a unique destination."