Wellesley officials say recent policy changes have boosted town's restaurant scene

WELLESLEY — Thinking about opening a restaurant in MetroWest? For what it's worth, a lot of people with similar thoughts are deciding on Wellesley.

Derek Brady, who opened southwestern-style Lockheart Restaurant in 2022 on Central Street, told the Daily News that post-pandemic, suburbanites working from home still want to grab a bite that's close by. Brady, a Wellesley resident, said he opened Lockheart in Wellesley due to the pandemic, when it became harder to find restaurants in the suburbs.

"The pandemic has forced a lot of people to do work from home, rather than from the office," he said. "And with that, it brings more people to the suburbs to dine. People still have the urge to get out and dine, and if they're not working in the office, then you're sitting at home all day long, doing work from home, stuff you tend to. You want to go out by the time dinner time comes."

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Lockheart is among many Greater Boston restaurants that Brady owns. He also owns Causeway, across from the TD Garden in Boston; The Draft Bar and Grill in Allston; The Tree Bar and Lounge in Braintree; and 4th Wall in Boston's Theater District.

For restaurateurs, Wellesley seen as location where 'people are generous'

Bill Ebben, franchise partner of Oath Pizza in Linden Square, said the opportunity to open a franchise in Wellesley was too good to pass up, and because his family are "Wellesley people."

"We have lived in Wellesley for so many years, knowing there was a great opportunity to have a wonderful location right in the heart of Linden Square, right across from Roche Bros., we jumped at it," Ebben told the Daily News. "Wellesley is just a great location that people have been so generous and it's so nice to watch that."

Several more restaurants will soon join Wellesley's up-and-coming restaurant scene.

Dryft is expanding its Revere Beach operations by opening a second location in Wellesley. Black & Blue Steak and Crab plans to open a second Massachusetts restaurant inside a former CVS store on Central Street. Karma, which already has locations in Andover, Burlington, Concord and Westford, is eyeing a summer opening in town. And Shake Shack, a nationwide burger and milkshake chain, is hiring employees for its new Wellesley Square location.

In addition, the Select Board has approved plans for Pho Station, a 24-seat restaurant that's expected to open across from the Wellesley Hills Commuter Rail station. And Playa Bowls, a chain of smoothie bowl restaurants, opened earlier this year on Linden Street.

Policy changes breathed new life into Wellesley restaurant scene

In 2021, the Wellesley Select Board revised its rules for giving out liquor licenses to restaurants. Among other things, the board eliminated previous requirements that restaurants had to have a minimum of 50 seats and that food must be served with drinks.

Greg Reibman, president and CEO of the Charles River Regional Chamber, said these policy changes prompted more restaurateurs to consider Wellesley as a destination for a new establishment.

Town officials said at the time that loosening the restrictions would boost restaurant business. They also hoped the changes would provide more options and flexibility for patrons, as well as break down obstacles to economic growth and support the revitalization of business districts.

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Corey Testa, the town's assistant executive director, said in an interview that following the removal of the two regulations, Wellesley's restaurant scene took off.

"We got rid of those two (policies) and saw a huge explosion of interest from restaurants and they've just kept growing," he said. "I think it's really made Wellesley a destination for eaters — not just in town but outside the Wellesley area."

Now that it's easier to get a liquor license, Testa said Wellesley's other assets are seen as even more attractive. For example, the town is home to two colleges, Wellesley College and Babson College, meaning that when parents visit, they may spend money at local restaurants. Testa also cited the affluence of Wellesley's community — its median 2023 home sale price was more than $2 million — and its location along Route 9 and proximity to both the Mass Pike and Route 128 as other advantages.

"I think the future is bright for Wellesley and we're about to embark on a redesign of Wellesley Square," Testa said. "Increase the amenities, add some open space and some public seating space, all of which are coinciding with opening some new exciting restaurants."

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Wellesley officials say looser regulations a boon to restaurant scene