By Mac M. Mertens, Crimson Opinion Writer
Mac M. Mertens ’26, a Crimson Editorial editor, is a Classics and History double concentrator in Mather House.
9 hours ago
Let’s face it, Harvard Square just isn’t what it used to be.
Bowl-based fast food and coffee chains seem to be taking over, with big-box franchises happy to pay the high rent that has been forcing some decades-old Square staples to close. The mom and pop shops that were promised to us by alumni nostalgic for their Harvard days are quickly becoming a memory.
But we shouldn’t fear the change that comes with an expanding Harvard Square. Many of the chain businesses make an often challenging Harvard experience just a little easier. As long as the new additions continue to satisfy the practical needs of Cambridge residents, students actually stand to benefit from this change.
Consider, for example, the slew of restaurants where a “bowl” is a menu option. The taqueria trifecta of El Jefe’s, Felipe’s, and Achilito’s offer a convenient, cost-effective solution to post-midnight cravings. Cava is settling in quite nicely along Brattle Street, and Pokeworks has occupied the corner of Church Street and Massachusetts Avenue since 2018.
While these businesses aren’t exactly unique or historic (Felipe’s Taqueria is the sole non-franchised restaurant on this list, and, in my opinion, it shows), they’re invaluable additions to the Square. They promise large portions, hundreds of calories, and relatively low prices compared to the nearby Mr. Bartley’s Burger Cottage, where the cheapest burger is nearly $15. And it’s much easier to inconspicuously scarf down a bowl of carnitas and refried beans in the back of class or at a library desk than it is to cover your hands in burger grease and sauce trying to overcome the “Masshole” burger.
For the modern Harvard student, convenience is king. Establishments that provide this convenience will thrive at the expense of places that take time and energy away from studying and extracurriculars. There’s a reason why a 24-hour CVS seems to be the most high-traffic area of Harvard Square.
The propagation of coffee shops that encircle campus are part of the same story. The JFK Street Starbucks now occupies a prime spot that once belonged to the world’s only Curious George store. We can lament the loss of Curious George and the Man in the Yellow Hat, but we must admit that the students, faculty, and residents of Cambridge are certainly better served by a coffee shop where they might go daily than a novelty shop where they might go once in their lives.
Is it unfortunate that these franchises occupy spaces that could otherwise be used for a restaurant truly unique to Harvard Square? Yes. But, above everything else, they serve the needs of the hungry, cash-strapped, and sleep-deprived college students who occupy the Square.
Of course, corporate franchises work best in moderation. I wouldn’t want Harvard Square to resemble a shopping mall, nor do students really need that. There should be a healthy mix of the corporate chains that offer low prices and popular products and the small businesses that bring historic charm to the area.
Fortunately, the old Harvard Square isn’t lost yet. Many of the iconic staples continue to thrive. I have seldom seen a short line at Pinocchio’s Pizza & Subs on a weekend past midnight or the Harvard Book Store without a crowd of students and tourists. Even the businesses that seem no longer to cater to these residents, like the ever-mysterious tobacco and game shop Leavitt & Peirce, which was established in 1883, appear to be thriving. There is still popular demand for these historic businesses.
The businesses of Harvard Square should do more than simply evoke nostalgia. They should serve their town’s residents, who, in turn, get to decide which businesses succeed. I, for one, am confident that Harvard Square has reached a critical mass of four bubble tea shops. After all, a new one seems to open every year (sometimes in the exact same location).
Change is not a bad thing. Chains are not a bad thing, as long as those chains serve the people of Harvard Square. While every vacant space does not need to be a new HSA Harvard Shop and every new restaurant does not need to be “fun spin on Tex-Mex,” there is no need for the Square to be populated with so many shops as quirky as Harvard students’ interests.
We can’t stop change. Thankfully, in this case, it is serving us well. So the next time you criticize Harvard Square’s commercialization, think: When was the last time you had a Jefe’s bowl?
