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Boston Restaurants

The Painted Burro Plans to Open in the Former Border Cafe Space in Cambridge’s Harvard Square

A group of Mexican restaurants appears to be expanding to a new location, and it would be taking over an iconic space in Cambridge.

According to a source, The Painted Burro is planning to open in the former Border Cafe space in Harvard Square, with Marc Levy of Cambridge Day confirming this to us, indicating that if all goes as planned, the new location of the place will have a patio and could open in the spring. This would be the fourth location of The Painted Burro, which is part of The Alpine Restaurant Group (Posto, Burro Bar, Rosebud American Kitchen), and which has restaurants in Somerville’s Davis Square, Waltham, and Bedford. 

The Harvard Square location of the Border Cafe was hit by a fire approximately two years ago and never reopened, and it was learned that it would be a permanent closure early last year. (Existing locations of the Border Cafe can be found in Burlington and Saugus.)

The address for the upcoming location of The Painted Burro in Harvard Square is 32 Church Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138. The website for all locations can be found at https://www.thepaintedburro.com/by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

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Bloomberg Radio

Baystate Business: ER’s Under Stress

Bloomberg Baystate Business for Thursday, January 6th, 2022 – Bloomberg News reporter and Boston Bureau Chief Carey Goldberg on the latest Covid surge straining hospitals around the country (2:39) – Anne Mostue reports on blood testing innovations from local biotech companies (8:47) – Adam Sachs, CEO, Vicarious Surgical, on his company, awards for worker satisfaction, and return to office (15:02) – Bloomberg News reporter Mark Gurman on the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) going on in Las Vegas (22:37) – Dr. Melisa Lai-Becker, medical director at Everett Hospital, on the impact of Covid on her hospital (31:46) – Bloomberg Opinion columnist and markets editor John Authers on the Fed minutes that moved the markets (49:54) – Janet Wu reports on business activity in Harvard Square (57:18) – Denise Jillson, President of the Harvard Square Business Association, on the closing of the historic Brattle Square Florist shop, and how her members are impacted by Covid (1:05:00) – Greg Reibman, President of the Charles River Chamber of Commerce, on the office park for hybrid workers in Needham, and their members view of vaccine mandates (1:16:06) – Bloomberg Radio meteorologist Rob Carolan on the approaching snow storm (1:23:49) Hosts: Tom Moroney, Joe Shortsleeve, and Kim Carrigan Producer: Dan Pierce

Jan 06, 2022

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Universal Hub

One fewer local store in Harvard Square: Brattle Square Florist to close doors

The Brattle Square Florist, open for more than 100 years, will close next month.

Owner Randy Ricker, who bought the Brattle Street shop nine years ago, says he’s reached a business and personal breaking point, with a pandemic on top of everything:

On the business front, challenges continue to mount. Prices for plants, flowers and hard goods have risen dramatically and we are struggling to maintain our margins. Availability of product has never been more challenging. We are not able to attract and retain staff who are critical to our operation. While the store is a magical place to visit, the conditions of our space are also deteriorating. The prospect of continuing operations during an ongoing and unpredictable pandemic is daunting.

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Clear Publicist

Iconic Harvard Sq. Flower Shop Closing Soon after 104 Yrs In Business – CBS Boston


CAMBRIDGE (CBS) – An legendary Harvard Sq. flower store is permanently closing its doorways immediately after 104 several years in company, citing in element difficulties brought about by the “daunting” COVID pandemic.

Brattle Sq. Florist will shut on January 31, operator Randy Ricker announced on Monday. Ricker stated challenges on the business enterprise entrance that “continue to mount” led to the decision to shut.

“Prices for vegetation, flowers and challenging products have risen radically and we are struggling to sustain our margins. Availability of products has under no circumstances been a lot more hard,” Ricker said in a assertion. “We are not equipped to bring in and retain staff members who are essential to our operation. While the retail store is a magical area to check out, the disorders of our room are also deteriorating. The prospect of continuing operations through an ongoing and unpredictable pandemic is challenging.”

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Boston Globe

Brattle Square Florist to close doors after 104 years

“The prospect of continuing operations during an ongoing and unpredictable pandemic is daunting.”

A Harvard Square landmark announced Monday that it’s shutting the doors.

Brattle Square Florist cited the ongoing pandemic, along with supply chain problems, deteriorating real estate, and the labor shortage as the reasons the 104-year-old business will close its shop at the end of January, according to the Boston Globe.

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The Bharat Express News

Iconic Harvard Square flower shop closes after 104 years in business

CAMBRIDGE (TBEN) – An iconic Harvard Square florist is shutting down permanently after 104 years in business, citing in part the challenges caused by the “intimidating” COVID pandemic.

Brattle Square Florist will close on January 31, owner Randy Ricker announced on Monday. Ricker said business challenges that “continue to mount” led to the decision to close.

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Bollyinside

Iconic Harvard Square florist closes after 104 years in business – NewsBoston

“Prices for plants, flowers and hard goods have risen dramatically and we are struggling to maintain our margins. Availability of product has never been more challenging,” Ricker said in a statement. “We are not able to attract and retain staff who are critical to our operation. While the store is a magical place to visit, the conditions of our space are also deteriorating. The prospect of continuing operations during an ongoing and unpredictable pandemic is daunting.” Brattle Square Florist will close on January 31, owner Randy Ricker announced on Monday. Ricker said challenges on the business front that “continue to mount” led to the decision to close.

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CBS Boston

Iconic Harvard Square Flower Shop Closing After 104 Years In Business

CAMBRIDGE (CBS) – An iconic Harvard Square flower shop is permanently closing its doors after 104 years in business, citing in part challenges caused by the “daunting” COVID pandemic.

Brattle Square Florist will close on January 31, owner Randy Ricker announced on Monday. Ricker said challenges on the business front that “continue to mount” led to the decision to close.

Boston Globe

After a century, Brattle Square Florist to close its doors

Rising costs, labor shortage, uncertainty of the pandemic all contributed to decision to wind down 104-year-old floral shop

A mainstay of Harvard Square is shutting its doors, another casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic and its wide-ranging disruptions.

Randy Ricker, owner of Brattle Square Florist, e-mailed customers Monday to notify them that the 104-year-old flower shop will close at the end of January. Rising costs and limited availability of flowers and materials, as well as a widespread labor shortage and deteriorating real estate, contributed to the decision, Ricker said, as did the personal toll of running a small business on a daily basis over the last nine years, especially the last two.