Curiousity Level High for Former Papa Gino’s Spot

Residents Start Letter-writing Campaign for Coffee Shop, Eatery

Residents are hungry for another restaurant in this location.

– Allison Goldsberry

Not long after Papa Gino’s vacated the premises for roomier digs across the street,  speculation began about what or who would move into the high-profile spot smack dab in the middle of Medford Square.

There was buzz about a certain Seattle-based coffee mega-chain, and chatter about real estate offices.

Then word came that Medford-based Century Bank is moving from its 55 High Street location to the spot.

Upon hearing the news, some residents launched a letter-writing campaign to the Mayor and property owners, the Sloanes of Century Bank, to express their disappoint that the central space is being used for offices instead of a restaurant or coffee shop.

“We appreciate Century Bank’s continuing commitment to Medford, which includes keeping its corporate headquarters in the City…I welcome Century Bank being located in the Square- just not in the proposed location; there are many other vacant storefronts that are less vital to creation of an active pedestrian-oriented core in the Square,” said Robert Swierk, one of the organizers of the letter-writing campaign.

Members of the volunteer Medford Square Revitalization Steering Committee also drafted a letter to the Sloanes with a copy of the Medford Square Revitalization Master Plan to encourage them to “carefully consider” how to use the centrally-located space. 

The Master Plan, created after months of Committee planning with input from several public meetings, calls for using prime ground floor space for such things as restaurants, cafes, and shops as opposed to office space.

“Retail, cafe and restaurant uses are recommended in the Master Plan and would further the revitalization of Medford Square.  Please consider the enormous impact your decision will have on the community and on the hundreds of volunteers who have been working tirelessly to create the vibrant downtown that we all desire,” wrote the Revitalization Committee in their letter.

The Committee’s letter also underscored the importance of public/private partnerships in revitalizing the Square, and highlighted a private development project to convert an old building into condos with ground floor retail that will include a bookstore and cafe.

While many residents are eager for more places to shop and eat in the Square, Mayor Michael McGlynn said it’s unlikely restaurants and shops will open up until the Square’s parking and traffic headaches are addressed.

McGlynn said he’d like to see more restaurants and shops, too, but dramatic change won’t happen overnight.

“We all share the same goal.  It takes a little time to get there,” said McGlynn.

The city is taking the first steps toward addressing parking and traffic by constructing a new parking garage on Governors Avenue and realigning Clippership Drive to improve traffic flow and create more green space along the river.

Century Bank is officially partnering with Medford so the city can get a $1 million state grant to go toward the construction of the garage.  The bank has pledged to create up to twenty-five jobs, mostly in construction.

McGlynn said the new parking garage will help current businesses and will encourage other businesses to move into the Square.

The Sloanes and representatives of the bank could not be reached for comment.