I have to amend my remarks. I was a bit confused (though perhaps with reason, based on the conflicting addresses on Cambridge nostalgia sites I’ve looked at). The mini-mall I was thinking of may have been 1007 Mass Ave, not 1001. I still have a vague sense that the Orson Welles was there for a while, perhaps as a brief temporary expansion, or during an earlier fire or renovation. I seem to recall that it wasn’t always in the same location or form.
In penance, let me link a site with photos [1] [2] of the Orson Welles in the early 80s, before its demise.
This is bringing back memories – and raising some questions that are going to bug me. The building -a two story, stair-fronted, 8 shop mini mall, with an small outside terrace downstairs- briefly had a “name” besides its address. Does anyone recall what it was?
In the late 70s, other tenants included Games People Play (a game shop) America’s Game/1001 Plays (the arcade), Dolphin Seafood, The Laughing Wheel (IIRC, the name of the bicycle shop) and a small specialty grocery store. I think Aujourd'hui (a French cafe) opened before 1980. One of the early Chi Chi’s (“Mexican”) chain arrived in 1981. But I can’t recall the name or cuisine of the original restaurant described in the comment by Gerald.
These background details would be immediately useful to me. I’m writing a novel novel series whose protagonist frequented this area in the 70s/80s, and found this site while fact-checking the date of the fire (BTW – Thanks for that!)
The Orson Welles was truly a treasure, and I’ll post some of my recollections later (the details above will undoubtedly jog more). Right now, I have to get back to my writing. It’s so easy to squander a day off on digressions!
I have to amend my remarks. I was a bit confused (though perhaps with reason, based on the conflicting addresses on Cambridge nostalgia sites I’ve looked at). The mini-mall I was thinking of may have been 1007 Mass Ave, not 1001. I still have a vague sense that the Orson Welles was there for a while, perhaps as a brief temporary expansion, or during an earlier fire or renovation. I seem to recall that it wasn’t always in the same location or form.
In penance, let me link a site with photos [1] [2] of the Orson Welles in the early 80s, before its demise.
This is bringing back memories – and raising some questions that are going to bug me. The building -a two story, stair-fronted, 8 shop mini mall, with an small outside terrace downstairs- briefly had a “name” besides its address. Does anyone recall what it was?
In the late 70s, other tenants included Games People Play (a game shop) America’s Game/1001 Plays (the arcade), Dolphin Seafood, The Laughing Wheel (IIRC, the name of the bicycle shop) and a small specialty grocery store. I think Aujourd'hui (a French cafe) opened before 1980. One of the early Chi Chi’s (“Mexican”) chain arrived in 1981. But I can’t recall the name or cuisine of the original restaurant described in the comment by Gerald.
These background details would be immediately useful to me. I’m writing a novel novel series whose protagonist frequented this area in the 70s/80s, and found this site while fact-checking the date of the fire (BTW – Thanks for that!)
The Orson Welles was truly a treasure, and I’ll post some of my recollections later (the details above will undoubtedly jog more). Right now, I have to get back to my writing. It’s so easy to squander a day off on digressions!