Mayor Martin Walsh cut the ribbon on six recent and brand-new businesses and nonprofits in the former Blessed Sacrament Church site in a March 29 event.
The event marked the full occupancy of a 7,500-square-foot retail space at Centre and Creighton streets created by the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation and New Atlantic Development.
The businesses include: Bilingual Veterans Outreach Center of Massachusetts, Centre Street Sanctuary, Family Caregivers, Mass. Bay Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Peak Performance Chiropractic and RE/MAX Destiny.
“We’re thrilled at how much these businesses really fit in, how much they complement ‘Boston’s Latin Quarter,’” said JPNDC Executive Director Richard Thal in a press release. “When we started marketing this space, the U.S. was in the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. So the process took nearly four years—but our goal was to recruit independent small businesses and we never lost sight of it.”
JPNDC and New Atlantic purchased the former Catholic Church complex eight years ago and have also created housing—most of it affordable—and nonprofit space on the site. They recently sold the main church building to the Hyde Square Task Force, which intends to make it a community activity center.
Walsh also toured the local business district with Hyde/Jackson Square Main Streets and separately cut the ribbon on the pet supply shop Tails at 380 Centre St.
The JPNDC/New Atlantic commercial building at 363-365 Centre St. is now home to a wide variety of businesses.
Centre Street Sanctuary is a restaurant and bar that has garnered excellent reviews and created 20 jobs. Owner Adam Rutstein describes his restaurant as an “American-style bistro with a bit of a twist.” The restaurant emphasizes responsibly sourced and seasonal ingredients.
Family Caregivers is a specialized program that pays qualified care-givers and offers culturally competent support for clients who live together at home. Owned by Guardian Healthcare and managed by Executive Director Gloria Pascual, it has created seven new jobs.
Mass. Bay Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is an expansion of a business formerly run out of a YMCA. Owner David Shim is a clinical psychologist and professor of psychology at Boston University who did his dissertation research on the psychological benefits of martial arts training. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a grappling art which was developed in Brazil but has its roots in Japan.
The Bilingual Veterans Outreach Center of Massachusetts, a branch of a Springfield-based non-profit, is directed by Sgt. Gumersindo Gomez. The center is dedicated to helping Latino and other veterans apply for the benefits they deserve. The Hyde Square branch office is relocated from the South End.
Peak Performance Chiropractic operates by the philosophy of owner Dr. Edward Chavez to help each patient obtain “physical fitness for life” through chiropractic with a well-rounded integrative approach including education. The business relocated to Hyde Square from Green Street.
RE/MAX Destiny is a real estate broker firm operated by Juan Murray, who brings a wealth of experience, knowledge of construction and commitment to buyer and seller.
From press materials
Mayor Martin Walsh (center) cuts the ribbon for various new businesses in front of Centre Street Sanctuary at 365 Centre St., with a helping hand from (from left) Angelica Civilus, Bank of America; Sheila Dillon, City housing chief and director of Department of Neighborhood Development; JPNDC Executive Director Richard Thal; Gloria Pascual, Family Caregivers; Gerald Robbins, executive director of Hyde/Jackson Square Main Street; Juan Murray, RE/MAX Destiny; Adam Rutstein, Centre Street Sanctuary; Edward Chavez and son, Peak Performance Chiropractic; Rafael Mejia, president of Hyde/Jackson Business Association; Bob Van Meter, executive director of Local Initiatives Support Corporation; and David Shim, Mass. Bay Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. (Courtesy Photo)