
The Norwood Planning Board has officially scheduled a public hearing for September 9 at 8:15 p.m. at Town Hall to consider an application submitted by developer Frank R. Simoni requesting a significant zoning reclassification along Walpole Street. Mr. Simoni is petitioning to change a parcel of land situated near the Rustic Acres development and Davis Avenue—located off Walpole Street near Davis Avenue—from a single-residence zone to a business zone to facilitate the construction of a new shopping center. Mr. Simoni formally presented the planning board with a supporting petition signed by residents of the surrounding neighborhood.
During preliminary discussions, local resident Irving D. Roth of 186 Sumner Street was recorded as favoring the commercial development plan. However, municipal officials noted that the proposed retail site occupies the same immediate geographic sector as another competing shopping center proposal previously advanced by the Bay State Management Trust. Meanwhile, in related real estate and municipal developments, John P. Alevizos, representing Almor Homes, Inc. (builders of the Hearthstones subdivision in Westover), informed the Planning Board that 40 additional residential lots in the Westover section had been acquired from Parkland Realty, Inc. Additionally, no public opposition has been raised regarding a proposed subdivision of land located at Route 1 and Sumner Street submitted by developer Robert Rizzo.
In community organizational news, Grand Knight Michael Zullo announced that the Norwood Council, Knights of Columbus, will hold its annual Installation of Officers at the K. of C. Home on Nichols Street on September 8, honoring all Past Grand Knights. Past Grand Knight Robert Gearty is managing arrangements for members attending the annual Archdiocese Television Mass recording at the Archdiocesan TV Center in Boston, while a social evening featuring a spaghetti and meatball dinner for members and their wives is scheduled for September 23. (Reporting by James T. O’Sullivan, The Patriot Ledger).
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
More Norwood Business History
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Washington Street Partnership Discusses Future of Downtown Anchor Kline’s Department Store-October 27, 1994
Facing the potential year-end closure of longtime anchor Kline’s department store, the Norwood Washington Street Partnership and landlord Donald Malkin discussed downtown revitalization strategies.

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Downtown Norwood Anchor Kline’s Department Store Faces Imminent Closure by Year’s End Without a Buyer-October 26, 1994
Kline’s Department Store, a 20-year downtown Norwood anchor employing 30 workers, faces closure by the end of 1994 unless a buyer emerges for the 26-store chain.

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Norwood Store Still Spins Sales with 45s-October 5, 1992
Peter’s Records One Stop on Route 1 in Norwood continues to thrive as a half-million-dollar wholesale business specializing in vinyl 45s, oldies, and jukebox supplies.

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Ice-Cream Vendor Disputes Fees Demanded by Norwood Arts Council-July 18, 1991
The dispute involved allegations of intimidation, Open Meeting Law concerns, and tensions over who is permitted to sell goods on the Norwood Common.

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Butters Family Sells Pharmacy-July 20, 1990
A significant chapter in the history of South Norwood business and family legacy came to an end on July 20, 1990. The Butters family pharmacy, a staple in the community for over four decades, ceased operations after Helen Butters, the selectman’s mother and president of the family business, decided to sell the pharmaceutical stock and…

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Landmark Town Square Diner Heavily Damaged in Early Morning Kitchen Fire-October 25, 1989
A kitchen fire sparked by a faulty refrigerator motor heavily damaged the Town Square Diner on Nahatan Street, a downtown Norwood landmark owned by George Karafotias for 35 years.

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Business Leaders Question “Anti-Commerce” Town Direction-August 15, 1989
Following a 2-2 selectmen vote denying a food license for a $1 million Taco Bell on Route 1, the Neponset Valley Chamber of Commerce warned of an anti-business trend.

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McDonald’s Requests Special Permit for Broadway Drive-Through Window-September 2, 1987
An attorney representing the McDonald’s restaurant located at 32 Broadway in Norwood Center appeared before the Zoning Board of Appeal to request a special permit for the installation of a drive-through window. If approved, it would become the fourth drive-through facility established at local fast-food establishments following a contentious town meeting vote in May that…

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“Amazing Things Inc.” Markets High-Tech Gadgets and Modems-August 1986
Norwood-based Amazing Things Inc., a distributor for Leading Edge World Trade, launches its operations by marketing competitively priced computer modems and consumer electronics.

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