Speen Street and Superior Drive
Natick, Massachusetts
The second mini-mall built in Greater Boston's Golden Triangle area was developed by Martin Bernard and Isadore Wasserman. The complex was situated on the site of the former Natick Drive-in Theater, which opened for business in June 1950 and closed in 1977.
NATICK TOWNE MALL, a 225,000 square foot, single-level shopping venue, was completed in late 1979. It was anchored by a 1-level (25,000 square foot), Brentwood, Tennessee-based Service Merchandise and 1-level (83,600 square foot) Kmart. Among the twenty charter stores were Great Expectations Unisex Haircutters, Lady Laurie's Queen-size Fashions, Waldenbooks, and Sandcastles Gifts & Jewelry.
Other mini-malls in the vicinity included ROUTE 30 MALL (1971) {1 mile west, in Framingham} and FRAMINGHAM MALL (1979) {.82 mile northwest, also in Framingham}.
Kmart at NATICK TOWNE MALL was unable to compete with Bradlees, Caldor and Zayre; three other discount stores in its immediate vicinity. Kmart pulled up stakes in 1982. New Jersey's Burlington Coat Factory leased the space and opened in November 1982. Meanwhile, the NATICK TOWNE MALL moniker had become confusing, as NATICK MALL (1966) was directly across the street. NATICK TOWNE MALL was officially renamed CLOVERLEAF MARKETPLACE on November 1, 1982.
By the early 1990s, most of the mall's south side tenant space had been incorporated into an exterior-entranced Michaels. After this, the mallway accessed only five stores. Service Merchandise, which had both exterior and interior entrances, opted to seal off their interior mall connection.
Eventually, the entire mallway, and several inline stores, were incorporated into expanded retail space for Burlington Coat Factory and Guitar Center. All mall stores -except Guitar Center- were now accessed from the outside. Two expansions were built on the west end of the complex during the 1990s. The first was DirectTire. This was followed by a K & G Men's Superstore.
A new owner came onboard in May 1994. CLOVERLEAF MARKETPLACE was acquired by Newton-based Joshua Katzen, under the auspices of the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Cloverleaf West, Limited Liability Company.
The Service Merchandise location closed, along with the entire chain, in early 2002. Its space was retenanted by Hartford, Connecticut-based Golfer's Warehouse. The next change at the shopping center- now going as CLOVERLEAF MARKETPLACE- involved the demolition of the K & G location. Its space was taken by a newly-built (20,000 square foot), Ethan Allen Design Center. This store made its debut in 2003.
A proposal for a 183 unit, 10-story apartment complex was submitted to the Town of Natick in 2001. 5 years of litigation followed, with approval finally granted for construction of the project in late 2006. CLOVERLEAF APARTMENTS, occupying the northeast corner of the mall site, began leasing units in early 2008.
By the 2010's, the name of the mini-mall had morphed into CLOVERLEAF SHOPS. Stores and services included Harbor Freight Tools, Bella Sisters Salon & Spa and Total Wine & More. The (25,000 square foot) east anchor spot was leased as an Encompass Fitness gym. This facility was shuttered on January 1, 2019.
The Service Merchandise location closed, along with the entire chain, in early 2002. Its space was retenanted by Hartford, Connecticut-based Golfer's Warehouse. The next change at the shopping center- now going as CLOVERLEAF MARKETPLACE- involved the demolition of the K & G location. Its space was taken by a newly-built (20,000 square foot), Ethan Allen Design Center. This store made its debut in 2003.
A proposal for a 183 unit, 10-story apartment complex was submitted to the Town of Natick in 2001. 5 years of litigation followed, with approval finally granted for construction of the project in late 2006. CLOVERLEAF APARTMENTS, occupying the northeast corner of the mall site, began leasing units in early 2008.
By the 2010's, the name of the mini-mall had morphed into CLOVERLEAF SHOPS. Stores and services included Harbor Freight Tools, Bella Sisters Salon & Spa and Total Wine & More. The (25,000 square foot) east anchor spot was leased as an Encompass Fitness gym. This facility was shuttered on January 1, 2019.
A (12,000 square foot) space on the west end of the mall was renovated, with an Aldi discount grocery opening for business on November 5, 2020. A plan to lease a portion of the vacant Encompass Fitness space, as a Redi's Natick (marijuana) Dispensary, was approved by the local government in July 2021. The store opened its doors on January 6, 2023.
Sources:
The Boston Globe
Framingham Natick retail / Justin Tardiff webmaster
www.framinghamwordpress.com
www.natickmassinfo.com
www.forestproperties.net
https://www.natickreport.com
