Ghazal Indian Cuisine, 711 Centre St., will be closing. A Mexican restaurant is planned for the space.
Business

Goodbye Tandoor, Hello Tacos: Ghazal Gives Way to Mexican

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A new Mexican restaurant from the team that runs Tres Gatos and Centre Street Cafe is planned for the longtime Ghazal space. That's the word from Tres Gatos co-owner David Doyle. Here's how he describes the concept:

"We know we want the restaurant to be a casual, affordable, family-friendly Mexican eatery featuring tacos, ceviches, and other traditional fare, made with locally sourced ingredients whenever possible." Doyle said the new spot would have a large selection of draft beer, plus wines from the U.S. and South America. Jamaica Plain News hasn't spoken with Ghazal's owners, but Doyle Tweeted that the owner is selling Ghazal to pursue another venture.

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Business
Co-owners Nancy Baxter, left, and Rebecca Wildstein love up on a visiting pup.

‘Fancy Schmancy’ Dog Spa Opens

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After the city's top inspector intervened to cut some red tape, Nancy Baxter and Rebecca Wildstein's new doggie daycare/grooming salon is open. Baxter said Buddy Christopher, the new head of Inspectional Services, cleared the way. Fancy Schmancy opened its doors (and hand-made kennels) on Monday. The hold up involved getting dog services added to the allowed uses for 610 Centre St. They used to be just retail, nail salon and laundry.

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The Jamaica Plain Post Office, 655 Centre St., on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015.
Real Estate

O’Malley ‘Cautiously Optimistic’ Post Office Will Stay Where It Is

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City Councilor Matt O'Malley, who along with other local politicians has been working to keep the J.P. Post Office at 655 Centre St., said a solution could be in the works. "I'm cautiously optimistic," JP's district councilor said Wednesday. "It's a huge priority of mine to make sure the Jamaica Plain Post Office stays here." As of Wednesday, no new lease had been signed, O'Malley said. A representative of the landlord of the purpose-built building, Bulfinch Properties, said Wednesday she had no information about a possible deal.

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Photo of the Day

Sock-Footed Reading Party at the Loring-Greenough House

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JP Reads recently sponsored a "Silent(ish) Reading Party" at the Loring-Greenough House. Here's just one of the photos JP Reads uploaded to the Jamaica Plain News Photo Pool. Read more about the event in this blog post by Debka Colson. This year's selection for JP Reads is "Song of Achilles," a retelling of the Illiad focusing on the love story between Achilles and Patroclus. There's a full slate of discussion groups and kids activities planned.

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Police and Fire

Man Stabbed in Torso on South Street

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A man found wounded outside St. Thomas Aquinas Church told police a mugger had stabbed him several blocks away. Police Officer Rachel McGuire said the department got a radio call at 9:35 p.m. Thursday for a stabbing. The victim told cops a man approached him as if to rob him in front of a store at South and Rosemary. There was a tussle and the man said he felt a pain.

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From the Community

Used Book Sale to Support JP Elders

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Used Book Sale at Farnsworth House: 100 percent of proceeds will be used to enrich the lives of senior citizens who live in low income housing. We provide numerous recreational activities including arts and crafts, English as a Second Language Class, Computer Classes, Community Gardening and Current Events Discussion Groups. We also run a biweekly fruit and vegetable programming, providing our residents with healthy food they may not otherwise be able to enjoy. All of these programs are paid for through fundraising. We have numerous books to sell, but especially a lot of nonfiction.

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Photo of the Day

Parked Pooch

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Parked bikes--and a poor parked pooch outside City Feed and Supply. Credit: Fotosqrrl via the Jamaica Plain News Photo Pool on Flickr

Here's another bit of great street photography from Photosqrrl, who added this image to the Jamaica Plain News Photo Poolon Flickr. Each weekday we post a “Photo of the Day” from around the neighborhood. If you have a photo that screams (or even whispers) "Jamaica Plain," here are four ways to nominate it:

Email me at chris@jamaicaplainnews

Tag a picture on Twitter with @02130News

Put your photo in the Jamaica Plain News photo pool on Flickr

Tag a picture on Instagram with #02130News

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632-638 Centre St., Monday, March 9, 2015.
Development

Four-Story Mixed Use Building Floated for 632-638 Centre St.

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UPDATE: The developer is withdrawing his current plans. ~~~~~

A major change to central JP that would bring rare residential units to the Centre/South business district has started its way through the city's bureaucracy. The plan would raze the one-story building 632-638 Centre St. and transform the plot into a four-story mixed use development. The building's owner, CBG Realty LLC, is scheduled to argue for variances from zoning rules on Tuesday at City Hall.

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Police and Fire

Improper Disposal of Smoking Materials Sparked Low-Rise Blaze

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Rear of Forbes Building pic.twitter.com/3njYwMAloN— Boston Fire Dept. (@BostonFire) February 16, 2015

Investigators are blaming a seventh-floor fire that forced the partial evacuation of a low-rise apartment building on a resident's improper disposal of smoking materials. The fire alarm of the multi-use building activated at 1 p.m. Monday, said Steve MacDonald, spokesperson for the Boston Fire Department. One part of the building has eight floors, another seven. It was in the seven-story section, which houses Beth Israel Deaconess Jamaica Plain on the first floor, where the fire started.

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