Five ‘cold spots’ challenge Wayland appearance, economy

“Shutters and boards cover the windows of the house where we used to live.” — Jerry Wallace, 1964 

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… three of the best things to happen to Wayland over the last several years are the coming of the Millwrights & Carpenters Training Center, the Best Western Hotel and the Splash Pad.

All three provide an economic boost and improve the quality of life in the community.

Meanwhile, I confess to worries on my mind about five “hot spots,” no, “cold spots” in Wayland.

You don’t have to look hard to find these cold spots:

The former Cars 2 Go site, still vacant

Though I hear tell this huge gaping hole on West Superior Street has been sold to some mysterious developer, the site has remained an eyesore in a very visible part of the city just off the expressway. It was developed almost 50 years ago as the first business, Herb Chevrolet, to locate near the U.S.-131 ramp, it has been the home of a Chevrolet dealership that went belly up, as did a used car dealership after that.

It was last winter that customers and employees at Northern Physical Therapy just down the street had a fun speculative derby about what was going in there. Maybe I’m impatient, but just like Congress and the State Legislature, nothing seems to be getting done.

The Jayda Gale Distillery

This unusual and daring business was intriguing when it began its campaign downtown. It all started when Amanda Alfred and Ryan Levett bought the historic former Wayland Carpet & Appliance building and then struggled against the odds to tear it up and remodel it, turning it into a distillery and restaurant.

Alfred has long disappeared and Levett gamely opened up shop, but as of today, Sept. 1, it is no longer open, nor is the old building to the west on Pine Street, the former Wayland Cleaners.

What started out with great promise and anticipation is now just an empty building.

In the words of President Donald Trump, “Sad.”

The old Car Wash east of United Bank

The demise of the car wash was a bit of a surprise. The property has sat idle for more than a few years, and its owner, United Bank, has declined to say what ideas were in store.

The site now is for sale by a realtor.

The Retro Room in the ‘Cursed’ building

I was more than surprised when I learned the Retro Room was setting up shop in what many local citizens have called “The Corner Curse.”

The old Gurney’s IGA building has been home to many failed businesses over the last 45 years, and I fear the current tenant may only be the latest victim.

Though I am mightily impressed by the display of Frank Zappa’s “Lumpy Gravy,” Herb Alpert’s “Whipped Cream and Other Delights” and Bernstein conducting “Beethoven’s Fifth,” albums I owned in bygone days, the appeal is limited to us connoisseurs and lovers of nostalgia.

I just can’t see how the owner can make a go of it.

The mini-strip mall behind Burger King

I suppose the problem with this site has been “location, location, location.” It is tucked behind a fast food restaurant and at one time was home to three businesses, all of which failed. A NAPA auto parts store and cell phone store couldn’t survive.

Now all it has is Sweet Leaf Glass, which is a specialty store that might want to make some kind of effort to apply for a license to sell legal marijuana.

Otherwise, it seems a real challenge to have a thriving business in such a hidden away building.

So while Wayland has every right to be optimistic about newcomers like the hotel and training center, its economic health and physical appearance faces challenges in five cold spots.