Natick, MA According to Dan Waldman of Waldman Associates, the former Mitchell Gold building has sold, Chick-Fil-A broke ground at the Walpole Mall and 1A Marketplace is at 100% occupancy.

Waldman said that the Mitchell Gold building at 625 Worcester Ave. was sold in an off market transaction. The building was home to Mitchell Gold, a high-end furniture manufacturer that closed all their stores in New England. The building is about 20,000 s/f on two floors and the new owners purchased it on speculation for $5.6 million. Waldman is handling leasing. 

Waldman said, after many delays, Chick-Fil- A broke ground for an approximate 4,994 s/f restaurant with a double drive through at the Walpole Mall. The groundbreaking is a culmination of about five years of work. Waldman reported that every time Chick-Fil-A made a change in the size or placement of the building all the retail anchors had to approve the change. Additionally, Aldi’s had a provision in their lease that the landlord could not block their building for three years. Waldman had to get Aldi’s to sign off so the landlord could start construction before the three year period expired.

Waldman also said about a mile from the Walpole Mall is 1A Marketplace, an 80,000 s/f retail center. Waldman added Btone Fitness and the plaza is now 100% leased. A few of the tenants Waldman added are Dollar Tree, Walpole Pharmacy, Small Steps, Finnegans Wake, Ensemble, Flipside, Ikon Tennis and Pickleball, Mollycoddles Pet Grooming, Great Clips and Heartwork Studios. 

Waldman also said that Walpole Wine and Spirits and Sakura Restaurant have expanded their space. Waldman reported the landlord will be making a multi-million dollar investment in the plaza with a new façade and resurfacing the parking lot.