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New business at Olive and Boylston

Here’s a way to ease back into the CHS news stream with the kind of story we like: a new business taking over a space left by another business in a building with some kind of back story of note. We hear from neighbors in the area that they’re working hard — Christmas Eve Day, even — to complete work inside 1716 E. Olive, the retail space at the corner of Olive and Boylston next to Hill wine shop Vino Verite.



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The space has been empty since TESL Expressprovider of training for ‘English as a second language’ teachers — closed its doors. The new tenants? We’re told it’s going to be an acupuncture clinic. That could make for an interesting Vino Verite double header.

So, that back story we talked about? The Benjamin F. McAdoo building is on the Department of Neighborhood’s historical sites list. McAdoo, HistoryLink tells us, “was the first African American architect to maintain a practice in Washington state.” We also note that the space has recently served as home for TESL, an eyeglass shop, an art gallery, and a futon shop. Old business + new business + back story. There you go. Now all we need to do is figure out the name of the new place.

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JoshMahar
JoshMahar
15 years ago

I noticed this today as well. Turns out it’s the Pin Cushion, currently located at the NE corner of 12th and Pine:
http://www.thepincushionclinic.com/
The sign says they will be open in the new location on Jan. 4th.

Nice find on the building history too! I always thought it was an intriguing piece of architecture.

designeronthehill
designeronthehill
15 years ago

TESL did close at this location but moved to Bellevue and Pine in the space once occupied by The Lighting Design Lab.

Kyle
Kyle
15 years ago

I’d like to see the office behind this one, the house on Olive, get a new business. It used to hold a formal wear store which I only found out about after they closed when I needed a tuxedo. I ended up going to Men’s Warehouse when I would have much preferred to keep it on the Hill.

Swift Albero
Swift Albero
15 years ago

It’s a shame to see that fabulous rooftop deck go to waste on an acupuncture clinic.

designeronthehill
designeronthehill
15 years ago

The rooftop deck does not belong to any retail tenants in the building but a residence that is somehow integrated into the building. But it is an awesome deck.

Julie Johnson
Julie Johnson
15 years ago

Hello neighbors! Yes, my family and I have been working around the clock to move our clinic and get ready for opening week. Whew, we’re open for business and very happy to be here in our new, larger location. The space is great, we’ve added some walls, painted everything and ready to fill our chairs~ yes, we are a community style acupuncture clinic meaning we treat people in recliners in a group setting and payment is on a sliding scale of $20- $40. If you haven’t been into the clinic before you can schedule an app’t this Friday the 8th for free (free first Fridays for first-time clients)! Also swing by and check out the space during our open house on Sun Jan 17th from 2-5. More info and scheduling throught the website: http://www.thepincushionclinic.com. Cheers!