Two businesses are vying to gain the blessing of neighbors to locate in the former Citizens Bank building in Codman Square.
A Domino’s Pizza franchisee last week appeared before the Codman Square Neighborhood Council (CSNC) to detail a plan to move his restaurant from Fields Corner to a portion of the bank building taking up about 1,500 square feet of the 5,000-square-foot space.

The other business in play, according to its owners, is Revent, a company that rents out flex space.

“The Fields Corner location has been very good to us, but I have an opportunity here to move to Codman Square,” said Jeff Dufficy, the Domino’s franchisee. “The Citizens Bank building provides me an opportunity to have a brand, new store.”

He said he has been working with broker Jeff Similien and is at a point where he wants to make a move but first wants to hear from the community.

“We’re at a point where we’d like to move forward and enter into talks to finalize the space,” said Dufficy. “To do so, we know we need the blessing of the community and the city.”

Dufficy, who was represented at the meeting by attorney Joe Feaster, also owns Domino’s franchises in Mattapan on Blue Hill Avenue, and in South Boston.

The proposal for a franchise business like Domino’s in the square would seem to invite controversy, given the community’s historic opposition to fast food restaurants, in particular Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen, whose saga played out prior to the pandemic. Plans for the Popeye’s, which would have been located on Washington Street, were later abandoned.

Neighborhood criticism of the Domino’s appeared to be more measured last week than some of the discussion around Popeye’s. Nevertheless, there are concerns, given the CSNC’s core mission of bringing what its members deem healthy foods and businesses to Codman Square.

“We don’t want it to be another fast-food chain,” said Vicma Desir. “I know he has a super-duper air fryer, but we want something with organic cheese and tomatoes and ingredients. It’s not against Domino’s specifically, but I don’t think we need another fast-food restaurant in our area.”

Jeff Johnson, in the meeting’s online chat, said he didn’t want a pizza delivery business, citing Domino’s saying their orders are almost 80 percent online and few use the seating. He said he would like a sit-down restaurant that attracts customers who stay.

“That is a large commercial space and a large anchor tenant in the neighborhood, and we need to be careful what goes there,” said Cynthia Loesch-Johnson, president of the Codman civic group. “Don’t feel you have to give in and give up. We’ve fought a long time. These commercial leases are for decades, and we should be mindful who goes in there.”

Dufficy said his business is different from Popeye’s both in terms of health and in terms of opportunities, noting that many employees work their way up to owning franchises, which isn’t possible in chains like Popeye’s. “I think everything in moderation is a big component,” he said. “When I think about pizza, it’s not covered in fried grease.”

Added Feaster, his attorney: “There can be a mix and…different types of food places. I ask you to ask questions as we go and take Jeff at his word in being a good neighbor in the community and that this restaurant is something you would want in Codman Square.”

As to the Revent company, its owners, the husband-and-wife team of Kayshawn and Sacha Jolly, said they would like to take the entire bank space but might end up subdividing with Domino’s. Those discussions, they said are still very much in negotiation with the landlord.

“If we can grab the entire thing, of course we go for it,” said Kayshawn Jolly. “It’s a great location right in the center.”

The couple started Revent five years ago and they already have a small location on Neponset Avenue, and a third site in Norwood. They rent out space to members for small parties, professional appointments, corporate trainings, and temporary office space for at-home workers.

“I’m from Mattapan but Dorchester is just across the street, and this is the area I am familiar with,” said Sacha Jolly. “I remember when we had family gatherings we had to go outside the community. That’s one reason we want to have something here…We want to grow, but we want to grow in the community.”

Other uses they cited included social workers and therapists who use the space for appointments, rather than seeing clients at their homes.

They estimated their hours would likely be from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays, and 9 a.m. to midnight on weekends.
Community members at the CSNC meeting offered no immediate objections to that business model.

Another mover in Codman Square’s business landscape seems to be the former restaurateur Donnell Singleton, who, CSNC members announced, has plans to open Pyramid Lounge in the Square. Though not confirmed, sources said he is looking to locate in what would have been the Popeye’s location at 572 Washington St.

Singleton, who was also a youth worker for many years, operated Food for the Soul in Grove Hall before the pandemic, then closed it to provide free meals for the community in 2020.

His proposal focuses on fine dining during the day and a lounge concept at night with spoken word poetry and other performances. CSNC indicated he would be coming to the CSNC next month.

CODMAN SQUARE NOTEBOOK
•The annual Love Your Block neighborhood cleanup will take place on April 22 from 10 a.m. to noon. Volunteers will clean up Codman Square Park and the Dr. Loesch Family Park. Meet at 20 Wainwright St.

•There will be a tree planting event at the Dr. Loesch Family Park on April 28, from noon to 4 p.m. The event is coordinated by Speak for the Trees and is also part of a corporate volunteer day. Residents are welcome and trees will be added to the walking paths and entrances.

A key part of the effort will be MIT’s Black Forest remembrance project, part of the Poetic Justice group. Trees will be planted to commemorate those in the Black community who died during the pandemic. Their stories will be accessible via a phone number at the base of the tree. The program is already in 10 cities across the US, and this is the first location in Boston. To have a loved one remembered, email georine@media.mit.edu.

•Boston Police reported that three shots were fired following a fight outside Unity Sports & Cultural Club on Dunbar Avenue March 31. The club was cited for a license premise violation. Apparently, a fight took place between women on Moody Street, and during the scrapping, three rounds were allegedly fired into the air.

•Boston Partners in Education is trying to get more students from the Codman Square area to engage in their free tutoring program for Boston Public School (BPS) students. Trained mentors and tutors, with criminal background checks by BPS, routinely help students with their work, but there are only six schools taking advantage right now. They said they see this as a great opportunity to expand in the area.

•Codman Square Library officials said they didn’t have any new information on the status of the facility, which last year was in the talking stages about renovating or rebuilding the branch. However, librarian Janice Knight said a major flood in the South End branch had delayed the Codman Square plans, as emergency renovations to fix the flooding issues pushed back Codman’s momentum.

•Lindsey Santana of Councillor Brian Worrell’s office said they have met with civic leaders from the neighborhood and learned that funding for technology or graphics design help would be welcomed. Worrell has filed a hearing to talk about establishing Civic Technology grants. He has also filed a hearing order to begin discussions about establishing indoor playgrounds.

•State Rep. Russell Holmes put everyone on alert that the state is beginning to go back to verifying for MassHealth, noting that state workers will be going door-to-door to verify peoples’ qualifications. During Covid-19, the numbers statewide on MassHealth went up by about 450,000. The agency also stopped doing verifications. Holmes said if people do not participate in the verification, they could be knocked from their health insurance. He said some 300,000 people statewide – many in Dorchester and Mattapan – are at risk.