Very much later, Kelly’s on the corner of Harvard and Commonwealth is opening to the general public this morning at 10am. They’ve been doing a soft opening for VIPs for the last few days but now it’s time for the non-special among us to kick-start their cholesterol issues.

Let’s peruse the (relatively adjective devoid) menu for the vegetarian options. There are a few salad options, (kraft branded) mac & cheese plate for both kids and as a side and some coronary threatening fried options (mozzarella sticks, cheese fries & potato skins). And frappes! The soup of the day has potential but it’s dangerous to count on that.

Anyway, welcome to the neighborhood! I’m glad this corner is a little less vacant than it was before.

“But I think there’s a need to balance quality of life with our businesses. The only thing I objected to was the hours of operation they were seeking. Originally, 3 a.m. was suggested, and we said that would be a disaster for us and for you, too.”

I’m a fairly close neighbor to this property. From my perspective, any business serving food and not alcohol is going to be fixing rather than creating the nightly mini-disasters that tend to roam the neighborhood at those hours.

Berkeley said that at times, he has grown weary of the number of late-night businesses that have sprung up along Harvard Avenue, a significant change from the full-service business district he new [sic] as a child.

“At the licensing board hearing, they always ask, ‘is there a public need,’ but if you look at the law, it says there has to be a public need, but it also should be in the common good. I always feel that that doesn’t get equal footing with consumer demand,” said Berkeley.

I don’t think this block of Harvard Ave is in a position to be making nostalgia-based arguments against prospective non-bar tenants, particularly a local chain like Kelly’s who have a fairly solid reputation. And I certainly don’t think empty storefronts can be viewed as a public need or a common good.

Some of the comments on this post of HM’s from back in 2008 imply these attitudes from the ACA aren’t new, or specific to Kelly’s.

At the Allston Civic Association is meeting this coming Wednesday, one of the agenda items is a possible liquor store going in a 193 Harvard Ave. Presumably this would be sharing the large space that Marty’s used to occupy, rather than as a replacement for the forthcoming Kelly’s. I’m guessing this Glendale Liquors is owned by the same people that took over Best Cellars in Coolidge Corner – it looks like their home store is out in Waltham. Generally speaking I’m happy to have retail in the empty spaces on the block, liquor store or otherwise. And anything to give Blanchard’s a little competition is a good thing.

It looks like that whole thing about Kelly’s coming to Allston is really going to happen after all. I’m not of the beef eating persuasion and despite some (really quite serious) concerns about the Grasshopper/Kelly’s karmic gradient being weaponized, I’m extremely glad to see this tenant come in. Stay open until 2 – hell, 3, anything to sop up the collective blood alcohol levels of the neighborhood (with bonus of boosting levels of pre-athersclerotic lesions in neighborhood arteries, providing gainful and indefinite employment for vascular surgeons worldwide).

Best quote from the Herald interview with 2nd generation CEO Brian McCarthy.

McCarthy did some “research” on his plan’s viability by spending weekday nights in April through July having a few beers at Boston bars and quizzing college students about where they go to eat.

The best research is always done in bars. This is fact.

(thanks HM).