We could definitely use and would greatly appreciate another family style eatery -- and not another chain restaurant, such as Chilis, 99, or Applebe's We do not need more Chinese or pizza either. How about something along the lines of Skips or the Town Meeting? We now have Jessie's Place. Thank Goodness but one such place in a town our size is simply just lame.

Not to beat a dead horse, but a Super Market in the center to replace Stop & Shop!! Too bad all these surveys don't result in any actions :(

I can understand your frustration Maggie..but am not sure that these "surveys" actually get forwarded to the "powers that be", or if perhaps they are simply a form of community service to let residents voice opinions to each other. I actually had a thought about the Stop and Shop building. I wondered if perhaps it might make a good shelter...for the homeless..perhpas women on one side and men on the other...(there were two stores, I should think a "division" would be easy enough...or maybe even some type of Community Hall for our youth. Someplace they could go on nights..( with an early curfew of course) and weekends..maybe with seating areas, video games, TV's..movies, etc. I would LOVE to see some of my tax dollars being spent to help give the kids in town a place of their "own" to hang out. Obviously with supervision, but NOT necessarily in a "police" type fashion. When we were young, most towns and cities had "Y's" and there were dances on weekends, and other social events for kids. I think our town could use something similar.

What about a Trader Joes where stop and shop used to be or maybe a whole foods why another market basket Or Olive garden or even another ethnic place like an indian place.

I'd like to see a good Cheese Monger open a shop.
A bookstore would be wonderful. I miss them.
And a bakery. We haven't had a good bakery around for some time now.

chesse monger would be good a bookstore would be nice too or even a variety store selling newspapers books comics magazines etc or a nice deli

To me, it all depends on WHERE you want put the new businesses. I mentioned in a previous story about Aubuchon going out, that a small family-style diner would be great in the Summer Street Plaza. I agree with Donna's idea for a Community Center of sorts, like a YMCA or a Girls & Boys Club - the S&S Plaza would be a great place for something like that, plenty of space & parking and centrally located. As for Drum Hill, there are enough restaurants up there, and it's crowded enough as it is.

Take a look at what Westford did -- that new plaza with Burtons, Five Guys, etc., is tremendous -- perhaps Chelmsford could do something on a smaller scale given the space?

I feel like I'm in the Movie "Groundhog Day" with this discussion. OVER and OVER again!

We already have a homeless shelter. The Best Western.

And we've already discussed this fully in the post about Aubuchon's leaving us ... we all had great ideas and my understanding is that Summer Street is considering all of our ideas ... I'm still hoping for an old-fashioned Italian grocery store with good, crusty, chewey Italian bread, some fresh veggies and fruit ... all that great stuff. My hope springs eternal!

What we need in our town is a good family restaurant that serves breakfast. A Denny's would be perfect or a IHOP. We already have too may of the other kind of restaurants here already.

What we need is a bunch of venture capitalists willing to let us use their money to get what we want. Most of these properties are privately owned-the town has no say in what these properties are used for. If someone could put together a workable plan, and find a way to fund it-the first steps are done. Negotiate a deal with the property owner and get it done. Franchises of all types are everywhere-we just need someone who wants to do it for real.

did I mention "Groundhog Day" or am I really in this movie!

In Florida, the Dunkin Donuts are family restaurants, not what you see up here in MA.

Stop and Shop owns the former site in Chelmsford
They are not going to let another grocery store (like Trader Joe's) move into their building

On the topic of YMCA, after-school bus drops off the Lowell kids. I imagine that a special bus could be arranged for Chelmford. Chelmsford Community Ed should work together with YMCA. Does Chelmsford kids get transport to Nashoba Ski Resort? There are large amount of buses after 2PM.

A bowling alley or roller rink would be something for S&S plaza.

It's possible no one has heard..the State is going to stop using hotels and motels for the homeless. It is too costly for taxpayers...and where is it written that Chelmsford is "above" a shelter? We have a food pantry, AND the motels that are housing the homeless now.....and last I knew, we have at least our quota of 40B's, don't we? And Maggie, yes, you did mentione GroundHog Day, but as I'm sure you know, anyone is free to remove themselves from any and all discussions on Patch at any time. No one is required to read OR contribute. These issues come up for healthy discussion, not for us to be ridiculing each other. As for the issues with drugs....that's going on EVERYWHERE....have you never had a child attend the high school OR the Middle Schools in town? We are NOT exempt...And of COURSE any local community center for the kids would HAVE to be VERY closely monitored, but it could be done in such a way that the kids wouldn't feel like they were being "policed"...this town has NOTHING for 13-18 year olds to do, and that may be the reason so many of them are getting into drugs and other types of mischief. I know the cars in my neighborhood have been fodder for the teenagers for quite a few years now. And as Lisa pointed out, S & S DOES still own that plaza, and of course they are not going to rent to a Trader Joes..or any OTHER type of retail food store. The question was simple..what TYPES of businesses do we want in town ? Not necessarily WHERE in town.

Supersoul....two GREAT suggestions ! !

In the past ten years, count how many bowling alleys closed in Central MA? Pool tables and video games are big draw. There are disco alleys in Acton; a lot of problems; McDonald's closed. How many teens use the Chelmsford Forum? May be during summer, it could be used for roller skating.

Town needs a bylaw for interminable vacant buildings. Chelmsford should not have to purchase the land to prevent large 40B development or unfavorable plan.

Paul I couldn't agree with you more, you are so correct, parent/family time is lacking in many homes. Still, you, I and most adults are able to structure our social time because there are options for us that do seem to be lacking for our young kids. I think the library does a fine job but is it asking too much to have, say, a Friday or Saturday night social for teens? Not saying we need to go overboard structuring teen-specific programs, just offer a thing or two that will help foster appropriate social interaction. This thought goes along with my personal gripe about no rec. programs in Chelmsford for or that include dev. disabled individuals in our community, either school-aged or older, and that too is a shame. We should at least consider providing programs for the good of all of us and that includes kids of all stripes. I see your point about the Forum ... that doesn't, however, preclude us from at least using our existing resources to expand to our entire population, kids & disabled in particular. Plenty going on, I think, for tiny ones and adults, why not consider these populations in our planning in the future. They are, after all, the future of Chelmsford, are they not?

Why not a terminal for buses to and from Logan and Manchester airports, like the Logan Express?

Thank you , Paul....I agree....like I just said in the Malden Patch, parents have kids, but give no forethought about how they will watch over them. Oh, I know, let's build a teen center, and shove them there. What a serious crock of poop! This reasoning is why I'm against tax-funded teen centers. They are just glorified baby-sitters!

Anna, I think you have a valid idea in where parents who throw there kids into these teen centers, should put in some time there!

Actually, Paul, the idea comes from many years of my participation in my Dev. Dis. son's life. When he was diagnosed as Autistic, no one even knew what it was or what to do with it ... at the time (1968-69) there were no programs, it was thought that only 1 in 10,000 had the syndrome, very different from today, and we were on our own. Took much courage and research on our part to develop programs for
him, then years of advocacy and constant voluntary participation in every aspect of his life, and it continues to this day. It paid off for us, he is semi-independent, has worked part time for Poland Springs in their Dracut warehouse since 1992, is their workhorse and they are happy and lucky to have him. I believe very strongly, as I think you must, that parents must involve themselves in all areas of their kids' lives, "normal" as well as those like my son who struggles through each day but makes it because he is supported by us (me, now, since my husband recently passed away). All kids face trials and parents have to realize that they are their primary teachers and supporters and never be absent from their lives and be ever vigilant about where and how and with whom their children spend time. Life is full of a number of things, nothing is ever really easy but in the end, we do what we must.

Anna, I wasn't aware that your husband died. I'm sorry for that. My nephew, who is now 23, has OCD. My sister, who is a saint in the dedication department, oversaw almost all of his education, right through until he graduated from Umass-Lowell. So, I can relate to what you've gone through, as far as being involved, and I salute you!

Thank you Paul ... would love to meet your sis, kudos to her ... I find my best and closest friends are the ones who have struggled with adverse conditions, i.e., kids with problems.