Chestnut Hill Shopping Center Announces Name Change

Updated 3:56 p.m.

More than 60 years after it first opened off Route 9 in Newton, the Chestnut Hill Shopping Center is changing its name. 

The retail center will now be known as "The Street," according to a press release issued yesterday.

The new name is the latest step in a renovation of the shopping center, which is owned and managed by WS Development. According to the press release, the new name will "better reflect its transformation into a walkable retail and entertainment complex."

“Chestnut Hill Shopping Center was part of a then-revolutionary wave of retail projects opening around the country just after World War II,” says WS Development Corporate Marketing Director David Fleming said in the press release. “Today, however, the project has a new, powerful, cutting-edge, configuration and group of specialty shops, dining establishments and entertainment. Rebranding it as ‘The Street Chestnut Hill’ more accurately reflects the sophisticated offerings and urban experience our customers can find here.”

The Street currently features a number of retail stores and restaurants including Urban Grape, Legal Sea Foods, The Cottage, The Container Store, EYESPOT, Aquitaine and several others. 

Back in March, WS Development started the latest phase of shopping center's renovation with the demolition of the former Macy's site. In its place, WS is building a new, 115,000-square-foot building that will include a , Pottery Barn, lululemon, Pinkberry, Davio's, Bernard's, Del Frisco's, Treat Cupcake Bar and more. Shake Shack is also planning to open in the former Rugged Bear space. 

The new retail, gym and cinema building will begin opening up to the public in early 2013, starting with Sports Club/LA followed by the movie theatre and retail shops. 

In addition to the new retail and restaurant building, WS Development is also planning to demolish the building that currently houses Century Bank and City Sports (33 Boylston St.)  that will stand 50-feet tall and incorporate retail space, office space and potentially restaurant space.

“The transformation of the Chestnut Hill Shopping Center into ‘The Street’ brings a hip new ‘town center’ buzzing with shops and outdoor cafes enlivening new tree-lined sidewalks and streets, knitting together a host of new shopping and entertainment opportunities,” PCA President David Chilinski said in the press release. 

PCA (Prellwitz/Chilinski Associates) is a Cambridge-based firm designing the phased redevelopment, the press release said. 

Meanwhile, developers across Route 9 at the Chestnut Hill Square site continue to build a new shopping complex that will include a Wegmans supermarket, Equinox fitness club, restaurants, retail shops, housing and medical offices. That development is set to open in fall 2013.

Correction: The original press release stated the new title of the shopping center was "The Street Chestnut Hill." However, the title is simply, "The Street." In addition, David Chilinski is President of PCA, not WS Development and PCA. [3:56 p.m.]