Newton's Newest Shopping Destination Opening Soon

Wegmans may still be a few months from opening, but several new stores and restaurants will soon be open for business. 

From the street Chestnut Hill Square looks like other shopping centers, but drive inside and you feel far from the busy traffic on Rte. 9, with a variety of shopping options. 

"It's a nice, welcoming setting, and people get an idea of all the options," said Deborah Black, vice president of Marketing and Public Affairs for New England Development, which is building the center.

The shops will be easily accessible driving from either direction on Rte. 9, Black said. A new left turn lane has been added for westbound traffic.

It will also easy to hit the Mall at Chestnut Hill, The Street and Chestnut Hill Square all in one trip, Black added.

Construction crews are busy at work getting ready to open the center. On Nov. 7, Chestnut Hill Square will debut Anthropologie, Athleta, True Runner, Drybar and Century Bank. The new center sits across Rte. 9 from the Mall at Chestnut Hill, on land formerly occupied by Omni Foods. 

Anthropologie, featuring women's clothes and home decor, will be the largest retailer. The center will also have a number of health focused stores, including Athleta (which sells women's athletic clothing and will host classes) and True Runner, which focuses just on running gear and is only third store in the nation. 

Drybar offers a unique blow-dry only service that started in L.A. and now has spread to Boston. The store looks like a cocktail bar inside, but is all about hair.

Two new restaurants will open the following week - Brio Tuscan Grille and Seasons 52.

Brio will open its first location in Massachusetts and making its Massachusetts debut at Chestnut Hill Square, is known for using the the finest and freshest ingredients served up in the atmosphere of a Tuscan country villa. 

Seasons 52's menu features seasonal dishes grilled fresh, and also features a wine bar with live music played by a musician in the middle of the bar.

More stores will rollout over the coming weeks and months, including Sail Loft (the Nantucket store's first mainland location) Paper Source, Panera Bread, Red Mango, Starbucks and Soul Cycle. Equinox fitness club will be located on the back side of some of the stores, and below that will be the much-awaited Wegmans.