“We never achieved our budgeted sales since moving to the Wayland location,” Bagel Table co-owner Edgar Eglitis gave as an explanation for closing the Wayland location. The Bagel Table, located at 21 Andrew Ave., closed its doors on June 29, and its exit leaves a void in the local breakfast and coffee scene at Wayland Town Center.
Although “we had great loyal customers,” Eglitis said there was not enough traffic to meet their expected profit margins. He would not comment on whether the rent at the Town Center was competitive but said that his type of business requires more transactions than a sit-down restaurant — about four transactions for every one transaction at a restaurant.
Lack of traffic was also cited as a problem by other retail owners at Town Center. Three store owners said that they were not meeting their business quotas. Mauricio Umana, owner of Earthwise Pet Store, said his business is 20% below other Earthwise franchises. “If we didn’t have our online business, we would not be doing well,” said Pam Griffin, owner of Chocolate Therapy. Ace Hardware proprietor Jeff Rogers, who owns two other locations, said his Wayland location never hit their first-year projected business plan in the 10 years they’ve been in Town Center.
However, this sentiment is not restricted solely to proprietors located at Town Center. In an earlier interview, Robers Lavins of Lavin’s Liquors at 330 Old Connecticut Path said, “Everyone says they love small businesses. Still, not everyone shops at small businesses, and when they close, everyone wonders why.” He said his profits declined because customers were shopping at national franchises.
The Bagel Table opened its fifth location in Wayland Town Center in 2021. The chain, owned by Eglitis and Curt Leidan, launched its first permanent location in Chestnut Hill in 2018 and subsequently expanded to Ashland, Boston Landing, Natick, Wayland, and Maynard in May 2024. They started selling their bagels in a pop-up store called OMG! in Chestnut Hill, as well as at farmers’ markets and restaurants throughout Boston and MetroWest communities. The Chestnut Hill location closed in March 2025.
Eglitis said that closing their cafe at 2:00 p.m. did not impact his business since all the other locations also close at that time, except for Boston Landing.
The chain is known for their New York-style bagels, which are “crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside,” and for providing community-centered spaces with a warm, local feel. Former customers commented favorably on Yelp about its “friendly, comfortable vibe, great service, bagel selection, and appealing décor.”
One restaurant leaves, another to arrive
The Spice and Pepper restaurant, formerly located at 236 Boston Post Rd., closed its doors around June 22, but Amarin of Thailand at 27 Grove St. in Wellesley hopes to move into that space. However, although the sign on Amerin’s doors says it’s closing its doors at the current location on July 31 and welcomes patrons to join it at its new location at 236 Boston Post Rd. in Wayland, manager Bon Kharuharap said that the purchase is not finalized. He said that they “have not agreed” on a few items, and the owner of Pepper and Spice is currently in Thailand.
If they reach an agreement, the earliest that the Amerin would open at the Wayland location is September, according to Kharuharap. He said that although they were hoping to buy the business, they would not buy the name and would still be called Amarin. If they purchased the business, he said, they would not remodel but would freshen up the location. He said that it would be “nice and green.” They have no plans to change their menu.
Wayland resident Tom Kaewprasert, who owns Spice & Pepper, could not be reached for comment. Both the restaurant phone and his landline are disconnected. There are numerous delivery notices on the door. The typical “Closed” sign is on the door, but no other information is provided. Peering inside the window, the restaurant appears to be in the process of being disassembled.
Amarin of Thailand is a family-owned establishment that has operated in the area for 35 years. The Swellesley Report informed readers in October that Amarin did not renew its lease and that Conviser Property Group was advertising the 2,770-square-foot space. Amarin’s manager said that they were moving because they wanted a smaller space. Spice & Pepper is a much smaller space, accommodating only 20 people for dining. Although Amerin’s current focus is on indoor dining, it also has a takeout business.
According to customer reviews, Amerin is known for serving reliably good, authentic Thai food, offering great service, and maintaining a homey atmosphere. Some reviewers described the cuisine as a light, bright style of Thai cooking, distinct from the creamy sauces commonly found in many other Thai restaurants.
Spice & Pepper is also a family-owned restaurant specializing in Thai cuisine. The majority of its business was takeout, and its menu describes a characteristic of a dish, often emphasizing its heat and aromatic qualities.
Town Center status
The offer deadline for purchasing Town Center was July 9. The property, which Zurich Asset Group owns, went on the market in May. The owners retained Newmark Capital Markets in Boston to sell the 25-acre mixed-use property.
“There’s a lot of interest,” said Paul Penman, managing director for Newmark. He said that once the offers are in, it typically takes 90 days before a deal is finalized. The typical process involves reviewing all the bids, following up with each bidder to obtain their best and final offer, verifying the financials of the potential buyers, and conducting interviews with the top bidders. He said that financials are not the only criterion for selecting a buyer. Newmark does not always send out a press release, Perlman stated; they let the seller decide.
Statistics on Town Center as of May are: 175,636 total square feet (SF), 90% occupied, 18,479 SF available, 146,905 SF retail space, 16,318 SF medical/professional space, and 12 residential units.
Takara on the move
Takara Restaurant in Town Center will be relocating to the space formerly occupied by the Bagel Table in Town Center, according to the Economic Development Committee. They said that Takara wanted more space for dining and to expand the bar area.
