Northshore Magazine

"With the infusion of new restaurants and businesses, Andover is becoming more of a destination." —alex vispoli, chairman of the board of selectmen for its exhibit, "Behind the Seams: Stories of Clothing, 1790-1920." The open-door policy is taking off, Midura says. "One of the things we've been constantly surprised by is a lot of the newcomers are interested in learning about the history of the town," she says. "It adds to that sense of community, even if they haven't lived here for a long time." The historical society isn't the only place seeing an influx of visitors. While Main Street has always been a popular place to shop and dine, Selectman Vispoli says the town's recent facelift, including widened sidewalks, new street lighting and planters, and removing unsightly overhead power lines, has ushered in a more lively scene, especially in the evenings. This time of year, people come downtown for a glass of wine or fireside cocoa at the historic Andover Inn. Come summer, recent zoning changes will see an increase in outdoor dining. "Outdoor dining really added to the vibrancy of downtown," Vispoli says, noting that the town is a year-round draw for residents and visitors alike. "With the infusion of new restaurants and businesses, Andover is becoming more of a destination," Vispoli says. feature South End Village Andover's historic shopping plaza gets a striking facelift. anyone who has visited Andover Bookstore—the second oldest bookstore in the country—is familiar with Olde Andover Village, a collection of stores at the southern end of Main Street. And anyone who has visited in the past year or so has noticed that change is afoot. Acquired in late 2011 by Lincoln Essex Capital, LLC, Andover Village Square, as it is now called, boasts a new façade and a multitude of other capital improvements. Originally a pair of historic homes and a barn, the properties were annexed and connected through the years. The redeveloped plaza will eventually include reconfigured retail and office spaces and 13 high-end apartments. Thus far, Lincoln Essex has invested more than $1.7 million, with plans for an additional $2.5 million in the next 12 months. "We are trying to create a place people will gravitate toward," says John Fenton, co-manager of Lincoln Essex Capital, LLC. "We want to establish a southern anchor to downtown, with a mix of uses where people can grab a cup of coffee, read a book, and do a little shopping." At press time, the residential component was undergoing extensive renovation, and owners were seeking a destina- tion restaurant to anchor the commercial space. Other retail possibilities on Fenton's wish list include an ice cream shop, perhaps a purveyor of wine and cheese, and maybe a sushi bar. Fenton hopes to work with the Andover Historical Society, located next door, to create a path connecting the two, emphasizing the history of the area. More pedestrianfriendly open spaces are also in the works, including an enhanced courtyard with a fire pit, Fenton says, adding that Andover Bookstore is exploring ways to entice visitors to linger as well—they may soon serve beer, wine, and light bites. andoversquare.com December 2013 KJ NSDec13_NE_Andover.indd 83 nshoremag.com 83 10/25/13 10:02 AM

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