Published September 7, 2010

Universal Hub covers what appears to be a protest by the famed chair club in Harvard Square. Karen Snyder (@gegertha) tweets:

Cardullos took away the tv for the Red Sox games. No problem … there are 4 guys there with their own chairs and a radio!

Cardullo’s, the gourmet market, suddenly removed the big-screen TV from its window last week, ending a tradition of devoted Red Sox fans gathering on the sidewalk to watch games. Or so we thought.

No more.

The Cambridge Chronicle printed a great letter from Harvey Silverglate (the Boston defense attorney I interviewed about BPD gang fliers once upon a time):

I realized how and why this obviously misguided decision was made: A consultant, described in your article as “a designer who came to the shop,” recommended the change. “Are you a sports bar or a gourmet food store?” the consultant reportedly asked. The question that the consultant should have asked, however, is whether a store that has become a Harvard Square institution can afford to deprive residents and passers-by of such a humanizing amenity without incurring considerable loss of goodwill.

And this from Hubbub commenter Bob Power:

To Whom It May Concern: I have been enjoying Harvard Sq. for forty years. I loved the classical record collection at the old COOP (now just another Barnes & Noble); the wondrous french press coffee at the original Coffee Connection (now just another Starbucks) and Cardullos great family tradition of quality food in a unique setting. If by “clean up” you plan to become as safe & boring as the national chains, why not sell the place to Walmart? Be yourself. Your are wonderful, unique, and needed.

Maybe I should move back to Brookline?