Brighton Mills Shopping Center

This is where stores come to die. Really it is abadoned. I have been shopping here for over a year and they make no attempt to rent out the empty space. Maybe they don’t care, maybe they are waiting to tear it down? I don’t know but it doesn’t make sense. Maybe because it is in Allston and not Brighton as it’s name suggests people who want to shop there cannot find it.
It has a McDonalds that will always get your order wrong, a Star market that will always overcharge you and a petco. All the other stores are vacant.
They have lots of seagulls. They think the big empty parking lot is cool.

This is a pretty sad shopping center. The main thing going for it is the Shaw’s grocery store. There also are Petco and McDonalds but let’s be real…
It’s sad to see the fade memories of the Kmart that was. The signage has left behind a distinct tan line from the sun fading the building.
That being said, the Shaws here is really nice.

A seagull asked me to type in his review:
He thinks this place fucking rocks.

I may be a little biased living so close to the supermarket. Star Market is doing fine but I’m extremely sad at how all the surrounding businesses have shut down. I see that it’s been vacant for the better part of 2 years and it’s haunting to walk past the surrounding buildings late at night. The petco and McDonald’s seems to still get lots of business and the new location for the BoA is conveniently near the only living businesses. I hate to blame it on the financial state of the nation but it’s more of a state of mind of the nation. The area needs more jobs and a place to shop safely. I fear Arsenal «mall» and watertown «mall» are next to go.

I’m not sure why nearly all the stores at Brighton Mills are vacant. It doesn’t look like anyone’s in a rush to fill the spaces left by K-​Mart, Office Max and whatever was next to Shaw’s. But surely those vacancies cost money every day they go unrented? Could Brighton Mills be some millionaire’s tax write-​off? Or maybe the owners are waiting until the remaining tenants’ (Shaw’s, McDonald’s and PETCO) leases expire so they can bulldoze the property and build some fancy condominium complex that nobody wants.
On the bright side, Shaw’s is never crowded and it’s cheaper than the Stop & Shop around the corner.

What the hell, Brighton Mills? This could be a great little shopping center if it weren’t completely empty. Bring some stores here, people in charge! I will go to them. And get some food in there besides Mickey D’s and Brueggers. I foresee Panera as being a good choice. Or convince Noodles to make the move to Mass. That would make my day.

lol @ «shopping center».
I believe Harvard is looking to redevelop the Brighton Mills land as part of its Allston expansion. Locals are trying prevent it, evidently under the delusion that the neighborhood would be better off unchanged. In reality, it would take a concerted effort to make the neighborhood any shittier.

AAGGHH! [Supposed to be buzzer]
Try again Brighton Mills…[laughs] Shopping… Center [laughs]
The only shopping you can do here is at Shaw’s. Now don’t get me wrong, I like Shaw’s. But grocery shopping doesn’t exactly send me into a tizzy of excitement. Which is exactly what a shopping center should do. How about a DSW? Maybe even a Paper Store? A Marshalls? An AC Moore even? Can anything decent come into this decrepit plaza?
Downtown is far. Brighton Mills is close to home. I need more money-​sucking distractions please.

This is not a shopping center. But a crappy Shaw’s and a burial ground for stores of the past:
Caldor
Star
Office Max
Kmart
Frugal Fannies
Hmm, maybe Brighton Landing should have, I don’t know… better stores?
PS It’s really in Allston!

This shopping plaza is so pathetic. Except for the Star Market/Shaw’s (which has been here forever), and McDonalds, all the other stores have opened and closed over the years. RIP Caldor, KMart, OfficeMax, some other random discount clothing store that used to be there. Even the business at the Bruegger’s there seems rather slow.
The parking lot is like a ghost town but I guess it makes it easier for those going to shop at Shaw’s.
Bottom line: I think Brighton Mills needs an exorcism or some dramatic facelift to add some luck and excitement for the stores that set up shop there.