Out of Town News, Harvard Square landmark, may close

Nooooooo!!!!

Oh, no.

As A native cambridge resident I am concerned that more and more historical landmarks are dissappearing. I grew up in the area and attended school there ; maybe there could be an alternative; dont get rid of the news stand rather make it some type of coffee/networking site. Since the colleges are still functioning wouldn't something in those lines be sensible and beneficial to the community?

Not a lot of people realize or remember that used to be the entrance for the old Harvard station until about 1980..

Hmm. How about the fact that there has been on-and-off construction outside their doorstep for years? That would be enough to drive most small-scale businesses to the ground. Why does Cambridge keep tearing up this section of Mass Ave, in the middle of Harvard Square, over and over again??

Harvard Square keeps losing more and more of its character every year. This is sad - I love that newsstand. Harvard Square is becoming a giant outdoor mall loaded with cheesy chain stores and sub-par restaurants. It used to be a one of a kind place but now it is just like any other area you would find anyplace in America. It's no different than a giant area of strip malls in Arizona or Florida.

The culture is changing before our very eyes, sad. I used to go with my parents every Saturday when I was a kid, so they could purchase ... the out-of-town periodicals. We'd have dinner at the Wursthaus or Mr. Bartley's, then go to Turnstyle for cheap goods. ~~weeps~~

The City should keep the building open 24 hrs a day and install monitors behind plexiglas broadcasting news from around the world. They should provide free wi-fi with a limited range so that students and active people will take over the 'pit’. The office of the store can house a mini police station.

thought you might be interested - kinda sad to see it go!

Another Cambridge institution about to close.

Absolutely crazy. I can no longer get Le Monde except via e-mail? Harvard profs should picket, to say nothing of the students!

Meeting place indeed. My father and I always used to meet at Out of Town. He has since passed away, so it will be particularly sad when the business closes.

I'm going to miss newspapers when they're gone.

Save newspapers, people!

Buy one occasionally.

Wow...even though half their space is devoted to adult mags, they're still closing?

Like everything else that has happend to Harvard Square with Chain Stores etc.. - it may get taken over by Barnes & Noble to put their sign on it. Sorry bye bye...Harvard Square...

Here comes another starbucks....

Myself and many other guys and gals, have just stopped reading the distorted lies in newspapers. I actually dont feel as depressed, as when I read the gloomy news.

Maybe they could turn it into an Internet cafe?

People rush past it all the time, so they might find it convenient to stop in and check email, or settle an argument via Google.

Now the only place left in the square will be Nini's corner, (if that's still there), for newspapers and mags. sorry it's closing. All my memories seem to be going away.

I'm from Boston and currently live in Arizona I alway ventured across the bridge to Cambridge for good food, good people, along with the great sense of diversity and community. Out of town News encompass a finer element of Cambridge that will be missed.

I Spent my 20's in Boston., many of those years in the Square, at the book stores, and, yes, people watching in the Pit next to the newsstand. When I returned for a visit, my friend and I had our picture taken in front of Out of Town News. I hope they can find a business model that works. If not, they will be missed.

How sad. The others are right, Harvard Square is losing its flavor. I returned two weeks ago after 10 years, to find the Wursthaus gone, Beowulfe gone, Cardullos about half of what it used to be, and now Outta Town News?? On a glorious Fall day, I walked with a sandwich to the Charles, past neon signs and giant glass windows holding stores I had no interest in visiting. "When I was your age.....HS was a classy place." Au Revoir.

It will be a great Taco Bell.

Maria makes a good point! Lots of construction did not help the business at all. Maybe they could also sell coffee to go?

Although this closing can't be directly blamed on the greed of Harvard Real Estate Corporation, it is an indirect casualty. Harvard raised rents so much in the buildings it owns, and drove out many other small, indy institutions (Ferrante Dege, numerous restaurants, several indy bookstores, the Tasty, etc) so there is less traffic of the type that would be interested in Out of Town News. Harvard Square is not loosing its character: it was lost quite awhile ago. The university real estate planners only seem to consider the bottom line, not the value of diverse, interesting, independent businesses, who represnt diverse products and points of view.

where do i get my out of town news papers like the chicago tribune
the washington post or any of them canadian newspapers