The board granted the variance and those familiar doors are finally opening again. I am truly stunned by the outcome and know this belongs entirely to the people who spoke up for the character of our neighborhood. Thank you for helping bring back a space that means so much to …
February 8, 2017
Final supporters
Dear Plumbing Board,
The closing of Hungry Mother was a loss to the dining scene in greater Boston. It was a unique and special part of the local neighborhood and beyond. I am excited at the prospect of the reopening of a new concept by the former owners in that space.
I dined at the restaurant over its 7 year history. It was nearly always packed, and yet I never found it a challenge or disruption that there were 2 restrooms. One of the things that was so special about Hungry Mother was the feel of the place, due in part to its unique architecture and layout of the space. It would be a shame to negatively affect this by requiring the addition of an unnecessary third bathroom.
Please consider granting a variance for the number of bathrooms and allow the former owners to open with 2 bathrooms.
Updates
Reached 1,000 supporters
December 24, 2016
December 22, 2016
I am honestly stunned by how many people care about this space. If we can reach that thousand signature milestone, it might just be enough to show the board how much this restaurant means to all of you.
Reached 100 supporters
December 21, 2016
323 Comments
A viable business at the Hungry Mother space would be an important asset to the community. A third bathroom undermines that viability, without any real meaningful benefit to the dining experience or public health. Please grant a variance.
I have been a resident of Cambridge for more than 12 years and have regularly enjoyed dining at Hungry Mother and at Kendall Café before it. I never found the space lacking for restrooms. Please grant this variance and bring this space back to the community.
This space worked before for this use and there is no basis to believe it won't work again. Let's not let perfection be the enemy of the good by imposing regulatory requirements that destroy the economic viability of restoring the property to its prior use.
I hardly ever had to wait to use the restroom at Hungry Mother, and I went there several times a month. The times I did wait, I never waited more than a few minutes. In addition, the bathrooms were large and always, always spotless, even on a busy weekend night.
This new concept will add to the vibrancy to the East Cambridge community. These owners (who have an excellent business reputation) have contributed to the growing commerce of Kendall Sq. which has been valuable to the Cambridge City at large.
Even though I loved hungry mother and I would love for it to come back, I find this petition troubling. There is lot enough information made publicly available via Google search that gives us why there needs to be a third bathroom? Is it due to a regulatory need? Perhaps the bathrooms that are there aren't up to ADA or other regulations to accommodate handicapped people? Maybe the recommendation was made due to possible health concerns associated with employee hygiene? Everyone here mentions that there were no issues from two bathrooms in the restaurant, however, perhaps there were issues with health inspectors or employees? I'm sure there was nothing wrong as this place was impeccable. I'm just saying I need more information before I sign my name to a petition and recommends everyone try to do the same. I encourage the owners of this petition/restaurant provide arguments why 3 bathrooms were required by the plumbing board and why hungry mother should be exempt. I also recommend that the petition be modified to address a specific "plumbing board". Is this a Cambridge, Middlesex, or Massachusetts mandate? I bet that may change some people's opinions. I would also be a bit cautious to sign this because if this were truly not needed and was regulatory overreach, would it not seem reasonable to deal with this in our legal system, ie lawyer up?
Two bathrooms is adequate. Please let them use this space to create something terrific again for our community!
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The board granted the variance and those familiar doors are finally opening again. I am truly stunned by the outcome and know this belongs entirely to the people who spoke up for the character of our neighborhood. Thank you for helping bring back a space that means so much to …
February 8, 2017
Final supporters
Dear Plumbing Board,
The closing of Hungry Mother was a loss to the dining scene in greater Boston. It was a unique and special part of the local neighborhood and beyond. I am excited at the prospect of the reopening of a new concept by the former owners in that space.
I dined at the restaurant over its 7 year history. It was nearly always packed, and yet I never found it a challenge or disruption that there were 2 restrooms. One of the things that was so special about Hungry Mother was the feel of the place, due in part to its unique architecture and layout of the space. It would be a shame to negatively affect this by requiring the addition of an unnecessary third bathroom.
Please consider granting a variance for the number of bathrooms and allow the former owners to open with 2 bathrooms.
Updates
Reached 1,000 supporters
December 24, 2016
December 22, 2016
I am honestly stunned by how many people care about this space. If we can reach that thousand signature milestone, it might just be enough to show the board how much this restaurant means to all of you.
Reached 100 supporters
December 21, 2016
323 Comments
My wife and I held our wedding ceremony and reception at Hungry Mother. The number of bathrooms was sufficient then as it was the other numerous times we dined there. Please approve the variance for two bathrooms. Thanks.
A viable business at the Hungry Mother space would be an important asset to the community. A third bathroom undermines that viability, without any real meaningful benefit to the dining experience or public health. Please grant a variance.
I have been a resident of Cambridge for more than 12 years and have regularly enjoyed dining at Hungry Mother and at Kendall Café before it. I never found the space lacking for restrooms. Please grant this variance and bring this space back to the community.
This space worked before for this use and there is no basis to believe it won't work again. Let's not let perfection be the enemy of the good by imposing regulatory requirements that destroy the economic viability of restoring the property to its prior use.
I hardly ever had to wait to use the restroom at Hungry Mother, and I went there several times a month. The times I did wait, I never waited more than a few minutes. In addition, the bathrooms were large and always, always spotless, even on a busy weekend night.
This new concept will add to the vibrancy to the East Cambridge community. These owners (who have an excellent business reputation) have contributed to the growing commerce of Kendall Sq. which has been valuable to the Cambridge City at large.
Even though I loved hungry mother and I would love for it to come back, I find this petition troubling. There is lot enough information made publicly available via Google search that gives us why there needs to be a third bathroom? Is it due to a regulatory need? Perhaps the bathrooms that are there aren't up to ADA or other regulations to accommodate handicapped people? Maybe the recommendation was made due to possible health concerns associated with employee hygiene? Everyone here mentions that there were no issues from two bathrooms in the restaurant, however, perhaps there were issues with health inspectors or employees? I'm sure there was nothing wrong as this place was impeccable. I'm just saying I need more information before I sign my name to a petition and recommends everyone try to do the same. I encourage the owners of this petition/restaurant provide arguments why 3 bathrooms were required by the plumbing board and why hungry mother should be exempt. I also recommend that the petition be modified to address a specific "plumbing board". Is this a Cambridge, Middlesex, or Massachusetts mandate? I bet that may change some people's opinions. I would also be a bit cautious to sign this because if this were truly not needed and was regulatory overreach, would it not seem reasonable to deal with this in our legal system, ie lawyer up?
Two bathrooms is adequate. Please let them use this space to create something terrific again for our community!
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My wife and I held our wedding ceremony and reception at Hungry Mother. The number of bathrooms was sufficient then as it was the other numerous times we dined there. Please approve the variance for two bathrooms. Thanks.