A men’s grooming/haircut business called Roosters is coming soon to Linden Square in Wellesley on the Roche Bros. side of the street alongside French Lessons, Divine Kitchens, etc. From the Roosters Men’s Grooming Centers website, you can see the outfit’s focus is strictly on men, men, men and boys. Among the services, a scary sounding 7-step facial shave. Roosters has some 50 franchises around the country, including many in Colorado and Texas, though none listed in Massachusetts. The first Roosters opened in Michigan in 1999.

Roosters’ emergence should provide competition most directly to the Linden Street Barber Shop, which opened recently at 153 Linden St., where Larry’s Barber Shop used to be.

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One space still looking for a tenant is the old Rugged Bear location at 34 Central St., although the space has at least been kept vibrant via rotating Welelsley Community Art Project exhibits, the latest being a series of self-portraits by Tenacre Country Day School students.

RELATED: Rugged Bear returning, though don’t look for a new Wellesley Square store

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Jimmy’s Cafe on Linden Street in Wellesley officially closed at the end of January, but a reader points out that the sign now on the door says “closed, but re-opening soon.”

Owner Bedros Kaya had told us recently that it was possible the business would re-open if a buyer could be found.

RELATED: Where to eat in Wellesley

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Rugged Bear, the children’s clothing business that shut down last year and whose Wellesley Square store also closed, is making a comeback in 2012. But don’t look for a new Rugged Bear store in town.

Rather, the Rugged Bear brand will re-appear this summer in department and specialty stores, according to TRB Acquisitions, which bought the brand last April. Lord & Taylor, locally, as well as Von Maur and Peebles  (none really near Wellesley)) will be among the stores carrying Rugged Bear merchandise. More information is expected soon on which other retailers near Wellesley will carry the brand, which is expected to increasingly focus on boys’ apparel.

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The Swellesley Report Hard-Hitting Investigative Team has headed out in broad daylight and gotten the lowdown on how much Wellesley gas stations charge for air, that essential mix of nitrogen, oxygen, neon, argon, helium and whatever else happens to be floating around.

Most typically, gas stations in town charge 75 cents for self-service tire pumping (or whatever else you want to do with the air). This was the case at service stations along Rte. 9, such as the Shell station near Dunkin’ Donuts on Rte. 9 west…

… this Gulf station on Rte. 16 east in Wellesley Hills…

… and Patriot Petroleum on Rte. 9 west.

However, the Citgo station on Linden Street charges a buck for air…

… and the priciest air in town comes from the Mobil station at Kingsbury Street and Washington St., which charges $1 for air, or $1.50 if you put it on a charge or debit card (right across from Whole Foods). These businesses try to soften the blow by assuring customers that “a portion” of their air money will go toward an outfit called Feed My Starving Children.

While many in Wellesley probably just suck it up and pay for their air, you don’t have to go far out of your way to find free air. In fact, the first four stations I checked outside of Wellesley all offered free air. This included the Gulf station on Rte. 16 at the South Natick/Wellesley line  (though their gas is pricey),  the Natick Shell station on Rte. 27 near Stop’n Shop, and both Rte. 9  Hess stations in Natick.

I’ve read that some states (at least California and Connecticut) require service stations to offer air for free, at least in part to encourage drives to fully inflate their tires, for safety reasons. Although I’m told that there is no such statute in Massachusetts (inquiries into state offices such as the Division of Standards and DMV were not acknowledged). One expert told me that some communities in Massachusetts — including Lynn — have free air mandates, but that Wellesley is not among them.

If it makes you feel any better, service stations don’t make much money on air, and there are costs associated with purchasing the machines, collecting the money and operating the devices.  Many stations offer free air as a way to entice customers to buy other services, but apparently not in Wellesley.

One tip: Some stations will turn on the air pumps for free if you ask, especially if you’re buying gas.

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Similar to our fair Wellesley, neighboring Needham has long been a “dry” town. Well, dry insofar as there are no bars or package stores allowed, although alcohol can be served at restaurants. But that could change – as I learned from Boston Restaurant Talk. Needham is considering allowing alcohol to be sold at retail outlets for the first time since prohibition.

It got me thinking about whether Wellesley too might consider loosening up its alcohol restrictions. Can you imagine liquor stores in Wellesley? I can.

When stated that way – LIQUOR STORES – it’s hard to see the idea of junky old guard Massachusetts package stores flying in Wellesley. But if it’s done the right way I can imagine retail wine sales in Wellesley.  Here’s how…

Wellesley has a history of “gerrymandering” laws to suit its interests – specifically in the area of alcohol regulation. Have a look at a this brief history of Wellesley’s dry status. There are all kinds of quirky laws on the books that were undoubtedly enacted to discourage or allow some specific scenario at the time each was enacted. This precedent makes it possible to imagine the town allowing specific types of alcohol sales and not others. Fine wine and craft beer? Yes. Nips, lotto, and cigarettes? No way.

The issue of whether Wellesley should have a different tax rate for commercial property than residential has very recently been on the table. If I’m a commercial property owner having a hard time filling a vacant storefront, and a boutique wine retailer with locations elsewhere in the Boston area is interested in leasing the space, I’ve got to feel limited by the town’s alcohol sales restrictions.

To successfully finagle retail wine sales in Wellesley, it needs to be positioned as a positive element in the virtuous cycle of excellent public schools, a beautiful town close to Boston and high quality homes/neighborhoods.

A high quality retail wine boutique/gourmet grocery could be an asset to the town in a similar manner as John Dewar Meats, Wasik’s Cheese Shop and Blue Ginger. And who wouldn’t love the convenience of picking up some vino at the Wellesley Whole Foods along with the rest of your groceries?

Weston allowed the sale of wine a couple years ago and they seem to have survived quite nicely. It’s time for Wellesley to allow the sale of wine at retail establishments. Let’s do it the right way and make it another reason why Wellesley is a great place to live.

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J.P. Licks in Wellesley Square has gotten the go-ahead from town officials to host its first Acoustic Open Mic Night on Tuesday, Feb. 7 from 7:30PM to 9:30PM.

The details:

•Acoustic instruments only (no electric guitars)
•All ages
•Keyboards are okay
•Max of 2 to 3 musicians (3 is even tight)
•Only hand percussion instruments allowed (no drum kits)
•P.A. will be provided
•Each musician will be allowed two to three songs, depending on how many other acts are present
•Each performer will be given a celebratory free ice cream or coffee following their performance

If you are interested in performing or have any questions, please email jplicksopenmic@gmail.com.

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RELATED: Wellesley businesses that opened or closed in 2011

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Jimmy’s Cafe, the longtime American bistro at 151 Linden St., in Wellesley, is closing on Jan. 31.

The cozy restaurant, started in 1988 according to the restaurant website, was acquired a few years back by Navart and Bedros Kaya, who gussied up the menu and expanded hours, including for a Sunday brunch. The BYOB establishment offers everything from steak to seafood to vegetarian dishes. But Bedros said he had to make a hard business decision: “These are tough times.” There’s a possibility that the business could be sold, he added, saying he’s not sure what he’ll do next.

(We wish Bedros and his family the best. He was always helpful to us at The Swellesley Report and we had some good meals at Jimmy’s.)

Neighboring Larry’s Barber Shop closed last summer, though was recently replaced by the new Linden Street Barber Shop.

Wellesley’s overall business community has been hit with a slew of closings, including the recent shutdown of Thunder and the impending shutdown of Hudson in Wellesley Square. Town officials and businesses are joining forces to come up with ways to reinvigorate Wellesley’s business and restaurant climate, including by allowing smaller restaurants to get alcohol licenses if the state and town residents approve.

RELATED: Where to eat in Wellesley

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