Popular among college students, those with a sweet tooth and night owls, Insomnia Cookies is making Worcester its fourth Massachusetts location.
Insomnia Cookies is planning to open at 1 Kelley Square with a street-level storefront, bringing the delivery of warm cookies to New England’s second-largest city.
A grand opening date has not yet been determined, but the location is expected to open later this year and deliver cookies until 3 a.m. every day, according to the company.

Click here for the full article:  https://www.masslive.com/worcester/2019/04/insomnia-cookies-coming-to-worcesters-canal-district-with-cookie-delivery-until-3-am.html

​WORCESTER – Weintraub’s Jewish Delicatessen, the 99-year-old Water Street landmark and the city’s last remaining Jewish deli, will close next month, with plans to be succeeded by a French crepe café.

“We were a little reluctant to go away from the Jewish deli, but we’ve exhausted all efforts (to save it),” Edward Murphy, the building’s owner, said Monday.

Mr. Murphy bought the 126 Water St. property last summer and made it known he was looking for a serious candidate to take over the deli, which had fallen on hard times.

The once-thriving eatery – part of a string of Jewish businesses that populated Water Street in the mid-20th century - lost customers over the years as the neighborhood diversified, and had struggled with health code violations in recent years.

​Click here for the full article: ​https://www.telegram.com/news/20190318/weintraubs-worcesters-last-jewish-deli-to-close-french-creperie-moving-in

WORCESTER – Dariush “David” Mizrahi wishes he could say that business at the city’s only kosher deli spiked this week for Hanukkah.

He can’t.

“No,” the ungregarious proprietor of Weintraub’s replied when asked the question Friday as he sliced up some tender corned beef.

The 61-year-old, who announced a retirement in July but reversed course in August, said business, already tough, has declined since summer.

“I want people to know that we didn’t close down,” he said, although the long-term fate of the 98-year-old deli appears uncertain.

Local developer Ed Murphy, who bought the building in August for $360,000, told the T&G that although he’s still open to another operator continuing the deli, he’s exploring other options.

“We’re actively entertaining other offers,” said Mr. Murphy, who owns several properties in the area.

Click here for the full article: ​https://www.telegram.com/news/20181207/as-candles-light-for-hanukkah-weintraubs-hopes-flicker

WORCESTER - Weintraub’s Delicatessen, Worcester’s last remaining Jewish deli, was sold last week to local real estate developer Edward Murphy.

But Dariush “David” Mizrahi, who has run the business at 126 Water St. for the last 30 years, is still behind the counter, slicing kosher corned beef and pastrami and serving up matzo ball soup.

“I didn’t want the business closed,” Mr. Mizrahi, 61, said.

As for retirement? “I’ll think about that later.”

Mr. Mizrahi said the 98-year-old deli’s prospects would benefit from the proposed relocation to Worcester of the Pawtucket Red Sox and redevelopment of the Kelley Square area, including construction of the 10,000-seat Polar Park stadium for the top Red Sox minor league affiliate.

Dr. Charles Steinberg, PawSox president, came to Weintraub’s on Friday and ordered a tuna fish sandwich and side of coleslaw, according to Mr. Mizrahi. He told the waiters he’d be back.

Click here for the full article: https://www.telegram.com/news/20180829/weintraubs-sale-provides-new-lease-on-life-for-worcesters-last-jewish-deli

“It’s the perfect situation, and I think everything is going to come together,” said developer Ed Murphy, the owner of the Worcester-based Baystate Investment Fund, who owns several properties around the future ballpark site.

Worcester had its own development boom in recent years before the PawSox announced their intention to morph into the WooSox. CitySquare, a $565M mixed-use multiphased development, is underway on the site of the old Worcester Common Outlets mall downtown.  Roseland Residential Trust completed 145 Front St. at City Square earlier this year. Boston-based Trinity Financial is reportedly investing $55M to turn the former Worcester County Courthouse into 114 units of housing. 

​“I think the increased cost of living in Boston and the improvement of Worcester’s reputation since 2008 has helped,” Murphy said. “A lot of people have come back home when, in the past, they may not have wanted to.”

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Real estate interest grows
​
Real estate developer Ed Murphy's Kelley Square office lies less than half a mile from the long-abandoned Wyman Gordon property where the stadium will be built.

And while he is not yet fielding calls from national chains looking to set up shop nearby, there was a surge of interest as the PawSox deal became reality in recent weeks, he said.

"There's been an influx in the last two weeks of local tenants," Murphy said. "There's also investors calling about properties we have in the neighborhood to purchase."

Kelley Square, the city's chaotic, stoplight-free gateway between I-290 and the Canal District, will receive a state-funded overhaul to prepare for additional traffic, officials said Friday. According to Murphy, that will be a necessity.

"Pumping this much traffic through there 100 plus nights to year, it's going to need some tweaking," he said.

With the stadium not opening until in 2021, Murphy said property prices will likely increase on speculation of the foot traffic and economic activity to come.

Murphy said he plans on attending games and concerts once the stadium is open.

"I'd love to support the team," Murphy said. "I think it's a great thing for me to be able to walk from my office and go to a game."

​Click here for the full article: 
​https://expo.masslive.com/news/erry-2018/08/c23bc2a3d75327/an-incredible-story-worcester.html

WORCESTER – The framed black-and-white photographs inside Weintraub’s Jewish Delicatessen on Water Street tell the story of an era gone by.

In the 1930s, a smiling Sam Weintraub greeted the camera in a white shirt and tie, a handful of other similarly dressed employees by his side.

A photograph of the street from the 1960s shows a row of Jewish businesses - the large vertical Lederman’s Bakery sign looming in the distance - of which Weintraub’s was only one.

Today, Weintraub’s stands on a street that has long ceased to be a hub for Jewish shops, now two doors down from a marijuana lounge. It’s the only Jewish deli left in the city, and it could be gone by the end of summer, as owner Dariush “David” Mizrahi is retiring at the end of August.

“It was a difficult decision,” Mr. Mizrahi said from behind the counter Friday, where a menu of products written on a whiteboard has hung for a decade. The 60-year-old, who manned the shop alone Friday afternoon, is in the midst of selling the building to Ed Murphy, who owns a number of nearby buildings and is hoping to find someone to keep the deli going.

“I’d like to keep it what it is if I can,” said Mr. Murphy. He said he’s already heard some interest, and is hopeful the deli will not close for good at August’s end.

Click here for full article: ​https://www.telegram.com/news/20180720/weintraubs-landmark-jewish-deli-in-worcester-may-be-only-memory-by-end-of-summer

For Kate Stillman, making the two-hour drive to Boston Public Market to sell cuts of meat from the grass-fed animals she raises at her Hardwick livestock farm had become too much.

The owner of Stillman Quality Meats made the realization during the winter. She wanted to spend more time on the farm with her animals, and her 4- and 10-year-old children.


It was about that time that Stillman said she was starting to hear everyone talk about Worcester.

"You really need to drive through Worcester," people told her.

Stillman said she would usually hop on the Massachusetts Turnpike and avoid Worcester, but she decided to check it out.

"On a whim one day, I looked, just to what there was for commercial real estate," Stillman said in an interview. "I literally landed in the parking lot outside of Birchtree Bread...I was floored at sort of the vibe that was going on there."

Developer Ed Murphy showed Stillman a space on Harding Street.

Stillman started to float the idea to her customers: Would you shop at a brick-and-mortar in Worcester?

The response: "We would love to find you in Worcester."

Stillman said it was good timing. And the timing is fast, as she is planning to open her Canal District Butcher shop in mid-August.

​Click here for the full article:  ​https://www.masslive.com/news/worcester/2018/06/stillman_quality_meats_to_open.html

When developer Ed Murphy decided to acquire a troubled 16-unit apartment building at 1 Quincy Street in Worcester, he knew he would face challenges.
He didn't expect to find himself staring down the barrel of a gun.
As Murphy and his workers checked out the property before closing on the deal, a tenant mistook them for squatters and pulled a handgun on them, Murphy said in an interview.
"He told us he just got out of jail and wasn't scared to go back there. We defused it saying 'hey, we're property management, we're friendly.' It was a pretty interesting experience," Murphy said. "I wouldn't want to be here at night."

Click here for the full article: https://www.masslive.com/news/2018/02/ed_murphy_85_chatham.html

Maddi's Cookery and TapHouse
​
Chef Adam Hicks of Milford's Depot Street Tavern decided it was time for a second venture, and has invested in a Canal District location to open a second restaurant.

Maddi's Cookery and TapHouse, will offer a range of homemade dishes, including fresh salads, sandwiches, hamburgers, fish and chips and rotating specials. Maddi's will also have an approachable and affordable wine list and 20 craft beers on draught.

The name is a combination of Hick's children's names: Matthew, 9, and Addison, 2. The location was formerly home to The Perfect Game.

Maddi's, at 64 Water St., is expected to open in early spring.

Pageboy Hair Studio Inc.On the opposite side of Maddi's, Pageboy Hair Studio Inc. will open a salon with a storefront on Harding Street.
The salon will have six stations and feature an industrial-style design with concrete floors, Worcester developer Ed Murphy said.
With Maddi's on the Water Street side of the building, Pageboy and another available retail space on the Harding Street side and 16 residential units upstairs from all of it, the building is set to become a destination spot in the Canal District.

Click here for the full article: https://www.masslive.com/news/worcester/2018/01/these_restaurants_and_business.html

​Developer Edward Murphy

Worcester’s Canal District has the reputation of being a place where people go to party. At least one developer is trying to bring a bit of class to busy neighborhood.

Edward Murphy is behind the revitalization of three key properties on Water Street, the old Bucky’s Garage, on 56 Water St., Widoff’s Bakery on 129 Water St., and the former Perfect Game building, on 64 Water St. He’s brought the popular Queen’s Cup bakery from Millbury to the Canal District, and is working on building 16 one-bedroom luxury apartments in the Perfect Game building. Most recently, Murphy found a tenant for the long-empty Widoff’s Bakery building, a Brazilian kickboxing studio. These projects combined make Murphy a formidable force in the Canal District, and someone to watch during the Worcester Renaissance.

Click here for the full article: https://www.masslive.com/news/worcester/2017/12/these_are_the_people_behind_wo.html

​After renovations, Hicks said Maddi's will have an industrial feel with salvaged lights, custom wooden tables and a concrete bar.

The building is owned by Worcester developer Ed Murphy. Upstairs, there are 16 resident units. The restaurant will expand across the Water Street side of the building.

The opposite side has two units, one of which will be occupied by a hair salon.

Called Pageboy Hair Studio Inc., the salon will have six stations and feature an industrial-style design with concrete floors, Murphy said.

"I think it will become a destination spot where people want to go," Murphy said of the building. "He's going to bring people from his Milford location who want to come out and try this which brings new people to the Canal District."

Click here for the full article:  https://www.masslive.com/news/worcester/2017/12/milfords_depot_street_tavern_t.html

Murphy's interest in business first came working after school for his father's fire truck repair firm. Murphy obtained his real estate license at 19, and then acquired weRENTboston in 2005. He started weRENTcentralmass in 2008 – becoming the market leader in rentals – and then acquired the city's largest apartment rental agency, Guardian Select. Murphy then launched 7 Hill Property Management to provide services beyond leasing. In 2012 co-funded Stage One Investors to buy delinquent real estate tax and convert it into revenue for municipalities. That same year, he founded Baystate Investment Fund to buy and redevelop real estate.
If you spoke at a college graduation, what would the message be? I have failed miserably, so many times. Once you understand you can't move forward looking in the rear-view mirror, be prepared for your greatest successes.
Why work in Central Mass.? Boston real estate is for institutional investors. Central Mass. provides an opportunity for me in a growing market.

Click here for full article: http://www.wbjournal.com/article/20170821/PRINTEDITION/308189970/40-under-forty-edward-murphy

A self-taught baker and without any business experience, King said she opened her original bakery “totally going out on a whim.” She took a leap of faith and never looked back, she said.
​
​King’s close friend, Amy Chase, owner of Crompton Collective in Worcester, and Edward Murphy, King’s landlord, were instrumental in her decision to move to Worcester. She said she also discussed her plans with other business owners she knew in the Canal District. “Everyone said, ‘Go for it,’ ” said King.

Click here for the full article: https://www.telegram.com/entertainmentlife/20170817/table-hoppin-cupcake-fans-hail-to-queens-cups

The long-dormant Widoff's Bakery building in Worcester's Canal District will see it's first tenant move in this September after more than two years of inactivity.

Building owner Edward Murphy confirmed that the Team Link Gym will move into approximately 5,000 square feet on the second floor of the historic bakery building. Team Link will feature Muay Thai classes, in addition to several other combat sport and strength training lessons.

Widoff's closing in 2015 dealt a major blow to the Worcester and the Canal District neighborhood. The legendary bakery had been serving bread and pastries on Water Street since 1907 and was one of the few remaining links to the Canal District's past as a neighborhood where people bought their meat, cheese and bread.

​Click here for the full article:  
​https://www.masslive.com/news/worcester/2017/08/gym_owned_by_muay_thai_champio.html?

Ed Murphy -- who owns the building that housed Bucky's Garage and it's neighboring building, which was the former location of The Perfect Game -- came close to demolishing the building, but after connecting with King he decided her restaurant would be a perfect fit, King said.

She was introduced to the neighborhood and location by Amy Chase, who owns the Crompton Collective. Chase, Murphy and other business owners have been instrumental in convincing pastry shop with a huge following to move to Worcester.

With the new home on Water Street, King hopes to capitalize on the increased foot traffic and high level of community involvement in the Canal District. And from her discussions with the local business owners, it looks like Queen's Cups is poised to be a good fit for the neighborhood.

​Click here for the full article: https://www.masslive.com/news/worcester/2017/07/take_a_first_look_inside_the_n.html

​Two shuttered Water Street buildings are receiving a second life under Worcester developer Ed Murphy, who is currently renovating 16 luxury apartments units and retail spaces on 64 and 56 Water St.

64 Water St. was the home of Perfect Game, a popular bar catering to the sports and boneless wing crowd. The bar closed in September.


Days after Perfect Game closed, Murphy, who already owned 64 Water St., purchased Bucky's auto garage right next door, on 56 Water St.

Murphy is already renovating the empty buildings and shopping around for new tenants to move in and revitalize the block. His developments in Worcester have been a driver for the renaissance of dining and development occurring in downtown.

Click here for the full article: https://www.masslive.com/news/worcester/2017/04/16_apartments_and_up_to_four_r.html

​WORCESTER -- The Canal District music series is bringing its biggest act yet tonight, and is hoping to attract more than 1,000 people to Kelley Square for free music and food trucks at 6:30 p.m.

Neighboring businesses that sponsor the event have managed to book Howie Day, whose 2004 hit "Collide" rose to number 20 in the Billboard Hot 100, and has more than 20 million views on Youtube.

Ed Murphy, who owns real estate in the Canal District, is the first to admit that the acts the music series can attract are not always hit-makers, but when they first pitched the idea to local business sponsors they also did not expect to raise more than $25,000 in just eight weeks.

"It started out as this idea to get little rinky-dink local bands to put on a show on Wednesdays," Murphy said. "This was all put together in about eight weeks, which says a lot about what the businesses in Worcester are willing to do to help out."

Click here for the full article:
 https://www.masslive.com/news/worcester/2016/08/howie_day_performs_in_worcester_canal_district_concert.html

​For the Worcester Renaissance to work, everyone needs to work together.

That's according to Ed Murphy, manager of the Baystate Investment Fund, which currently owns the former home of the Widoff Bakery that closed after 100 years of operation.

Murphy recently posted renderings of potential renovations to the space at 129 Water Street on his Facebook page. Baystate Investment has spent the past year deliberating what to do with the site.


"We've been reluctant to rent to nightclubs and bars. We could've rented it 10 times over to those places," Murphy said. "Everybody has to be responsible. We talk to tenants every day, and we say no more than we say yes. We don't want someone undercapitalized to come in or a cheap build out. There's demand, and we're fortunate we can hold out."

Click here for the full article: ​https://www.masslive.com/news/worcester/2016/07/owners_of_former_widoffs_baker.html

WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) — A Worcester bakery is closing its doors for good after serving treats and baked goods since 1907.

The Telegram & Gazette (http://bit.ly/1g4YTfh ) reports that Widoff’s Bakery closed Saturday after owner Mark Picard called off an unsuccessful GoFundMe campaign to raise money to replace vital equipment and fix the roof.

Widoff’s shut down for three days in June following complications involving the city and state health inspectors. Picard says he was experiencing problems with the bakery’s ovens when he launched the failed $100,000 GoFundMe page.

A last-ditch effort to save the bakery was made by Edward Murphy, who purchased the 19,000-square foot building that houses Widoff’s on July 16.
Murphy says he wasn’t planning on Widoff’s going out of business so soon and hopes another bakery takes the space.
​
Click here for the full article: ​https://www.apnews.com/5ee7cc1eb0e94da1ba53ee7568a4388c

WORCESTER – Widoff’s Bakery, a city institution dating back to 1907, closed for good over the weekend.

The bakery, which shut down for three days in June to address problems found by city and state health inspectors, closed Saturday after owner Mark Picard experienced problems with the bakery’s ovens.

The business had been struggling to address the inspection issues and in June launched a $100,000 GoFundMe campaign to raise money to fix its roof and buy new equipment. That online campaign was unsuccessful, however.

At the time, then-co-owner Joey Ducas of Sutton told the Telegram & Gazette the business had been struggling for some time.

Between June and this weekend, Mr. Ducas had stepped away from owning the bakery, according to Worcester lawyer Jonathan Finkelstein. Mr. Finkelstein said he had been helping Mr. Picard manage the business for the last several weeks.
“We had been closed too often in the past few months because of a number of items ... so we had to make a decision,” Mr. Finkelstein explained.

One last-ditch effort to save Widoff’s was made by the building’s new owner, Edward J. Murphy, principal of the limited liability corporation Baystate Investment Fund Inc. Baystate purchased the 19,000-square foot building at 121-129 Water St. for $550,000 on July 16, according to the Worcester Registry of Deeds.

Click here for the full article: https://www.telegram.com/article/20150721/NEWS/150729849

WORCESTER - Conceived as an idea in Three G’s Sportsbar on Millbury Street some 25 years ago by a group of local business owners and stakeholders, the Canal District is now flourishing into one of the more energetic and thriving commercial districts in the city.
​
An area that used to be known more for its vacant buildings, empty storefronts and crime problems, the Canal District today is riding the wave of a revival that has brought new life to that part of the city in the form of new businesses and a lot more foot traffic.

Property owners have spruced up the appearance of their buildings through the city’s facade improvement program, while the city has made a significant investment as well, using federal dollars obtained by U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern, D-Worcester, to make a number of sidewalk and street improvements.

“There’s a lot of good things happening here,” said Mayor Joseph M. Petty during a walking tour he led through the Canal District Tuesday afternoon. “This area is really taking off by itself. It isn’t because of government but rather because of the private investments that have been made by the business owners here. When you look at all the investment they have made, they certainly deserve a lot of the credit for what is happening here.”

The Vernon Theatre -- a long-closed silent-movie theater once eyed by a group of local film and theater buffs for renovation and revival -- will likely be converted into apartments by its new owner.
That is a disappointment to a group of local filmmakers and theater performers, who had hoped to convert the space into a community gathering spot where films could be shown, plays could be seen, and poets and writers could discuss their work.
In 2013, the group, led by Barbara Guertin, a Worcester producer, actress, founder of American Classic Theater and co-founder of the local theater group ACT IV, had a plan to bring live theater performances back to the Vernon.
But it was apparently not to be.
Edward J. Murphy, principal of a limited liability corporation called Baystate Investment Fund, Inc., purchased the building at 1 Kelley Square and an adjacent 50-car parking lot for $1 million.

​Click here for the full article:  https://www.telegram.com/article/20140824/COLUMN73/308249955