Mom Talk

Moms & Kids Find Sanctuary in the Pru

New children's stores in the mall draw parents with kids to the Shops at Prudential Center, a place that relieves the dearth of community spaces in the Back Bay.

Stay in your lane, pass on the left, and neither exceed nor fall under the speed limit: These are the unspoken traffic rules at Boston’s Prudential Center mall. Crowded with office workers, tourists, and locals, the busy hall off Boylston Street reminds you that you are still in the city. But pass the north-side main drag, and the aisles widen while the lovely skylight ceilings persist. Ahhh, space. It’s here that young families are making the mall their own. A landscaped garden, places indoors to linger, and now a family-oriented trio of businesses are all holding down the age of the average Pru visitor. With most residents in our urban neighborhoods tucked into condos without yards, we covet any living space beyond our own homes. The …

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Magic Beans Toy Store Opens In Prudential Center, Offers Steep Discounts Today And Saturday

The Back Bay finally has a toy store, and this weekend it's loaded with discount possibilities.

Sheri and Eli Gurock were once a stay-at-home mother and the director of admissions at a private high school, but the toy and baby gear store they started, Magic Beans, has taken off.  Last Thursday, November 17th, they opened their 5th store, and its Prudential Center location is a draw for both the owners and their Back Bay neighbors.  In an interview with Patch, Sheri explained why they came to the Back Bay.  "Eli and I lived in the Back Bay when we were first married and have always loved that neighborhood. The Prudential Center is the best location in the city, because the weather is always good, there's an amazing assortment of shops and restaurants, and the marketing team is fabulous."  The Back Bay store also brought its own unique…

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