FROM HISTORIC QUINCY THROUGH MILTON, WE CONTINUE TO WIND OUR WAY ALONG ADAM STREET.
THERE’S MORE TO THIS ROAD THAN PRESIDENTS AND STATELY MEN.
THE NEPONSET RIVER SETTLED HERE ALONG THE RIVER BEFORE SELLING THEIR LAND AND MOVING SOUTH OF BLUE HILL TO AN AREA NOW KNOWN AS PONKAPOAG.
THEIR HOME HERE NOW KNOWN AS LOWER MILLS.
ANCHORING LOWER MILLS IS THE CIRCA 1806 FACTORY THAT ONCE HOUSED WALTER BAKER AND COMPANY, THE OLDEST PRODUCER OF CHOCOLATE IN THE U.S.
>> ANYTHING YOU SEE IN BRICK USED TO BE BAKER.
WALTER BAKER LEFT IN 1965 AND IT LANGUISHED.
THESE WERE DONE IN 1990.
OCCUPANCY WAS 1990 AND ACROSS THE COBBLESTONE, OCCUPANCY WAS 2008.
SO WE ARE ALL REFURBISHED, 175 UNITS.
ANTHONY: NEW OR HOMES, SMALL SHOPS AND LIVELY RESTAURANTS ATTRACTED NEWCOMERS TO LOWER MILLS.
MEANWHILE, AT THE FAR END OF ADAM STREET, IN THE FIELDS CORNER NEIGHBORHOOD, MORE CHANGES ARE HAPPENING.
>> I’VE BEEN AROUND ALL MY LIFE AND LOVE HOW EVERYONE HAS WORKED SO HARD, JUST THE GROWTH OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, FROM A BUSINESS SIDE AND COMMUNITY AS WELL.
ANTHON SECOND-GENERATION RESTAURANT OWNER SAYS HE’S PROUD TO UPHOLD HIS FAMILY BUSINESS.
MY FATHER OPENED IT IN 1992 AND WANTED TO DO SOMETHING TO SERVE THE VIETNAMESE COMMUNITY HERE.
ANTHONY: HIS FAMILY IS STILL COOKING TRADITIONAL VIETNAMESE DISHES FOR LOCALS.
FIELDS CORNER BEGAN WELCOMING REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS FROM VIETNAM IN THE DECADES FOLLOWING THE VIETNAM WAR.
THIS VIBRANT COMMUNITY IS HOME TO THE COUNTRY’S FIRST VIETNAMESE COMMUNITY CENTER.
TODAY, THERE’S A PUSH TO CREATE THE LITTLE SAIGON CULTURAL DISTRICT, INCLUDING A SHORT STRETCH OF ADAM STREET.
>> IT IS A WAY TO PRESERVE AND PROMOTE THE VIENNESE -- VIETNAMESE CULTURE AND HERITAGE.
ANTHONY: THE PROPOSED DISTRICT WOULD NOT TAKE AWAY THE CHARM OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE FIELDS CORNER NAME WOULD STAY.
>> LITTLE SAIGON CULTURAL DISTRICT COMES FROM THIS DESIRE TO KEEP FIELDS CORNER ATTACHED TO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE IT SO STRONG.
THAT COMES DOWN TO THE VIETNAMESE POPULATION.
ANTHONY: AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NONPROFIT FIELD STREET, SHE’S NO STRANGER TO HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES.
SHE SAYS THERE ARE CLOSE TO 200 SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE DISTRICT.
>> IT IS A COFFEE, TEA, SMOOTHIE SHOP.
IT’S A FUN WAY TO INCORPORATE OUR VIETNAMESE CULTURE.
IT’S MORE OF A MODERN TAKE ON A COFFEE SHOP.
ANTHONY: LOCALS LINEUP FOR COLORFUL VIETNAMESE TEAS AND COFFEE DRINKS.
JOEL RICHARDS IS A REGULAR.
>> YOU KEEP DRINKING COFFEE JUST TO KEEP YOURSELF AWAKE AND FUNCTIONING IN OUR CAPITALISTIC SOCIETY.
BUT IT’S GOOD TO HAVE A COFFEE THAT FEELS LIKE A MILKSHAKE.
I’M HERE AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK.
IF MY MOM -- IF MY WIFE ASKS, IT’S ONCE A WEEK.
SMALL BUSINESSES, RESTAURANTS, THE LITTLE CORNER STORES, THOSE ARE THE BACKBONE OF THE COMMUNITIES.
YOU CAN WALK DOWN THE MAIN STREET IN DORCHESTER AND EAT AT ALMOST ANY CONTINENT THAT EXISTS.
AUSTRALIA IS NOT REPRESENTED IN THE SQUARE.
ANY AUSTRALIAN OR NEW ZEALAND RESTAURANTS THAT WANT TO COME TO FIELDS CORNER, LET ME KNOW.
ANTHONY: WHILE HE DOES NOT OWN AND EATERY THAT REPRESENTS A LAND DOWN UNDER, BRIAN SHAW AS DOES OWN TO POPULAR NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANTS -- ANTONIOS HI-FI PIZZERIA AND BOSS BURGER.
BOTH EATERIES ARE JUST OFF ADAM STREET.
>> THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY, A PIZZA PLACE WAS CLOSED DOWN AND I SAID WHY DON’T I GIVE IT A SHOT?
I WENT INTO IT HEADFIRST IN WITH THE GRACE OF GOD AND THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMITTEE, I’M STILL HERE.
ANTHONY: HE’S ORIGINALLY FROM DORCHESTER AND HAS LIVED IN A VARIETY OF NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT HE SAYS THERE’S SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT FIELDS CORNER.
>> FIELDS CORNER IS THE DEFINITION OF A MELTING POT.
EVERYBODY IS SUPPORTIVE, EVERYBODY WANTS TO SEE EACH OTHER SUCCEED AND THAT’S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
ANTHONY: TAM LE SAYS REIGN DRINK LAB IS SERVING ITS TEAS AND SPECIALTY COFFEE DRINKS TO-GO RIGHT NOW.
HE TELL US THE BEANS ARE WHAT MAKE VIETNAMESE COFFEE DISTINCTIVE.
IT IS MADE WITH ROBUSTA BEANS, WHICH ARE A LITTLE MORE BITTER THE MORE FAMILIAR ARABICA BEANS.
BUT IN VIETNAM THE COFFEE IS USUALLY PREPARED WITH SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK, WHICH BALANCES OUT THE BITTERNESS.
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