For the first time in a while, the former Dorchester Tire shop at 1160 Dorchester Ave. drew a crowd Sunday to its parking lot — and no one had a flat. The Food and Friends Festival at what’s now-called Dot Tire Studios was the first effort by property owner Ash Chan and several of his partners to activate the space and begin planning for more events in the future.
Hundreds turned out for free food and to play on a temporary pickleball court. There was also karaoke, children’s games, and a very active atmosphere promoting the various cultures and partners in the project, like Tam Le, who plans to open a café— Lêgacy Càphê Roasters —inside the old tire shop.
Families and friends flocked to the pickleball court in front of the old car repair bays at Dot Tire Studios on Sunday. Seth Daniel photos
Other partners for Sunday’s event included the Vietnamese American Community of Massachusetts, Boston Little Saigon, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Dorchester. With staples like Rensauce BBQ and others providing food, there were also exciting fusion specials like a Vietnamese Birra Taco via Pho Hoa and El Barrio Taqueria.
Many took note of the property over the last two weeks as Chan and his crews moved quickly on a paint job of the building that was highlighted by the moniker ‘Dot’ on the corner of the building.
While children played with bubbles and crayons on the other side of the parking lot, young people flocked to the karaoke stage.
“We decided to put some work into the building before finding the right tenant mix,” Chan said. “Otherwise, how will any tenants understand what is really happening here without seeing some of our vision? We’re going to wait to see what the right ecosystem is here, and what the mix of tenants might be.”
He noted that his company has done similar work on former commercial buildings in Los Angeles, and the cross-section of tenants ranged from professionals to artists to vinyl car covering companies – among others.
“I don’t think it will be cars in Boston, but we are wondering what it will be,” he said. “We’re waiting to see.”
Le, whose family also owns Pho Hoa Restaurant, summed it up: “There’s a lot more to come here.”
