Coolidge Corner

Coolidge Corner, Brookline, Massachusetts
Neighborhood of Brookline, Massachusetts
Intersection of Harvard and Beacon Streets, Coolidge Corner, Brookline, MA Intersection of Harvard and Beacon Streets, Coolidge Corner, Brookline, MA

File:Coolidge corner.jpg

Coolidge Corner sign

File:CoolidgeCorner.jpg

The S.S. Pierce Building

File:Coolidge theater 2005.jpg

The Coolidge Corner Theatre marquee

Coolidge Corner is a neighborhood of Brookline, Massachusetts, United States, centered on the intersection of Beacon Street and Harvard Street. The neighborhood takes its name from the Coolidge & Brother general store that opened in 1857 at that intersection at the site of today's S.S. Pierce building, which was for many years the only commercial business in north Brookline.

Coolidge Corner is known for its walkability, transit access, and vibrant mix of cultures, making it one of Brookline’s most dynamic neighborhoods.

Coolidge Corner is a densely populated, diverse, and highly educated neighborhood with the following key demographic characteristics:

Population: Estimates vary by source and boundary definition, but the Coolidge Corner South Side area has about 31,517 residents with a median age of 33.3.

Race & Ethnicity:

•White: 69.2%

•Asian: 16.9% (some sources cite 20.4% Asian ancestry)

•Other notable ancestries include Italian (8.4%), Irish (7.5%), Polish (7.3%), and English (6.9%).

Education:

Exceptionally high educational attainment—56.9% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, among the highest rates in the U.S.

Income:

The area is upper-middle income, with an average individual income of $82,314 and median household incomes well above national averages

Culture

Coolidge Corner developed as a transit-oriented streetcar suburb, and retains a pedestrian-friendly, walking around feel. Many popular coffee shops, pharmacies, small independent boutiques, an independent bookstore, and independent restaurants are located there, as well as a few retail chain stores. In recent years, an influx of national bank chains has taken over several prime storefronts, detracting from the traditional neighborhood retail mix.

The neighborhood has a significant Jewish population, and there are large synagogues located on both Beacon and Harvard streets. The northern portion of Harvard Street, near the border with the Boston neighborhood of Allston, is characterized by a cluster of Jewish-oriented shops, including a bookstore, giftshop, kosher butcher, and various other stores and eateries.

Sites

• Near Coolidge Corner, at 83 Beals Street, is the birthplace of President John F. Kennedy. It is a National Historic Site operated by the National Park Service.
• Coolidge Corner is also home of the Coolidge Corner Theatre, a restored Art Deco movie palace that has been showing movies since 1933. It is a not-for-profit arts institution, featuring first run arthouse films, including independent films, international cinema, and documentaries. It is one of the last remaining original big screen movie houses in the country. The main theatre has a recessed theatrical stage, and seats 700 with classic elegance and cinematic style. The 2024 expansion added 2 Moviehouses for a total of 6 increasing the total seating by about 200 seats and improving accessibility and amenities. The new lobby features indoor ticketing and combined concessions and bar areas, enhancing the visitor experience.
• The S.S. Pierce Building, constructed in 1897, and originally an S.S. Pierce grocery store, is a historically significant Tudor-style building. It has accommodated a number of businesses over the years and is recognized by its large clock tower, visible from nearly all points in Coolidge Corner. (The original tower was damaged in a storm in 1944 and replaced by the current tower.)
• Coolidge Corner contains a grocery store, several restaurants, including (but not limited) to multiple bakeries/patisserie, a crêperie, two falafel joints, and several Asian food restaurants. Many different events, including author readings, family game nights and seasonal sidewalks sales, are regularly hosted by members of the Coolidge Corner Merchants' Association.
• Coolidge Corner also hosts a popular weekly farmer's market on Thursdays from June through November.

Public transportation

File:MBTA 3711 at Coolidge Corner, February 2005.jpg

Inbound C-Line MBTA stop at Coolidge Corner

.

Light rail and subway

Coolidge Corner is served by the Coolidge Corner station of the MBTA's Green Line C branch that runs in a reserved central median along Beacon Street beginning at the St. Mary's Street stop west of Kenmore Square.

Bus

The #66 MBTA crosstown bus route runs through Coolidge Corner along Harvard Street on its way from Nubian Square to Harvard Square. The route is considered one of the MBTA's 15 key bus routes that have high ridership and higher frequency standards than other bus lines.

Education

Public schools

Coolidge Corner is home to a K-8 public elementary school, the Edward Devotion School. In 2018, Brookline's Town Meeting approved a warrant article to rename the school, citing Edward Devotion's ownership of slaves. The new name was decided by a community wide process. The school was formerly known as the Coolidge Corner School. In November 2019, members of the town voted to change the name to Florida Ruffin Ridley school. The name change took effect in September 2020.