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2013 Recap: RetailBoston

Jan 09, 2014

Outreach to the Broker & Retailer Community

Over a dozen walking tours of Downtown were given to residential & commercial brokers in 2013. These tours educated the broker community about the new development and retail that has opened. BostonRetail also sponsored commercial broker  networking events in Downtown Crossing, Bulfinch Triangle/North Station, the Fenway, Roxbury, South End, Newmarket, and the Innovation District.

Supermarkets

Boston has seen an increase of food market openings in the City, including Foodies in South Boston, with more to come. Staff have been working closely with several retailers on their openings: Whole Foods in the South End (2015), Star Market in the West End (2016), Roche Brothers in Downtown Crossing (2015), Wegmans in the Fenway (2016) and the Boston Public Market, which will open in 2015 at the edge of the North End on the Rose Kennedy Greenwway. RetailBoston staff also worked closely with the BRA Research Department on a supermarket study that was released in 2013, providing an overview on this expanding sector of our economy.

The Global Real Estate Convention (RECon) & International Council of Shopping Center Conferences

In the Spring of 2013, staff from the BRA Business Development Division attended RECon, the annual  retail conference, held in Las Vegas. The conference  provides networking, deal making and educational opportunities for retail real estate professionals from around the world, bringing together over 34,000 attendees and 1,000 exhibitors.

RetailBoston also participated in the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)'s July convention known as the New England Idea Exchange. The BRA sponsored a guided bus and walking tour for commercial brokers and potential retailers featuring four emerging retail districts in Boston. The tour provided an opportunity for  retailers to get introduced to these neighborhoods and gain insight from staff, property owners and stakeholders.
 
Dudley Square Municipal Building Retail

The City of Boston released a Request For Proposal (RFP) for the individual lease of six separate retail spaces at the Dudley Square Municipal Center located in Dudley Square in Roxbury. The building, which is currently under construction and will open in 2015, includes the restoration of the historic Ferdinand's Furniture building facade, and the construction of a facility to house the newly consolidated Boston Public School offices. Over 18,000 square feet of street-level retail space is available in the building, with nearly 8,000 square feet suitable for a destination restaurant, and 10,000 square feet subdividable for retail uses. BostonRetail  has been on the City's team that is responsible for the marketing  strategy for the 6 retail spaces. Two retail workshops were held to promote and educate potential retailers for the spaces. Information on this project can be found here.

Downtown Crossing Revitalization Work

BostonRetail continues to work closely with commercial brokers, property owners and the Downtown Boston Business Improvement District (BID) on implementing the retail strategy for the Downtown area. Downtown Crossing has the highest pedestrian counts in New England; the office population tops 220,000 during the day, with 6,000 residents currently living there, and  upwards of 5,000 more coming in the future. More than 500 businesses are located in the district, including 103 new retailers and restaurants that  have opened since 2008, representing  $68 million in investment and 1,900+ new jobs. The district is home to multiple flagship stores: Walgreens (25,000SF on Washington St), Staples (20,000SF), Verizon, AT&T, and opening in early 2014, a three story Liberty Travel. Three bakeries now call Downtown Crossing their home: Sweet, Cakeology (with two locations), and Sweet Tooth and in 2014, international baker Paul will open their flagship at One Boston Place.
 
 
 

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