Business & Tech

Mayor Welcomes 34 New Businesses to Back Bay

The recognition came as part of the city's New Business Appreciation Series, which honored more than 100 new businesses throughout Boston

During a short ceremony on Thursday, Mayor Thomas M. Menino welcomed 33 new businesses that have opened in the the Back Bay.

"We want to help you survive and thrive," he told shop owners who gathered at one of them: Towne Stove and Spirits. The recognition came as part of the city's New Business Appreciation Series, which honored 110 new businesses throughout Boston - including 42 in the Innovation District, and 35 in Downtown Crossing.

To make matters easier for new businesses, the Mayor is also working on establishing a one-stop-shop permitting center in City Hall that will streamline the process for places that want to open up or expand. It's on track to be in place by late summer, along with an online component that will launch around the same time.

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Recent openings in Back Bay include Forever 21, 5 Napkins Burger, Max Brenner, Tico, Pinkberry and more. Menino also announced international retailer UGG Australia signed a lease at 75 Newbury Street.

"It is a statement to the strength of Boston that so many businesses are being recognized today," said Back Bay Association President Meg Mainzer-Cohen. 

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Melissa O'Donnell, owner of Tasti D-Lite, a healthy-option icecream shop scheduled to open May 19 at 205 Newbury Street, said the neighborhood's shopping artery has made a turnaround in the last year.

"When we were looking at a space on Newbury Street there were several vacancies," she said. But between the beginning of last summer and late last fall - when she signed her lease on Nov. 1, "there were some changes," she said.

All of sudden she noticed empty storefronts were filling up, and there were a few spots she had her eyes on that "were gone before we knew it," O'Donnell said.

List of new Back Bay businesses:

Jack Wills 179 Newbury St. Converse 348 Newbury St. Pinkberry 288 Newbury St. Met Back Bay 279 Dartmouth St. Lorand Art Gallery 156 Newbury St. Alex and Ani 115 Newbury St. Rockport 218 Newbury St. Simon Pearce 103 Newbury St. Viselli Santoro Salon 297 Newbury St. Mass Ave Restaurant 94 Mass Ave. Ibex 303 Newbury St. Forever 21 341 Newbury St. Diane Von Furstenberg 73 Newbury St. Back Bay Social Club 867 Boylston St. Towne Stove and Spirits 900 Boylston St. The Fish and Bone 217 Newbury St. Audrey's Supplies & Services 296 Newbury St. Lolita 271 Dartmouth St. Timberland 201 Newbury St. Boloco 569 Newbury St. Max Brenner 45 Boylston St. Deux Ave. 371 Comm. Ave.

Coming Soon:

Berry Line 305 Newbury St. Levi's 131 Newbury St. Panera Bread 500 Boylston St. Vibram 292 Newbury St.


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