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:
Coming Soon:
Berry Line 305 Newbury St. Levi's 131 Newbury St. Panera Bread 500 Boylston St. Vibram 292 Newbury St.Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.