It Worked Last Year

Yesterday, we snapped Robinson Cole?s Brian Blaesser as he and 100 other lawyers, brokers, retailers, designers, developers, and landlords walked through Downtown Crossing and the Seaport District on Mayor Menino's 3rd Annual Retail Opportunities Tour. (His 2nd Annual helped bring 45 new shops to Back Bay.) On hand to show available spaces, officials from City Hall and the BRA detailed programs and resources to help retailers establish themselves here. Brian says he's optimistic since downtowns are back in style. The BRA's Susan Elsbree was glad to see a contingent of brokers since they're the gatekeepers to the market and this was a chance to ?reposition? how they think of these locations.
On Washington Street, the BRA's Randi Lathrop explained that this heavily trafficked location would like to see a dry cleaner, bakery, mid-market sit-down restaurant, high-end hair and nail salon, and women's apparel shop. BerryLines? Matthew Wallace (sage golf shirt and shorts) and Pok Yang (blue golf shirt, shorts) said they're looking for retail space and ?definitely like Downtown Crossing.? They already have their frozen yogurt shops in Harvard Square, Porter Square, and the Fenway. BTW, Randi said what the City doesn?twant are more cell phone or mattress stores. Darn. There goes our hybrid concept: AT&Zzzzzzz.

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