Millbury open-air retail center The Shops at Blackstone Valley is expanding, announcing plans for two new buildings totaling 35,000 square feet following months of construction in the parking lot.
The buildings will house 10 retailers, restaurants, and wellness providers at 70 Worcester-Providence Turnpike, with base construction expected to be finished by mid-2026, according to a Tuesday press release from The Shops and its Chestnut Hill-based developer WS Development.
“The Shops at Blackstone Valley continues to evolve as a destination that reflects how our community shops, dines, and spends time together,” Eric Smookler, WS Development vice chairman and co-chief information officer, said in the release
Some of the space’s new tenants will include California-based restaurant chain Sweetgreen, New York City-based burger chain Shake Shack, and LaserAway, a hair removal and skin treatment chain based in Beverly Hills.
Across the street, The Shops will open a Yard House restaurant, marking the Florida-based American food chain’s first Central Massachusetts location, according to its website.
“With the addition of these new offerings, we’re expanding our roster while enhancing the overall guest experience through exciting retail, exceptional dining, and thoughtfully designed spaces,” Smookler said.
The Shops’ plans include new walkways, landscaping and electric vehicle charging stations, which will be provided through a partnership with Virginia-based Electrify America.
The Shops’ plans comes as a number of new retailers move into the Millbury plaza. In May 2024, Warby Parker opened its 13th Massachusetts location at The Shops. In November, Apple announced it would leave the Solomon Pond Mall in Marlborough to come to the center. In January, the plaza announced plans to open an Avvio Ristorante location this summer.
Mica Kanner-Mascolo is a staff writer at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the healthcare, manufacturing, and higher education industries.
