Retail

The Massachusetts Senate voted 32 to 2 on Thursday to raise the state's tobacco purchasing age from 18 to 21.

If Massachusetts raises the legal purchasing age to 21, cigarettes and tobacco products will remain "readily available" to those who wish to possess them, but store owners will lose business and possibly shed jobs, according to retailers.

The groundbreaking fanfare marking the official beginning of construction at the Lakeway Commons site that will host a Whole Foods, offices and housing in Shrewsbury at the former site of Spag's retail store will take place in June.

Nine business groups have raised issues with what they describe as costly health care amendments set to be debated by House members.

Avery Dennison has announced it will be working with smart products company EVRYTHNG to create smart clothing and apparel that is connected to the Internet from day one.

A Five Guys and Unibank location will open on Monday at the Pleasant Valley Crossing development on Route 146 in Sutton that is anchored by a Market 32 by Price Chopper.

Westborough's BJ's Wholesale Club has launched a shopping option, allowing people to shop online and pick up in person at all of its 213 stores.

A commercially-zoned lot and building in Harvard have been sold for $600,000.

In an ongoing effort to appease federal regulators and move towards the acquisition of Office Depot, Framingham office retailer Staples has sold off a piece of its business for an undisclosed amount.

A crowd of early childhood educators and care providers advocating for higher pay marched through the State House on Thursday, disrupting an unrelated press conference held by Gov. Charlie Baker.