Retail

In December 2022, the WBJ Editorial staff made 10 bold predictions for news events to happen in Central Massachusetts throughout the year. Turns out, we missed the mark on all but two.

As consumers scramble to complete their holiday shopping, Amazon has opened a same-day delivery facility in Westborough.

Kimochi Bubble Tea Worcester has filed a lawsuit against its franchisor after an alleged breach of contract.

Mallory Stanton launched her vintage decor and furniture business – first on Instagram and then with an Etsy store.

While corporate profits have surged to near record levels, operators of prominent small businesses in Worcester have not seen the same growth.

Small businesses grappled with a greater rate of financing shortfalls last year compared to before the onset of the pandemic, but the lack of funding was more acutely observed among minority-owned businesses and particularly Black-owned businesses, according to the report.

A mixed-use building located at 51 Hamilton St. in Worcester containing a nail salon studio and an apartment has been sold to a Southborough-based corporation.

Leanne Boudreau was among countless scrappy small business owners who pivoted during the COVID pandemic to survive. Yet Notown Goods, a Sterling retail shop selling handmade goods from artisans across the U.S., didn’t just make it through; it boomed.

While the first five years saw more than $5 billion in sales and hundreds of businesses opening, uncertainty awaits ahead for the next five years.

The lawsuit, filed in Hampden County Superior Court on Wednesday, alleges Nathan Lanier and Damien Goudreau took a number of steps to box out Granger from financially benefiting from the company’s rapid growth and expansion.