Retail

Almost half of small businesses in Worcester County have closed at least temporarily during the coronavirus pandemic, according to an analysis by a team of researchers led by Harvard University.

More than 20% of the Massachusetts workforce has applied for unemployment since the coronavirus crisis began in mid-March, particularly those employees in the hospitality, retail and healthcare sectors.

Central Massachusetts organizations making hires and promotions recently include Cornerstone Bank, Rollstone Bank & Trust, UMass Memorial Health Care and Covectra.

Savvy Central Mass. social media managers all seem to report the same phenomenon, which is a business owner’s dream: post a product online and see it fly off the shelves.

Central Massachusetts was already facing deep-rooted challenges with poverty. Add a pandemic forcing more than 800,000 Massachusetts residents to file for unemployment, and Central Massachusetts human services have been sent into overdrive.

A federal judge will temporarily lift a Gov. Charlie Baker executive order requiring firearm retailers to close their physical businesses during the COVID-19 state of emergency.

Neiman Marcus, which has a location in Natick, announced Thursday it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as the impacts of the coronavirus-stunted economy begin to materialize.

The owner of the Berlin restaurant where Chris Evans shot a movie scene faces charges for filing fraudulent coronavirus relief loan applications through the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The Walmart Supercenter at 25 Tobias Boland Way in Worcester reopened Tuesday, a week after it was shut down due to employees testing positive for COVID-19, a company spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday.

A planned purchase of Victoria's Secret by Staples owner Sycamore Partners is off, leaving the women's clothing brand to plan to operate as a standalone entity apart from Bath & Body Works.