Retail

The Starbucks at the site opened in July following its construction, with the Seattle-based firm committing to a 10-year lease.

The Salvation Army is planning on opening a 14,000-square-foot retail store in Leicester.

Trader Joe’s has opened a location in Milford at the former site of a Staples office supply store, making it the company’s fourth location in Central Massachusetts.

A months-long WBJ investigation shows how a dysfunctional agency hollowed out by turnover, bogged down by infighting, and plagued by a fuzzy leadership structure is impeding businesses in a struggling industry.

WBJ sources over the past 35 years have contributed memorable sentiments.

In 2016, 53.6% of Massachusetts voters cast a ballot in favor of legalizing marijuana like alcohol, kicking off the creation of an industry that has so far led to more than $6 billion in sales.

Central Massachusetts is a region that likes to wax nostalgic about bustling main streets and tight-knit mill communities. A lot has changed over the decades, with shifts in the way people do their shopping, the decline of traditional manufacturing, and the rise in tech industries. And our communities have shifted with the times.

Like so many of the nation’s indoor shopping centers, the Galleria slowly died over the 20 years after it opened. Today, the former mall space is known as CitySquare.

While Central Massachusetts business leaders have seen substantial diversification among small business owners in the past three decades, the same cannot be said for those among the area’s highest-paid.

How do you whittle 35 years of headlining business news down to a couple thousand words and a few pages? You don't. But here, we take our best shot to highlight the companies, individuals, and moments that left a lasting impression.