Like nearly every “Main Street” business district in towns throughout the nation, Franklin’s downtown struggled to adapt to the rise of the regional shopping mall and strip shopping plaza. US Interstate Route 495’s opening in the 1970s pulled shoppers and businesses away from downtown Franklin to new business and retail locations along the highway’s interchanges and feeder routes.
The housing boom that transformed Franklin, MA from the mid-1980s through the 1990s accelerated the trend away from downtown Franklin as the arrival of thousands of new affluent residents spurred the development of modern shopping plazas throughout the region.
On the other hand, there are factors that continue to support the role of Franklin’s downtown as a retail and service business destination.
So explore the posts below and see what’s so encouraging about the future prospects for the downtown area of Franklin, MA.
From the category archives:
The annual Franklin, MA Fourth of July Celebration is much more than a one day event – it’s something really special! Because July Fourth fell on a Monday this year, the 2011 Celebration was a five day extravaganza beginning June 30 and running through July 4. Events were held on the Franklin Town Common and [...]
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The second annual Franklin, MA Holiday Stroll gets underway at 4:30 PM this Thursday, December 2, 2010. Many downtown merchants are offering Holiday cheer and some exciting specials as part of this fun, festive event. Here are details for the highlight events of this new Franklin Holiday tradition: Tree lighting, caroling and holiday snacks 4:30 [...]
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Dark clouds filled the sky, but the rain held off and the eight annual Franklin, MA Strawberry Festival was a big success last week. A later starting time (4 PM) and a new outdoor location at the downtown municipal parking lot helped increase attendance over prior years. Paired with Third Thursday The 2010 version of [...]
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The 2010 season for the Franklin Farmers’ Market kicks off Friday, June 11, 2010 at the Town Common on Main Street in Franklin, MA. The Market will be held every Friday from June 11 through Oct 29, 2010. Hours of operation are Noon – 6PM. Support locally produced food The Franklin Farmer’s Market features fruits and vegetables [...]
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The MBTA commuter rail service on the Franklin line got a major upgrade last week with the opening of the Dolce Express coffee shop at the Downtown Franklin station. High quality food and drink This is not the typical muffin-and-danish-wrapped-in-plastic place you may be used to. Dolce Express offers weary commuters many of the gourmet [...]
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Did you know that Franklin, MA used to have a street car line? Or that Main Street in the downtown area was once home to a Stop & Shop grocery store? The above photo shows the old Franklin street car line in action in the early 1900s! Above is the Stop & Shop on Main [...]
The Holidays got bigger and brighter this year in Franklin, MA with the addition of the Franklin Holiday Stroll, a new local Yuletide tradition. Franklin’s Holiday Stroll was inaugurated this year as a boost to the merchants in the downtown area. The Stroll was a very successful complement to the annual Lighting of the Franklin [...]
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The Union Street Cemetery is a seemingly overlooked jewel of Franklin MA’s Downtown area. Many people drive by this parcel of land at the corner of Union and West Central Streets in Franklin, Massachusetts on an almost daily basis and don’t realize how extensive and beautiful it is. Visit well worth the time You can [...]
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The graceful gazebo on the Franklin MA Town Common is getting some much-needed attention. An puzzling original design flaw is being corrected. The structure is getting a new broader roof, new electric lights, new railings and a general refurbishing. Franklin treasure since 1918 The focal point of the summertime Concerts on the Franklin Common and [...]
Franklin, MA will benefit from $1 million in new state funding for economic development and transportation infrastructure improvements. The funds will be targeted to certain streets and the muncipal parking lot in the downtown area. The money will be used to pay for upgrades to the sidewalks, streets and public parking in the Franklin downtown [...]
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Warren Reynolds, Esq, GRI, e-PRO
Tel: 508.613.2889 | Contact
Century 21 Commonwealth
15 West Central Street
Franklin, MA 02038
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