Good morning, friends,

A new survey of the state’s small retailers is out.

And the results are deeply concerning.

Most alarming: 51% of retailers report being likely to close or sell their business in the next five years, with approaching retirement age, and high-cost business challenges as the main factors behind their decision

Imagine that: Every other store owner responding to this latest Retailers Association of Massachusetts survey said they don’t expect to still be operating by 2030.

Forty-nine percent reported flat or reduced sales since the pandemic, while profitability decreased for 44 percent of respondents, or stayed the same for 30 percent.

Operation costs increased for 91 percent of respondents, and 76 percent say costs are rising faster than sales.

Some of the challenges our merchants face are entangled right now in federal policy.

Others are influenced or can be influenced by state public policy, writes RAM Senior VP Bill Rennie in a Banker & Tradesman op-ed. That includes utility costs, interchange fees for credit/debit card payments, unemployment insurance, paid family and medical leave and health insurance premiums.

“Based on [our] survey of 635 small businesses across the commonwealth, it is clear why we have seen more dark storefronts, and why there are clear concerns we will see far more,” Rennie adds.

So, of course, Needham’s merchants are on edge

The RAM retailer survey results help explain why many Needham Center businesses are dead set against a $400,000 pilot project to redesign Great Plain Ave.

But the photo above is a reminder that downtown Needham’s main street certainly could use a makeover.

Here’s the challenge: This town’s Envision Needham Center project is a genuinely sincere effort to make Needham’s downtown more vibrant, safer and economically successful for generations to come.

But if you're a merchant, like those RAM surveyed, who isn’t sure you’ll be in business in five years (or maybe even next year), you’re more worried about the immediate impact the wrong changes (especially losing street parking), or years of construction, could have on your customers and your viability.

Oh, and you’re skeptical that adding bike lanes will ever lead to cyclists becoming a big part of your customer base.

No decisions yet

It’s important to note that no final decisions have been made about Envision Needham.

But here’s the concept: Spend a year using traffic cones, flex posts, paint and other temporary measures to explore reducing Great Plain Ave.  Narrow the road from four to two lanes (plus a turning lane) and use the regained space for wider sidewalks, seating, outdoor dining, added green space, those (dreaded) bike lanes and other amenities.

There are plenty of case studies showing that road diets can enhance economic vitality while making streets safer, including a Federal Highway Administration study, or the examples in this short video:

Town leaders will be meeting with business and commercial property owners on Thursday (May 1) at 8:30 a.m. and again at 7 p.m. at Town Hall to discuss the one-year pilot and answer questions.

Then on May 13 at 6:30 p.m., the select board will hold a public hearing for Envision Needham.

The success of those conversations will depend on proponents taking time to listen to businesses' concerns and on merchants being open to data that shows some of the ideas on the table can have both immediate and long-term benefits for them, and for future generations of shop owners.

Tuesday grab bag

• Our chamber joined a coalition of 27 diverse business organizations asking Beacon Hill to support strengthening workforce skills development programs and policies as part of the Massachusetts Business Coalition on Skills.
• The New Art Center will host its Gala on May 17, 2025, at Garage B, featuring an exclusive art auction with over 90 works by 40 artists to support scholarships, community programs, and emerging artists.
• Early discount pricing ends tomorrow (Weds.) for “Momentum: Women in Business Celebrating & Creating Change,” our chamber’s first annual women’s conference, happening June 14 at Wellesley College.  Register.
• The Newton Boys & Girls Club will host its annual gala on May 9 at the Newton Marriott, featuring dinner, entertainment, and highlights of the club’s work supporting local youth. RSVP
• Wellesley’s Strategic Housing Plan will be presented to a joint meeting of the Select Board and Planning Board on June 3rd.
• There is a shortfall of more than 441,000 affordable housing units in the commonwealth, according to a new report from Housing Navigator Massachusetts.
• Lexington Town Meeting recently reined in its expansive MBTA Communities zoning districts after the result led to significantly more development proposals than first anticipated.  Among those disappointed by the move were merchants in Lexington Center, who had hoped a zoning change there “would lift the area’s sagging fortunes,” reported James Sanna at Banker& Tradesman.
• The MA State Treasury’s Small Business Initiative offers a free webinar Banking Services & Securing Financing tomorrow (Weds.) at 9 a.m. RSVP
• Scafidi Bros. Market & Deli, operated by brothers Ted and Andy Scafidi, has opened at Newton Four Corners
• On May 28, a Newton City Council committee will discuss adding two-family and single-family homes to Newton’s BERDO ordinance.(Newton Beacon )
• Newton Community Educationis gathering input through a short survey to help shape its adult programming and better serve the community, including potential offerings for local small businesses.  
• A portion of the sales at Sweet Tomatoes Pizza’s Newton and Needham locations are helping support Welcome Home.
• Join us next Tuesday (May 6) at noon for a webinar: “AI & Small Business: What’s Possible, What’s Practical.” Register

MBTA to test snazzy new Green Line trains in Newton

The MBTA plans to modify the Green Line tracks between Chestnut Hill and Newton Centre so it can create a high-speed test track to support the highly anticipated arrival of its new Type 10 vehicles.

The snazzy new trains will feature a 100% low-floor design for easier boarding, wider doors for faster passenger flow, and larger capacity.

The first Type 10 vehicles are expected to arrive in 2026 for testing, with passenger service beginning in spring 2027.  

Report confirms: It’s as bad as anyone looking for housing thinks

Finally, Massachusetts scored an F and had the second-worst total ranking of any state in a new homebuilding and affordability report from Realtor.com, writes the BBJ’s Grant Welker.

The authors singled out Massachusetts for serving “as an example of how zoning can get in the way of delivering affordable housing.”

“The builders that do manage to operate in Massachusetts have extra costs imposed on them, but many potential home building projects simply are not allowed to occur,” with “54% of zoned acres in the state allow only single-family housing and just 12% of zoned acres allow multifamily housing as of right.”

And that’s what you need to know for today, unless you need to know if animals around here have a Boston accent.

The forecast looks great. Dine out, outside, before it rains again this weekend.

Greg Reibman (he, him)

President & CEO

Charles River Regional Chamber

617.244.1688

Max Woolf contributed to today’s newsletter.

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