New trade building on Great Road closer to reality.
Demolition of the 1980s three store brick strip mall at 465-459 Great Road is scheduled for later this month. The building was the recent home of Acton Convenience. Last year Great Road Antiques and ThinkForFun moved to different locations in Acton. The adjacent building at 471 Great Road, at the corner of Sachem Way, former home of Acton Carpet, will also be demolished.
Later this year two buildings will be built on the site. Leo Bertolami, owner of the property, describes them as “trade” buildings, suitable for contractors such as plumbers, electricians, and general contractors. The Zoning Bylaw (section 3.5.14) defines “Building Trade Shop” uses as also including limited business uses by welders, masons, landscaping contractors, lawn care services and building cleaning services or “similar occupations.”
The west building will have four shop spaces with a total of five overhead doors and 8100 square feet of floor space. There will be an additional 2000 square feet of finished attic. The east building will also have four shop spaces and four overhead doors with 7350 square feet.The Design Review Board had a generally favorable impression of the plans, as recorded in their Design Review Memorandum of August 6 & 21, 2025: “The exterior of the proposed buildings are designed with a nod to Acton’s residential scaled commercial buildings, evident in the villages and in portions along Great Road. The proposed new building’s mass will be broken up by dormers, gabled roof planes, and changes in ground plan.” The report describes the exterior as having neutral gray clapboard siding, PVC trim, black framed windows, and architectural roof shingles.
Bertolami, a long time Acton resident, also owns Wetherbee Plaza in South Acton as well as other buildings on Great Road. His business name is Wayside Management Corp.
Acton Convenience emptied its store two weeks ago, and a sign on the door indicates it has temporarily relocated to the Acton Smoke and Vape store at 133 Great Road.
Storefront decorating contest announced
Patricia Costa, Acton’s Economic Development Director, has announced a new contest to celebrate the FIFA World Cup taking place in North America. Stores are invited to decorate the front windows of their places of business with soccer themed displays. The art will be judged on the display’s imaginative use of color and materials that portray the energy and spirit of the event that is captivating the world.
Hurry and get decorating! The winner will be announced July 18. World Cup games continue from now through July 19 when the championship contest will be held in New Jersey.
Jeff Brown is the Acton Exchange business beat reporter.
