Jeff Brown

Business Briefs, July 1, 2025

July 5, 2025

by Jeff Brown

J.Crew Factory Store J.Crew opened a factory store in The Brookside Shopping Mall on July 2. Kate Connolly, district manager for J.Crew, said that the remodeling of the store was completed on June 26 and merchandise began arriving the next day. The J. Crew Factory Store sells discounted…

Two Friends Chocolates: Delicious, decorative, and delightful

June 21, 2025

by Jeff Brown

If you love chocolate – and who doesn’t? – a trip to Boxborough might be in your future. Lala Selvaraj and Neethu Viswananth traveled from India to Scotland for graduate work in bioengineering and stayed for five years. While there, they discovered a mutual love for dark chocolate…

Absolute Tile closes

June 14, 2025

by Jeff Brown

After ten years in West Acton, Absolute Tile Marble & Cabinets has closed its doors. Owner Glaucia Rossi McKinney has been in the remodeling supply business for over thirty years, starting at Sudbury Granite where she learned everything about stone countertops and how to meet her clients’ needs.…

Habitat for Humanity announces plans for an office and projects in Acton

June 7, 2025

by Jeff Brown

The North Central Massachusetts branch of Habitat for Humanity had an office in Acton for over ten years before it moved to Leominster in early 2024. Later the same year, 416 Great Road, former home of the Le Lyonnais restaurant, became available. It was purchased by a benefactor…

Review: Silver Unicorn and Silver Girl team up for a sparkling evening

June 7, 2025

by Jeff Brown

Paul Swydan, owner of West Acton’s Silver Unicorn Bookstore, is known for his community involvement and for hosting a slew of entertaining and informative events. On Tuesday, May 20, he teamed up with the owners of the new Silver Girl restaurant, also in West Acton, Dawn Aguiar and…

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Town Meeting Article 13: Town Meeting OKs the sale of 13 School Street parking lot

May 10, 2025

by Jeff Brown

During the second night of the Town Meeting, voters passed Article 13 authorizing the Select Board to convey the parking lot at 13 School St. to a qualified developer. The property, which was taken for non-payment of taxes in 1990, is being used as public parking for neighborhood…

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Town Meeting Articles 32, 33: New Leaf blower and tree clearing bylaws

May 10, 2025

Jeff BrownandMiriam Lezak

The general bylaws of the Town of Acton direct how various aspects of the town are to be governed and administered. Article 32: Town Meeting outlaws 2-cycle gas powered leaf blowers, partially in 2028, completely in 2029 To reduce noise and air pollution, Article 32 prohibits the use…

Ribbon Cutting at the Acton Bike Shop

April 26, 2025

by Jeff Brown

On Monday, April 7, Hakan Pesman and his wife Nuray hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony at their new store in the Acton Woods Plaza. Several state and town officials attended to celebrate the Acton Bike Shop, which opened in January. Hakan was in the fashion trade in New…

Prism Therapy Collective opens at Kelley’s Corner

March 29, 2025

by Jeff Brown

When Rebecca Minor, founder and owner of Prism Therapy Collective, began her company last year, she and her clinicians offered their services virtually. A few weeks ago, Rebecca opened Prism’s first in-person office at Kelley’s Corner. The building is at 268 Main St., at the corner of routes…

Acton Seafood opens in West Acton

March 22, 2025

by Jeff Brown

Late in the day on March 11 the Twin Seafood signs came down in West Acton. The next day, The Acton Seafood Company opened for business with a trio of new owners: Dean Gaudet and Sarah and Daniel Gauvin. All three had worked for John Loblundo, the owner…

Leo Cavalier, Inc., longtime business, closes

March 15, 2025

by Jeff Brown

Leo Cavalier, Inc., on Wetherbee St. in East Acton, has been a fixture for local contractors and homeowners in need of just about any kind of metal work. Leo, master craftsman, opened his business in 1942. He was known for his ability to interpret a plan and bring…

Luna Restaurant opens in Nagog Park

March 15, 2025

by Jeff Brown

Brothers Julian and Adan Bracamontes opened their Mexican restaurant with an in-house ribbon cutting on Thursday, March 7th. As mentioned in a Business Brief last fall, the restaurant has been under construction since late 2024 and the insides of the building have been completely remodeled. All the furniture…

McGovern Subaru auto dealership construction progressing

March 15, 2025

by Jeff Brown

Currently the McGovern Subaru dealership resides on Powder Mill Road in South Acton. Most of the service bays are across the street and every available space of pavement on the sales side is covered with new and used autos. Across town, in the Nagog Mall in North Acton,…

People playing pickleball under a very large bubble.

Marcus Lewis Tennis Center announces move

March 1, 2025

by Jeff Brown

Marcus Lewis recently announced that he will build a new tennis and pickleball facility at 45 Nagog Park Road, on land behind the River of Life Church. His tennis center has been leasing property off Granite Road in North Acton since 2014. Rather than negotiate a new lease,…

Velvet Vine Café ribbon cutting

February 21, 2025

by Jeff Brown

The Velvet Vine Café at 166 Great Rd. opened in January and, on Friday, February 14, they hosted a ribbon cutting celebration. Several Town officials congratulated Crystal Blais and Sarah Fitzmaurice on their new venture. The owners report that the operation has been going well and have found…

Stop and Shop’s Roving Robot

February 21, 2025

by Jeff Brown

Acton’s newest grocery store has a new employee. Meet Marty, the unassuming, rather shy robot who has free reign over the entire store. He (I am referring to Marty as “he” but the gender of the robot is not apparent) is dark gray, over six feet tall, rather…

Growing McDonald’s the Wright way

February 21, 2025

by Jeff Brown

February is Black History month and a local Black businesswoman, Paula Wright, is celebrating 40 years as a McDonald’s restaurant owner. She owns, with her son Donny, sixteen McDonald’s franchisees, including the one in East Acton, not far from the Concord line. Their other restaurants are in eastern…

Business Spotlight: Squashwest Sports and Fitness

February 1, 2025

by Jeff Brown

Acton has its own squash club on Knox Trail in South Acton: Squashwest Sports and Fitness, the area’s only facility devoted entirely to squash. Built in 1977 with four hardball courts, the courts were enlarged in the 1990s to conform to the international standard, and a fifth singles…

Gardner Field playground adds sculpture and Little Free Library

January 10, 2025

by Jeff Brown

Gardner Field in West Acton center is now home to a new Little Free Library. Installed in mid-December, it is full of books and ready for the neighborhood to stop by and browse. The playground at Gardner Field was completed and dedicated last summer, but there were details…

Business Briefs: Two new restaurants, one bike shop, and a gas station re-opening

January 10, 2025

by Jeff Brown

Velvet Vine Café is set to open in mid-January at 166 Great Road in the space recently occupied by the Holy Grail restaurant. Construction is nearly done; final inspections are underway and the hiring of the kitchen staff is nearly complete. As a café they will be serving…