Bow Market Expansion Fall 2023

[Somerville, MA, July 20, 2023]

Bow Market adds five new storefronts to their landscape in Union Square this fall, renovating a decade-vacant space on Somerville Ave to allow for the continued growth of the small, locally owned business community.

In addition to celebrating its 5th anniversary, Bow Market will also add five new storefronts to their landscape in Union Square this fall, renovating a decade-vacant space on Somerville Ave to allow for the continued growth of the small, locally owned business community. "This extension will allow Bow Market to work with more independent businesses and businesses at different points on their growth path. When a business is ready to move out of their first shop, we have room for them now," says co-owner Matt Boyes-Watson.

Along with the five new storefronts, Bow Market will also open a second entrance from Somerville Avenue. "The second entrance will add to the feeling of discovery here," says co-owner Zach Baum. "Visitors can chart their own path; there isn't one correct way to enjoy Bow Market."

The new storefronts are all carved out of the former Union Square location of Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA). After a year-long renovation, they will be home to existing Bow Market businesses graduating into larger spaces-Tinu Turns Paperie, Blue Bandana Relics, Soft Space Wellness, and Hot Box/Mike and Patty's- and one returning alum, Las Carolinas of Carolicious Gourmet, whose Carolicious sold arepas at Bow Market's Nibble Kitchen and have since grown their presence around the Boston area.

The graduating businesses are excited to welcome their customers into the new spaces and will be hosting a preview party and fundraiser on August 17th at Upstairs at Bow. Tickets Available here.

More about the new storefronts:

Tiny Turns Paperie is a stationery and boutique gift shop that opened as a tiny (165 sq ft) retail shop on the second floor of Bow Market in 2019. The owner, Jen Palacio, is a Filipino-American artist and event coordinator, who prioritizes supporting small, independent artists and brands. She has grown the shop's curated selection from a roster of 30 to over 300 independent makers. The new space is over triple their current size creating room for an even broader assortment of stationery related treasures and enabling the introduction of in- store workshops & artist events. Tiny Turns Paperie expects to be open on Somerville Ave in mid-September. The team will be posting updates about the opening on their Instagram.

Blue Bandana Relics is a retail shop selling curated vintage goods, vintage apparel and new provisions. They were one of the original businesses to open at Bow Market in 2018 and will be taking a 475sf space on Somerville Avenue. They expect to open in September.

Started by husband and wife team, Hannah Yzusqui-Butera and Luis Yzusqui, Soft Space Wellness is a massage, strength, and recovery studio providing a spectrum of offerings suited to all bodies. They began as a 170 sf popup at Bow Market in 2020, becoming a permanent business in 2021 and will now be growing into 720 sf of space where they will bring in a wider range of practitioners, thoughtfully curated strength equipment, a beautifully designed sauna, and much more.

Hot Box, recently crowned the purveyor of Boston's Best Roast Beef Sandwich, is another business that's been with Bow Market since the start. Their new location will make room to serve both their full Hot Box and Mike and Patty's menus simultaneously along with additional menu items.

Carolicious Gourmet is the first full restaurant opened by the Venezuelan duo, Carolina Garcia and Carolina Salinas. Their Carolicious concept was among the first graduates of Nibble Kitchen when they opened inside Aeronaut Brewing in Somerville. They've gone on to open at Aeronaut Everett. MIT, and the Boston Public Library. The design and menu in their new space is inspired by restaurants from their home in Venezuela, as well as eateries around Miami.