Grocery Stores Expand + Indoor Adventure Park To Open + Longtime Retailer Closing: MA Business Week

MASSACHUSETTS — From a longtime women's boutique closing all of its stores to three new grocery stores opening locations throughout the state, it's been a busy week in Massachusetts business news.

This national retailer is set to close all of its stores

Francesca’s, the women’s boutique selling clothing, jewelry, accessories, and gifts, is preparing to close all its over 450 locations soon after over 25 years in business, according to Women's Wear Daily.

In Massachusetts, Francesca's lists locations in Natick, Burlington, Braintree, Seekonk, Dartmouth, Longmeadow, Holyoke, Mashpee, and Hyannis. The retailer also has stores in Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Maine.

New grocery stores are popping up across the state

Trader Joe's is planning to open a location in Reading, a company official confirmed, adding to its current total of 21 stores in Massachusetts.

T Market, a high-end Asian grocer, is slated to open at 1245 Worcester St., at the former Wegman's location at the Natick Mall. It will open in late April or early May, the business's co-founder, Theresa Liao, told the Metrowest Daily News.

Big Y recently announced that it will open four stores in the Bay State on Tuesday. The locations will be in Fairhaven, North Dartmouth, Pembroke, and Saugus. The locations are set to open within the next two years.

A new indoor slide park is coming to Central Massachusetts

Slick City Action Park will open a location in Milford in spring 2026. The location at 31 Beaver St. will be the business's first in Massachusetts and will join more than 100 locations across the country set to open this year.

Sports gambling to be regulated with a new proposed bill

A Massachusetts State Senate bill proposes raising taxes on sports gambling and outlawing in-play and proposition bets, among other things. The bill was presented by state Sen. John F. Keenan, D-Norfolk and Plymouth.

If passed into law, the bill would ban in-play bets and proposition bets. It also proposes eradicating sports-betting advertising during televised sporting events and adding agents and promoters to the list of those prohibited from wagering on a sporting event.

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More Massachusetts Business News:

• Global Company Plans To Keep Burlington HQ: Reports
• Marlborough Favorite Mexican Restaurant Plans To Expand
• Popular Pizza Restaurant Expands In Shrewsbury
• Somerville Sushi Restaurant Preparing For Relocation And Expansion
• Salem's So Sweet! Festival To Feature 'Love Letter' Artisan Market
• Lottery Ticket Purchased At Burlington Store Wins Big
• Massive Boston Food Hall To Stay Open After Closure Announcement: Report
• Worcester Pharmacy Accused Of Filing False Claims Agrees To Pay $750K: USAO
• $5M Lottery Ticket Sold In Worcester County

Catch Up On Past Business Roundups:

• Large-scale Research Layoffs + Popular Fitness Chain Grows + Major Cheese Recall
• Major Resort Expansion + Gaming Store Closures + Beloved Pretzel Chain Grows
• Beloved Boutique Files For Bankruptcy + Furniture Retail Closure + Major Law Firm Merger
• Tech Company Files For Bankruptcy + Grocery Prices Up + Famous Pizza Coming To MA