Framingham's Most Read Stories Of 2022

FRAMINGHAM, MA — The year is nearly over, and, with 2023 quickly approaching, it's worth taking a look back at the biggest stories of the year locally.

Here are the three stories that garnered the most readers on the Framingham Patch in 2023:

TJX To Pay $13 Million Civil Penalty For Selling Recalled Items

TJX Companies Inc., known for its retail stores such as T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods has agreed to pay a $13 million civil penalty for selling and distributing previously recalled products. The majority of the products were items for infants and children, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said.

The agreement settles charges that the company knowingly sold and distributed about 1,200 recalled items from 21 separate voluntary corrective actions over a five-year span from March 2014 to October 2019.

New Supermarket Coming To Shoppers World In Framingham

Reports state that the new supermarket is likely an Amazon Fresh Market, and comes with Barnes & Noble moving out of their space and into Natick.

The grocery store could be under construction soon, which is when the Barnes & Noble lease is up. The bookstore chain has made moves to close several Massachusetts stores recently, including a 25-year-old location in Braintree.

The new grocery store isn't the only major change in store at Shoppers World. SITE Centers is also planning to replace the former TGI Fridays restaurant with space for three eateries — including two drive-thrus — and a retail space. The Planning Board approved those plans in August.

Man Found Dead In Framingham Pond Identified: DA

The man found dead in a Framingham pond in January was been identified as 71-year-old Richard Palmer, the Middlesex County District Attorney's Office said.

On Jan. 10, Framingham police issued an alert seeking Palmer, who police said had been missing since November. On Jan. 11, a person walking by the downtown-area Learned Pond reported seeing a body in the water.