Worcester Seeks Business For Tiny Space At Union Station

WORCSTER, MA — If you have a business that can fit into a space smaller than 100 square feet, the city of Worcester wants to hear from you.

The city and Worcester Redevelopment Authority (WRA) are in the process of collecting ideas for a 98 square-foot space inside Union Station that used to be occupied by a café. The former cafe's equipment is still on site, according to the city.

The city and WRA will be accepting ideas for the space through Oct. 25. There's a walk-through tour planned for Wednesday for interested parties.

The new business would join Luciano's Restaurant, which in 2019 signed a 10-year lease to occupy more than 5,000 square-feet at the station. The space was previously the site of the Lava Lounge, which lost its lease with the WRA in 2017.

Union Station was Worcester's passenger rail hub between 1911 and the mid-1970s, when the station closed. The station reopened in 2000 after a $32 million renovation. It's now used by Amtrak and MBTA commuter rail trains, and is connected to the WRTA downtown bus hub. Private intercity bus companies Greyhound and Peter Pan also serve the station.