we'll have a vibrant community with people walking to the train station and stores.''
When the building was torn down over a year ago, about 20 businesses, including a
blacksmith, yoga studio, silversmith, spa, and chimney service, were displaced, and some
questioned whether the village would lose its quirky vibe.
Hilary Taylor, owner of Merlin's Silver Star, relocated her business from Beharrell Street to
Commonwealth Avenue. She said her rent doubled since moving out onto the main street,
and she worries what will happen when the village becomes even more popular. "It's going
to be hard to have a small funky business in the village if rent is too expensive,'' she says.
But overall, Taylor says the move has
worked out well for her. She says she had
a great holiday season and is confident her
business will thrive there.
"For me, personally, it was difficult at
first, but now I'm feeling it was worth the
move out there,'' Taylor says. "It will be
interesting to see the new building go up.
We're all very excited for that. That will be
great foot traffic to the village, and it will
add to the vibrancy.''
She says between the new stores and
restaurants, old staples like Debra's and
Concord Teacakes, and services like a bar-
ber shop and shoe repair, there is nice bal-
ance of businesses. "There is something for
everyone,'' she says.
Rasmussen says she notices a difference
in the village when she passes through
in the evenings. "It's a lot of fun to drive
through at night after a Planning Board
meeting and see the buildings lit up and
people around,'' she says. "The locally
owned properties and locally owned busi-
nesses have really created a sense of place
and feeling for West Concord. I think that
has really contributed to the desirability of
relocating to that area.''
★
business
40
★
north bridge magazine
★
S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 5
Ema Walker, Katie Gibbons, Debra Stark (owner), and Gail Althouse at Debra's
Natural Gourmet.
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