By Samantha Chaney, WBZ-TV
CAMBRIDGE — A newsstand that was once a thriving business in the heart of Harvard Square has become a thorn in the side of business owners over the past three years.
As of May 2021, the 5,000-square-foot building has been fenced and closed to the public while the City of Cambridge carries out renovation work.
“People coming into this square as perspective tenants want to know what this area is going to look like,” said Denise Jillson, executive director of the Business Association of Harvard Square.
News from the city
The kiosk was built in 1927 as the entrance to the subway station and became the Out of Town News stand in 1983. The company sold snacks, newspapers and magazines. That company closed in 2019.
CBS Boston
“The view is not nice right now,” one man told WBZ-TV.
To reimagine the heart of Harvard Square, the City of Cambridge has partnered with CultureHouse and the Cambridge Office for Tourism to activate the historic kiosk in Harvard Square.
Project delays
However, Jeremy Warnick, a spokesperson for the city, told WBZ that the completion of this project has been delayed several times due to COVID and the large amount of time spent preserving the building, which was designated a Cambridge Landmark in 2017.
“Through this partnership, the newly restored iconic landmark will be revitalized and become a vibrant cultural breeding ground, a space for community gatherings and a visitor information center called the Cambridge Kiosk,” said Warnick.
The kiosk is expected to open in early 2025.
