Business Archives - Cambridge | Somerville Independent

Buildings approved for demolition are everyday structures, historic but left to decay and too far gone for reuse

by Catalina Mena August 7, 2026

Vines strangle the walls and roofs are buckling at properties that nurtured industries, survived gang takeovers and housed waves of Irish, Italian and Brazilian immigrants.

DEVELOPMENT

Cars drive debate at a meeting about 350 Rindge Ave. affordable housing and its future Ferro’s grocery store

by Marc Levy August 5, 2026

Ferro’s Foodtown and its fast food will shut for two years while housing is built, but the store's new liquor license request, parking and traffic were the topics instead.

LET’S GET COFFEE

Kitsch and coffee in Union Square: Nostalgia

by Corky White August 5, 2026

What’s in your closet? If it’s brightly colored, even garish and of little practical use, it’s a candidate for Nostalgia, the vintage gear and coffee house in Union Square.

BITE

The Perfect Cheese at Mortadella Head

by Marc Levy August 5, 2026

Claims to perfection are nothing new for Davis Square, where Redbones for years sold the One Perfect Rib. It turns out this name suits the pizza.

BUSINESS

As stories of Cambridge permitting nightmares accumulate, officials and staff seek systems that work like a dream

by Marc Levy August 4, 2026

Movement toward streamlining business and construction permitting and licensing was something city councillors could feel excited about.

TAXONOMY

Tax tip of the week: You pay income taxes until you die, your estate pays taxes on income afterward

by Vincent Hicks August 3, 2026

If you die but your estate continues earning bank interest, dividends, rental income or investment gains, it's only the form of filing taxes that changes.

MENU

Fermentation Festival and Season to Vegan come back for year two

by Marc Levy July 29, 2026

Also on the Menu this week: There's a rotation of Peruvian, Guatemalan and Ethiopian foods at Nibble Kitchen; and Bar Enza’s has a “predusk” prix-fixe.

LET’S GET COFFEE

Good-enough coffee with better-than-good food: Café Beatrice and Basma Café

by Corky White July 29, 2026

Café Beatrice and Basma Café prove that if there’s a tasty morsel to be had, you can sip a “normal” coffee with relative happiness.

BITE

Steak fries at Ma Magoo’s

by Marc Levy July 29, 2026

I really thought I was on to something when I spotted steak fries at this Fresh Pond comfort food institution. They're way out of fashion and hard to find.

TAXONOMY

Tax tip of the week: Everyone has an estate. Who manages yours when you die?

by Vincent Hicks July 27, 2026

An estate is not something that applies only to wealthy families, but concerns anyone who dies owning property, holding financial accounts or owing debts.