small business Archives - Cambridge | Somerville Independent

MIT Museum Store makes its missions about play and fun, with just enough school-branded merch

by Linda Given October 1, 2026

MIT's museum store is about science and the school without being boring or overly academic, and is so successful in helping fund the museum that it may expand.

LET’S GO SHOPPING

Tiny Turns Paperie grew into a browser’s paradise of puzzles, toys and games, mugs, magnets and hourglasses

by Linda Given September 24, 2026

Stationery was the focus of the store as it opened, and it remains serious about writing, but Tiny Turns grew and found room to add gifts and a miscellany of small items.

FOOD

Yafa Bakery & Café looks to convert empty space in Davis Square into its second location

by Marc Levy September 22, 2026

The Yafa Bakery & Café plans an expansion within Somerville, taking over the old Posto restaurant site in Davis Square after a vacancy of 1.8 years.

BUSINESS

What was once Clover’s kitchen near Inman Square could become open to all in Redevelopment Authority plan

by Marc Levy September 21, 2026

The former Clover fast food location near Inman Square could become Cambridge’s first commercial kitchen as part of a CRA mission to spark economic opportunity.

BUSINESS

The Half Shell closes in Porter Square, making way for a sandwich lover’s haven called The Sub Shop

by Marc Levy September 18, 2026

The Half Shell’s Greek-style pizzas, calzones, pastas and salads are gone, but The Sub Shop, a buzzy transplant from Boston, specializes in artist-level sandwiches.

LET’S GO SHOPPING

Henry Bear’s Park is stuffed with games, books and toys (many of them also stuffed)

by Linda Given September 17, 2026

A column devoted to the many great independent shops of Somerville and Cambridge visits Henry Bear’s Park, a toy store with roots back to 1976.

BUSINESS

Coffee shop in the making aims to bring together Salvadoran beans and Cuban cheese rolls

by Marc Levy September 15, 2026

Launch could come before the end of the year in a vote of confidence in, and expression of gratitude for, the community and business district south of Porter Square.

BUSINESS

Lamplighter surprises employees with plan to go worker-owned next month (updated)

by Marc Levy September 14, 2026

The founders of the Cambridge brewery Lamplighter are looking to step aside and transform it into an employee-owned company. Meetings were planned for Monday.

NEWS

Somerville meetings, Sept. 14-21: Squires Bridge and an all-day Dunkin’

by Marc Levy September 13, 2026

Take part in meetings on the Squires Bridge replacement, school district finances and a Davis Square Neighborhood Council (and take the Davis Square plan survey).

COMMUNITY

A small business boot camp that’s about more than trading business cards

by Michael Gutierrez September 11, 2026

Cambridge Local First taught small business owners how to compete in the digital era in 2026, and plans to reboot the boot camp in 2027.