small business Archives - Cambridge | Somerville Independent

This bike-friendly pop-up has a sweet deal for anyone who can make their way to Inman Square

by Eric Cao August 18, 2026

Before checking out changes to Somerville’s Mossland Street in May, the Boston Cafe Bikers rode to a backyard pop-up for Jimmy’s Cafe. There’s good cause to go back.

LIT

What Cambridge and Somerville readers are buying: A Howard Zinn bio and Homer’s ‘Odyssey’

by Marc Levy August 18, 2026

Every week, the Harvard Book Store shares its list of bestsellers with us and we compare it with what’s on the New York Times’ list. We go our own way.

NEWS

Somerville meetings, Aug. 17-24: Winter Hill school design vote and a 24-hour Dunkin’ is challenged

by Marc Levy August 16, 2026

Take part in meetings and gatherings on Winter Hill school design votes, AI and school discipline issues, challenges to a 24-hour Dunkin’ and a Davis Square “Glow Up.”

BUSINESS

Esh Circus Arts’ big tent is bursting at the seams and expanding to East Somerville

by Marc Levy August 14, 2026

Esh Circus Arts is under a big top, but its classes are so popular that the school adds a second location within Somerville that is expected to open in the fall.

BUSINESS

Don’t expect later last calls, as World Cup bar changes disappear into a giant State House bill

by Marc Levy August 13, 2026

The later last calls that revelers enjoyed during the World Cup appear to have been taken off the menu. “Conviviality districts” with alcohol to-go could still happen.

LET’S GET COFFEE

Call Me Happy: Brews and Belgian waffles carry on beyond Curio

by Corky White August 12, 2026

The cheery greetings, coffee enthusiasm and café gossip at Call Me Honey make it no surprise that the place has retained Curio’s regulars and has added its own fans.

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.

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.

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.