Newton's Chamber Moves To Needham, In 100 Year First

NEWTON, MA — After nearly 20 years of being tucked into the Marshalls plaza along Needham Street, the Newton-Needham Regional Chamber of commerce is closing at the end of the month and moving out of Newton: Thus ends a more than century-old chapter in the city.

But it's not going far. The chamber, which is one of Greater Boston's fastest growing chambers of commerce, representing hundreds of area businesses, is set to reopen across the border in Needham on Sept 1.

After years of planning, pushback and petitioning, the crews are set to develop the shopping center into the Northland Newton Development Project. Some 28 acres, stretching along Needham Street, Oak Street to the Upper Falls Greenway near Chestnut Street will be transformed into residential, retail, office and green space.

"The move certainly marks the end of an era," said Katherine Herer, the chamber’s operating manager.

Herer said that the chamber's physical offices have moved around Newton throughout the past century, but its offices have never been situated anywhere other than the Garden City.

"For the first time in chamber history the nonprofit will have a physical location in Needham," she said.

On Sept. 1, the chamber's offices will reopen less than a half a mile down the street and across the river at the Staples Connect on Highland Avenue in Needham.

Staples Connect transformed recently into a reimagined retail store with coworking, podcasting and community spaces earlier this year.

Much of the chamber team will continue to work remotely, but will hold office hours by appointment at the Staples. When you go inside it's next to the print and design studio to the left when you enter the main store.

The chamber of commerce is the eight largest in the state, according to its president Greg Reibman.

Read more:

• Newton-Needham Project To Highlight Influential People Of Color...
• Seniors Awarded Scholarships From Newton-Needham Chamber ...
• Staples Redesigns Needham Store
• Newton Voters Approve Northland Project: Election ...
• Newton Wins $400K Grant For Upper Falls Greenway
• Governor Baker Praises Newton's Northland Project ...

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