Get to know the people whose businesses make your neighborhood so uniquely Union.
Aeronaut Brewing Company
“Aeronaut was built on the idea of serving as a welcoming and inclusive place for the people of this community to gather. We're extremely proud of being able to bring this vision to life and to be able to incorporate the creative talent that permeates this neighborhood into the fabric of our business.”
Bow Market
“Each photoshoot feels magical at Bow—I am able to get to know the business owners on a deeper level, share a personal moment together, and make images that will represent them and live on.”
Buenas
“The people in my universe—the people that make up Somerville, and the folks who make up my staff—make me extraordinarily proud to keep doing what I do. The restaurant/food industry is so tough, and it's simply because of this community that I'm proud to keep going, keep creating space, keep creating good memories. I think this is really important.”
Cambridge Preschool of the Arts
We are so excited to be in Union Square and trust this adorable and bustling neighborhood will enjoy the sound of our children’s laughter as they explore the neighborhood and playgrounds!
Centrepoint Architects
“I established Centrepoint Architects in 2001, and haven't looked back. Initially based in a Brickbottom loft, we moved to the Taza Chocolate building in 2011. Being a part of the strong community of these buildings and Union Square has resulted in longtime friends and colleagues.”
Chameleon Tattoo
“At Chameleon Tattoo, we are most proud of the relationships we have built with our clients and the impacts we have on their lives. We strive to create a safe space where people can come to express themselves through body art and we pride ourselves on the quality of our work. Our team of experienced artists is dedicated to creating unique and meaningful designs that our clients can be proud of.”
Clementine Hair Studio
“We love the feeling of being able to be a safe space for anyone to express themselves the way they want to, and being able to bring it to life through their hair is an honor.”
Community Action Agency of Somerville
“If we want to have a healthy community—one where children can succeed in their schools, people can go to work, and we can all enjoy being part of our incredible community—we need to make sure our city is able to meet the needs of its people.”
Cool City Cargo
“Union Square is a thriving community that is strengthened by diversity on multiple dimensions: people with different backgrounds, interests, modes of travel, ideas and places of origin. It is home to amazing creative small business and innovation (Boynton Yards, Greentown Labs, Somernova, Bow Market, among others), and businesses that have been here for generations. The Green Line extension and the community bike path have formally put Union Square on the alternative transportation map.”
Counter Culture Coffee
“It is about putting money and education back into the whole supply chain to improve the economic sustainability of all stakeholders, while also reinvesting money into ensuring environmental sustainability along the way.”
CultureHouse
“CultureHouse started when we identified two problems; firstly, there was not a lot of public space in Boston, especially in the winter months; secondly, there were a lot of vacant storefronts. So we asked 'what would a pop-up indoor public space look like?' The answer was CultureHouse!”
Dandelion Montessori
“We are a collaborative community of educators, families, and Montessori learners from ages 2 years and 9 months to 6 years. Our school supports an inclusive and diverse community of children and their families that fosters the growth of the whole child on their journey to becoming peaceful, powerful, and purposeful human beings.”
El Potro Mexican Bar & Grill
“We always want our customers to feel at home, and we work hard every day to make sure that they experience the warmth of home, every time they step through the door.”
Gracie’s Ice Cream
“Gracie’s Ice Cream strives to make our neighborhood stronger and safer by providing a comfortable and welcoming environment to every member of our community. Our shop is better and more fun when it makes the neighborhood better and more fun.”
Himalayan Kitchen
“We firmly believe that the success of Himalayan Kitchen lies not only in the authenticity of our flavors but also in the relationships we have fostered with our patrons, partners, and associates—making us proud leaders in our industry.”
Hub Comics
“Hub Comics is a graphic novel store with a curated selection of the finest alternative, non-fiction, sci-fi, fantasy, horror, action, young adult, and all-ages comics, plus art books, back issues, and "this week" new single issues...We are happy to answer your questions, make recommendations, help you recall that story you heard about, and match you to a beautiful and compelling book.”
The Independent
“We are proud to be Union Square’s neighborhood restaurant, and we strive to create a warm and welcoming space for the community–from first dates to family meals, from friends catching a game on TV to staff from neighboring restaurants coming in for last call and late night food. We love our Union Square neighborhood.”
Juliet social club
“I've loved to see the neighborhood grow and evolve, but also maintain so many of the neighbors and businesses that we came up with. Change hasn't been perfect here maybe, but it has been better than it could have been. I appreciate living, and doing business, as part of an engaged and diverse community.”
The KMW School of Painting
“Union Square is such a delight. It’s a legitimate mix of anything you could want: homes and businesses, specialty shops and all-in-one places, excited newcomers and established fixtures, mom and pop and mama y papa! Everyone works on their own projects with their own styles and goals in mind, and we all learn from one another. We make each other better. That’s Union.”
Lunch City Studio
“My business is named after my dog, Lunchbox. A lot of my inspiration comes from our walks together around the city. I'm looking at buildings while she is looking for sticks.”
maca boston
“I love my everyday conversations with our neighborhood! We are so lucky to be in a community where folx take a genuine interest in the businesses around them.”
Machu Picchu
“I love my everyday conversations with our neighborhood! We are so lucky to be in a community where folx take a genuine interest in the businesses around them…A melting pot of many diverse cultures live in this city and it makes me very proud to be a part of its community.”
Make & Mend
“Seeing how artists are able to be more sustainable in their art practice makes me so proud! Also seeing the lifecycle of a material, from donation, to processing to being sold and then used again.”
NU Kitchen
“We see the Kitchen as the heart of the home; it’s a comfortable and welcoming gathering place that brings everyone together.”
Parenting Journey
“We may not all be parents but we were all parented which in a unique way is a unifier. Our programs take time to reflect on our own upbringing, and explore the connection between how we were parented and how we are raising our own children, while also promoting self-care strategies.”
Play Union
Debbie shares that her favorite part of her business is “creating community for young families.” Often, you can see a line of strollers parked outside of Debbie’s shop.
QRST’s
“I have always been fascinated by screen printing and apparel decoration and the idea of having your custom image printed on hundreds of shirts to be seen by everyone.”
Rebel Rebel Wine Bar
“I wanted to start Rebel Rebel because I believe good wine is for everyone—I felt like the neighborhood needed a place for folks to come together and engage with one another over a glass of something special.”
Reliable Market
“We are proud to represent the Asian Community in Union Square. There has always been a deep history of Korean and Japanese cultures in the neighborhood and we are proud to continue these traditions through the food we cook and unique ingredients found at our market.”
Remnant Somerville
“Craft beer is all about good times and friends. What could be better than making great beer ourselves, and serving it to folks who quickly become friends!? It's also incredibly empowering to be a place for our employees to work as they go to school, explore various full-time career options, and start families.”
RESPOND
“It is a gift to hear from our neighbors all the ways RESPOND has intersected with and impacted their lives. It really takes a village to end domestic violence and support survivors, and we're grateful to be part of this one.”
Saus at Bow Market
“Businesses join the Union Square community, make friends, and participate in the unique events held here. Watching connections being made and new opportunities become available to them is so rewarding.”
Second Chances
“Knowing that appearance and self-esteem are important elements in finding housing, participating in job training programs, and accessing benefits, I drew on my relationships and involvement in the Somerville and Cambridge nonprofit community—plus three generations of family experience in clothing and textiles—to develop an innovative and effective program to meet an important local need.”
Soft Space Wellness
“In a time where our bodies and minds needed care more than ever, our individualized approach led to the creation of a community of people on the same path—one of building resilience through strength in a focused and conscious way, adjusting for the variables that life inevitably brings.”
Somerville Community Growing Center
“Density is a key aspect of Somerville; that the wildness of the city can flourish even in a small space like ours is an echo of the developed land of the surrounding landscape and the character of the community. We are who we are BECAUSE of our surrounding neighborhood, rather than DESPITE it.”
Somerville Media Center
“We help Somervillians tell their stories. SMC provides a safe space where members of our community can learn to create”
Studio for Sculptural Arts
“We are both artists who recognize the joys and challenges inherent in this path and in particular, challenges for sculptors who often require expensive equipment, training and space. We are just getting started with this brand new entity and are excited to share our passion for making art with our community.”
Union Market
“Being able to give the opportunity to families to make meals like they would in their home country brings us so much joy. People often bring us food to share their happiness with our store. We’ve become a voice in the Latino community and we use it to spread love and good messages.”
Urban Axes
“Our employees and league community are what makes me the most proud to be a business leader…Watching this group of people evolve from strangers to friends, traveling and competing together in something no one had heard of a few years ago is a pretty incredible thing to be a part of.”
Vera’s