Boston Seaport Development

Submitted  by JM Electrical Company, Inc.

This summer has seen continued development throughout Boston’s Seaport District. For instance, Outdoor Voices – an exercise gear and clothing company – launched its first store in the New England with a dog run along the waterfront. And Cardullo’s Gourmet Shoppe, a Harvard Square staple, opened its first store outside Cambridge on Seaport Boulevard.

Clearly, the Seaport District has undergone a major transformation in recent years. The once desolate area is now the city’s hottest spot for corporate headquarters and new residential buildings. But with a waterfront view, the Seaport District is also the perfect location for a robust retail and restaurant scene. As existing commercial properties have filled with tenants and personnel, and as new buildings continue to rise, the Seaport’s office workers, residents and visitors are presented with a number of newfound shops and eateries, even as more are under construction.

JM Electrical has seen firsthand the development of the restaurant and retail boom, both inside the Seaport as well as in other burgeoning Boston hotspots, such as the revitalized Downtown Crossing. While they vary in design and location, every one of these new venues has recognized the importance of a high-end control system. As a result, customers at these establishments have enjoyed comfortable dining and shopping experiences in places where the weather can be extreme—from gusty and cold in the winter to stiflingly hot in the summer.

Below are some of the new restaurants and retail establishments that have recently opened:

Caffé Nero:
Located at 55 Northern Ave in the Seaport, Caffé Nero is a European style coffee house that serves premium Italian coffee, handmade pastries, fresh sandwiches and salads.

Fuku:
Opening soon at 43 Northern Ave., Fuku — a casual chicken concept that began as a simple fried chicken take-out place— has expanded, offering a variety of chicken dishes, along with seasonal offerings, slushies, and more.

Shake Shack:
Shake Shack’s 100th location is now open at 77 Seaport Blvd. Shake Shack serves up burgers, milk shakes and all the beloved classics, along with the Seaport Salt & Malt, a local favorite made with chocolate custard, salted caramel sauce, chocolate toffee, Somerville-produced Taza dark chocolate chunks, and malt powder.

Tuscan Kitchen:
The chefs at Tuscan Kitchen, located at 64 Seaport Blvd. prepare everything in house for an authentic Italian experience. Pastas are made fresh, bread is prepared daily in their artisan bakery, and desserts are carefully crafted by master pastry chefs.

ShowPlace Icon Theatre:
The ShowPlace Icon Theatre, at the heart of the Seaport District, is a luxury cinema complex that features 10 small-scale auditoriums screening the latest films, as well as a restaurant and lounge with spectacular views of the Boston skyline. Auditoriums range from the 131-seat ICON-X premium large format room to a more intimate 63-seat auditorium.

As we have seen in numerous Boston neighborhoods, the key to an enhanced economy—as well as the opportunity to live, work and play all in one area—is adding restaurants and retail spaces to the mix. They complete the social scene of these up-and-coming neighborhoods and create a desirable destination for residents, workers, visitors, diners and shoppers alike.

Greater Boston is home to many vibrant pockets currently under development, from the Seaport to downtown to East Boston and the suburbs.  And to a large degree, restaurants and retail expansions are driving larger projects, making them viable as true mixed-use developments.   It is a privilege to contribute to the ever-expanding ventures that are collectively shaping Boston’s reputation as a world-class city.