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Cambridge Retail Space - For Rent & Sale

Thanks to its diverse population and upscale reputation, Cambridge is a great place to open a business. Whether you own a business already or plan on starting one, the first step is finding the right retail space. There are typically plenty of options in and around Cambridge, but sorting through them all -- and getting what you want while it's still available -- can be a challenge. Do yourself a favor and take advantage of Boston City Properties' free property listings, which include listings for retail and commercial space in Cambridge.

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Retail Space

How to Find Cambridge Retail Space

Like most business owners, you probably have certain things in mind regarding the kinds of spaces that will suit your company. Location is more than half the battle when it comes to running a thriving business, so it's well worth it to take your time and do plenty of research. No matter how much or how little space you need or the type of lease you require, Boston City Properties has you covered. Our friendly retail space leasing experts are available to help you sort through the most viable options. Since Cambridge enjoys so much pedestrian traffic, it's a great area for retail shops, and plenty of commercial properties with street-facing windows are available at any given time.

Locate the Perfect Retail Space in Cambridge with Boston City Properties

The location of your business can guarantee its success or doom it to failure. If you'd like to purchase or lease prime retail space in Cambridge, you're going to need easy access to accurate, timely information. Boston City Properties' listings provide that and much more. As an added bonus, our team is here to help bring you up to speed about the current available options and to provide expert advice regarding lease terms and similar topics. We're ready when you are, so sign up to browse our listings for Cambridge commercial and retail space now.

Overview of the Market

This city has a wide variety of unique options for just about anyone looking for a commercial option to rent, lease, or sale. There are definitely a lot of unique opportunities in this market, so if a prospective tenant is planning on or just thinking about starting up or extending a business into this area of Massachusetts, then there are definitely some excellent avenues to success.

In fact, with two of the most prestigious Ivy League Universities in close proximity, opening a location that can grow a business in town can be very lucrative. The only decision a business owner has to settle on is the means of setting up their commercial enterprise; the town has more than enough options for both sale properties and rental ones as well.

In this area, there are a wide array of potential locations that can accommodate a plethora of business types that include restaurants, commercial storefronts, and grocery/convenience locations. While the area is firmly established as one of the major towns in the state, it's also a town that's constantly growing; as a result, there are always emergent commercial possibilities.

In this guide, some of the area's commercial options will be covered so that business owners thinking to start up or expand a commercial opportunity into this area will know what's available. Currently, there are several large businesses in the area that fall into each commercial realm, and here is a list so that business owners can better understand the landscape:

Despite there being a high number of these larger chains existing in this area of Massachusetts, these stores often are supplemented by smaller businesses, which is where the area has a high amount of opportunities for entrepreneurs.

In a neighborhood like this one that dates back to the 1600s, there's guaranteed to be a lot of classic-style buildings. As a result, when a businessperson is looking for a commercial business location, there's a high chance that the building that the businessperson selects will feature a brick style of construction that has made the hometown of Harvard so iconic. It's very easy to find buildings that offer this type of storefront property that dates back to the 1800s or even earlier.

Commercial Storefront Opportunities

If a prospective storefront renter or leaser is looking to establish a general location to do business, this specific neighborhood is ideal. In fact, the area has some of the most storefront opportunities for generalized business in the Boston area. For this reason, if an entrepreneur is looking to establish a general or convenience store, a café, or other street-level business, this specific neighborhood is a great choice.

This is especially advantageous due to the fact that this town is one of the most well-known college towns in the world, which means that a street-level commercial storefront will have a relatively easy time drumming up business from the local student bodies of both Harvard and M.I.T. campuses. It's also beneficial that many of these commercial properties tend to provide basement areas for the storage of goods.

Office Opportunities

Not all business in town is done on the street level. When an entrepreneur is looking to bring their offices to this bustling neighborhood, they will find that there are ample opportunities to establish offices for their startup or commercial business. The level of the business area can vary; some buildings in town have first floor options and others provide this type of location on the second floor of a walk-up. In any situation, there are properties with more than 16,000 square feet of office area, which means that business owners can set up a fairly extensive office environment in town.

Grocery Storefront Opportunities

This neighborhood has more than a few opportunities for a business owner that wants to start up a grocery store. Despite the presence of three Whole Foods and other grocery stores, there's a lot of opportunity for smaller grocery options that sell natural food to the students and townspeople. The properties that can be used for standard commercial storefront options can also typically be used for smaller grocery storefronts as well.

In this area of Massachusetts, there are more than a few corner area storefronts for rent, sale, or lease that can work well for someone looking to expand into the area. Additionally, large retailers like Whole Foods Markets source some of their products from local businesses, which can provide a boost to a commercial business owner's sales.

Typical Prices for Renting and Buying

This area of the company is rich and history and has more than a few buildings that date back hundreds of years. As a result, when someone is searching for commercial opportunities in the area, prices can certainly vary based on the building age, historical status, and the proximity to other landmarks in town. In this area, like other areas of the country, it's crucial for prospective renters and owners to understand that properties in this town usually vary based on a few factors such as square footage and estimated operating expenses.

As a result, it's not uncommon to find commercial opportunities that appear like this: $35.00/sf/yr; this simply means that the area is rentable for the rate of $35.00 per square foot of area over the course of a year. This means that you multiply the square footage of the area that's being rented in the neighborhood by this number and then divide that number by 12 to establish the monthly rate. Some property owners will charge the aforementioned estimated operating expenses, which may charge a few extra dollars per square foot rented as well.

A good example of a rental property for commercial use in this area exists on 123 River Street. This specific listing is a freestanding general commercial property that dates back to 1854. The total building size of this property is 2,446 square feet, which is split between a few commercial businesses.

The asking price for this specific property is $35.00 to $45.00/sf/yr. The current available area for this property is 900 square feet, which means that the pricing for this unit can vary from $2,625 to $3,375 per month. Most business owners will find to be very reasonable, especially considering that this property is in a prime area of the city.

In this town, like in other areas of the country, the larger the amount of area the better rental rates. For example, for a large swath of industrial area in the city like the property on 61 Mooney Street, you'll be able to rent 9,000 square feet, which is a sizeable area. At the rate of $16.25/sf/yr, renters would be spending about $12,188 a month for a fairly spacious work area.

If a business owner is looking to buy, commercial properties in this area will typically vary anywhere from two to nine million dollars per property. As one might expect, the price will typically vary based on the size of the unit/building and the location; typically, when a property is close to landmarks like Harvard, the price will tend to go up considerably.

Commercial properties and areas in this part of Massachusetts have a tendency to be more rentable than for sale, but there are definitely some opportunities for ownership in this historic town. Additionally, there are also listings that aren't disclosed insofar as pricing that is available for both sale and rent, so a prospective renter or owner will have to execute some due diligence to determine the specific pricing and availability of each type of commercial storefront options.

Real Estate News in the Area

Using Whole Foods to Grown Your Food Business

This town has three Whole Foods, which is becoming one of the fastest growing grocery brands in the country, and as a result, the presence of three distinct stores in this area presents some commercial opportunities for those looking to seize on them.

Not only does the grocery chain offer natural alternatives to the food that's typically found in grocery stores throughout the country, but they also pay very close attention to locally sourcing their food options. As a result, Whole Food provides an extra venue to sell a food-based product if a business owner is setting up shop in town. As a result, both the business that's located at its own commercial home gains benefits from word of mouth, but there's also another avenue of profit through the Whole Food's sales as well.

The company is fairly cooperative; they seek out local suppliers first, and while business owners will definitely have to take a few steps in order for their food to appear in a store, with three stores in the area, the advantages are simply worth the effort. A business's products simply have to be pesticide-free, organic, and be observant of animal and worker well-being.

In fact, the company will even work with local suppliers that don't quite make the grade insofar as the company's guidelines so that the supplier can adjust their methods and gain this extra means of reaching the public. Garnering this kind of public recognition can certainly add value to a storefront because Whole Foods grows brands, and with so many commercial-ready location opportunities in this area of Massachusetts, it's a possibility that shouldn't be ignored.

Harvard's Real Estate Expansion Presents Unique Opportunities for Commercial Owners

This past October, Harvard announced that it was planning to develop the 358 acres that it owns in the Allston area of Massachusetts. As a result, there are a wide array of opportunities for business owners to get in on the ground floor in a part of the state that's sure to be one of the biggest up and coming neighborhoods in the Boston area.

In addition to this land, Harvard also owns 215 acres of land near its main campus in town, and while this is the university's home, it's very possible that alongside its Allston expansion, the university may end up adding on to its properties in town. This, of course, means that there will be new real estate and commercial options for entrepreneurs looking to expand storefront and commercial opportunities into this area of Massachusetts' already competitive market.

Amazon's Potential Move to Boston can be Precisely What Business Owners Need

Over the past year, Amazon has been searching for a new city to host its second headquarters, and just this past month, it's narrowed its options to 20 distinct and very viable cities, in which Boston was one of the finalists. Should Amazon select Boston as a new location, the commercial opportunities will be vast considering the influx of people moving and working in the greater area.

As a result of this, based on anticipation alone, it's worth considering a commercial storefront opportunity in this neighborhood. As a result of this potential project, it's expected that thousands of jobs will be created, which will bring money into the community making it an excellent neighborhood for entrepreneurs to set up shop in.

And based on most market buzz, it seems that Boston, which houses this neighborhood, is almost a shoe-in for this new headquarters. This is based on Bloomberg research and the fact that the company has already purchased companies in the area and has also purchased up to a million square feet in the city. In any situation, just the buzz alone from this potential move can make this neighborhood an excellent up and comer for business owners to try out for new commercial opportunities.

Take Advantage of the Development Boom that Boston is Experiencing

Just about every surrounding town and neighborhood in the Boston area is currently experiencing a boom. In fact, experts say that this sudden uptick of growth is the biggest experienced in the state's history, which brings with it several opportunities for entrepreneurs that are savvy enough to seize on the steady year-over-year growth.

With the increase in development, an increasing amount of people are moving into the neighborhood, which is why it can be advantageous for businesspeople considering an expansion or new commercial location to get in while it's still viable. There are thousands of commercial locations available throughout this neighborhood, and with these locations come opportunities for a plethora of commercial business types from restaurants to box stores. Pricing in the area is also very reasonable; it's definitely possible to find storefront locations for as little as $1.62/SF/Mo for an area with 2,350 square feet of commercial area.

Looking for a Commercial Opportunity? Contact Us

This city tells a very historic tale that dates back to the earliest days of the country, and as a result, the population is diverse, and there are a lot of possibilities for anyone that's looking to start a new business or expand their existing business into this part of the state. One of the largest draws for businesses to this area is the fact that the city has a very upscale reputation, which means that there are plenty of opportunities to make a profit.

That being said, it's not the easiest thing to locate these opportunities by oneself, which is why a service like Boston City Properties is a great option for entrepreneurs that are looking for a way to expand into this town. We have knowledgeable area leasing and owning experts on-staff that know the area like the backs of their hands, and as a result, can help you save time searching for a commercial area that fits your business needs.

Our agents also understand your commercial needs like which locations take advantage of nearby public transit, pedestrian traffics, and they even understand the shopping tendencies of the area. Size is no issue; our agents understand that some businesses prefer smaller commercial areas and some need much larger areas in which to do business. As a result, your time won't be wasted – the team will only present you with properties that fit your exacting criteria.

All of our information at Boston City Properties is timely and up-to-date, which helps us ensure that you're not looking at or considering viewing properties that are no longer available. Whether you are looking to rent, lease, or own a piece of commercial real estate, we can provide you the most accurate information so that you can make an informed business decision.

Signing up is easy – simply navigate to our site and click login – this will help you navigate to our sign up page, which will help you start the process of getting in contact with our knowledgeable staff. Once you're past this point, you can use the contact link to talk to us, or you can look at the available commercial areas that are present in this area of the state.

The site not only has multiple listings for commercial opportunities, but it's an excellent means to get the ball rolling for your own business. You can use it as a springboard to set up an appointment to come into our office, which is located at 581 Boylston Street in Boston, and view properties with our leasing and ownership experts.

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Retail Space