Ashland’s Bold Vision: The Corner Spot

“Changes are happening here in downtown Ashland,” Town Manager Michael Herbert stated at the Grand Opening of The Corner Spot in late June. “People said we couldn’t do it, but we have done it. This is truly a community-built project, and I am proud of the team, led by our Economic Development Director Beth Reynolds, who made this happen.”
Reynolds approached Herbert with this innovative concept more than 11 months prior. “He told me to run with it,” Reynolds noted with a smile. “But I couldn’t have done it without the six volunteers who jumped on board to make this happen: Brandi Kinsman, Tricia Kendall, Nadine Nesbitt, Betsy Emberley ,and Assistant Town Manager Jenn Ball.”
With the help of crowdfunding partner, Patronicity, more than $38,000 was raised from individual and business donations, ranging from gifts of $10 to $9,000. MassDevelopment, the state’s economic development and financing agency, matched the initial $25,000 raised with funding from its Commonwealth Places program that supports place-based, community-driven projects.
Numerous vendors stepped up to help make this vision a reality, from schematics to logo design, demolition and construction, electrical work, plumbing, and landscaping. Generous community sponsors such as 126 Self Storage, which served as Top Sponsor, and others including, Needham Bank, R.L. Goldman Co., and the Ashland Business Association, also showed their belief in the project and their commitment to the community.
Representative Jack Lewis and District Liaison Dennis Giombetti of Senator Karen E. Spilka’s office were on hand to read an official, congratulatory State Senate Citation and participate in the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
In her last public appearance as the President and CEO of MassDevelopment, Marty Jones noted, “The Corner Spot serves as a good example of the kind of strong partnership that can exist between the state, local officials ,and the community at large. It’s fantastic to see, on the ground, what our involvement can mean to the vitality of this town.”
The Coffee Trike, owned by Alessandro Bellino, settled in as the inaugural vendor featured at The Corner Spot, doling out cold-brewed coffee, espresso drinks and fresh lemonade at the opening. The August business lineup will include the photography, arts and crafts of Sweet Home Handmade (through Aug. 3), soaps, soap making and bath product classes by Jennifer’s Handmade Soaps (Aug. 4-17) and another opportunity to experience the full espresso bar of The Coffee Trike (Aug. 17-31).
Each vendor is given the opportunity to set up in the New England-style pop-up shed for a week or two with the goal of introducing their new and emerging business into the Ashland economic landscape and the possibility of retaining their business in a nearby location, once the trial proves successful.
A community gathering place for all ages, The Corner Spot hosts family board game nights every other Thursday evening from 5 to 8 p.m., teen spot nights on Fridays from 5 to 7 p.m., open mic nights on Sundays from 5 to 7 p.m., and celebrity read aloud events each Wednesday morning from 10 to 11. Enjoy playing corn hole, the giant Jenga game or inflatable giant bowling, as well as experiencing food truck events, music, and a few movie nights. There are porch swings and a café seating area for relaxed conversations, the children’s play area and, also this month, the Book Swap Spot, Yoga on the spot, and more.
Be sure to take advantage of this great opportunity for communion with family, friends, and neighbors. It’s all there for the taking.
Discover more about the August pop-up business lineup at Facebook.com/thecornerspotashland.