We are excited to share the Mayor’s Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion January newsletter featuring news, updates, and important information from our Cabinet. | | | |
LICENSING BOARD APPROVES FIRST FIVE LIQUOR LICENSE UPGRADE FOR BEER AND WINE LICENSEES
On Thursday, January 29, the Boston Licensing Board approved five applications from beer and wine licensees upgrading to non-transferable all alcoholic beverages licenses.
The approved applicants include 89 Charles in Beacon Hill, The Bebop in the Fenway, Carmelina's and New England Wicked Craft Company in the North End, and Serafina in Back Bay.
These are the first five businesses in Massachusetts to take advantage of this legislation, which was included in the Fiscal Year 2026 Massachusetts State Budget. The Licensing Board will send the five applications to the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission for investigation and final approval.
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As part of the Fiscal Year 2026 Massachusetts State Budget, the State Legislature gave municipalities across Massachusetts the opportunity to opt into legislation that allows licensees permitted to sell only wines and malt beverages to trade in their license for a non-transferable all alcoholic beverages license.
Additionally, the Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion has developed Beer and Wine Upgrade FAQs to address frequently asked questions about the beer and wine upgrade legislation.
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CITY OF BOSTON TO CELEBRATE ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK FEBRUARY 15 - 21
The City of Boston’s Business Strategy team is partnering with Mendoza Impact and Startup Boston to host a lively networking event celebrating National Entrepreneurship Week on Tuesday, February 17.
Attendees can expect engaging conversations with founders at every stage, perspectives from investors and funders actively shaping the market, and opportunities to meet the partners who help companies grow and scale.
| | Additionally, follow the Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion’s social media, where we will spotlight local startups throughout the week. | | |
BUSINESS STRATEGY WELCOMES KYOTO DELEGATION TO CITY HALL
Last week, the City of Boston's Business Strategy team welcomed leaders from the Kyoto City Startup Promotion Unit and the Consulate-General of Japan in Boston for a productive exchange focused on deep tech, startup ecosystem collaboration, and global market access.
We look forward to continued collaboration and strengthening ties between Boston and Kyoto’s innovation communities.
| | TOURISM, SPORTS, AND ENTERTAINMENT | | |
CITY OF BOSTON HOSTS ANNUAL CELEBRATION IN HONOR OF REV. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
On Monday, January 19, the City of Boston, led by the Tourism, Sports, and Entertainment Department, presented "A Day of Celebration in Honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.," in partnership with Boston University.
This year’s celebration centered on the theme “Justice Indivisible: Fighting Racism, Greed, and War,” inspired by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s 1967 "Three Evils of Society" speech, which names racism, poverty, and militarism as persistent threats to American democracy. The program featured remarks from Mayor Michelle Wu and a keynote address by writer, scholar, and cultural organizer Dr. Eve L. Ewing.
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MAYOR MICHELLE WU CELEBRATES BOSTON SMALL BUSINESSES DURING INAUGURATION WEEK
Mayor Michelle Wu and the Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion gathered with dozens of Boston’s small business owners on January 7 to celebrate their accomplishments and their contributions across Boston's neighborhoods as part of Mayor Wu’s inauguration week event programming.
During Mayor Wu's first term, the Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion awarded more than $35 million dollars in grant relief to more than 1,500 small businesses through the Legacy Business Program, the Re-FRESH Program, ReStore Boston, the SCALE Business Accelerator Program, and the SPACE Grant Program.
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CITY OF BOSTON
CITY OF BOSTON BLACK HISTORY MONTH KICK OFF AND FLAG RAISING
February 2, 2026 | City Hall Plaza | 12 pm
Join the City of Boston for a Black History Month flag-raising ceremony and community gathering. The event will honor the legacy, resilience, and achievements of Black communities in Boston and beyond.
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ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND INCLUSION
BOSTON RESTAURATEURS INTERACTIVE NETWORKING AND OPEN HOUSE
February 9, 2026 | TriMark Innovation Center | 1 pm - 4 pm
This event will feature hands-on demonstrations, practical tools and equipment for improving kitchen and bar efficiency, guidance on preparing for high-traffic seasons, and opportunities to connect with the City of Boston's Office of Small Business and Licensing Board staff.
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BUSINESS STRATEGY
STARTUP BOSTON: NAVIGATING THE BOSTON STARTUP ECOSYSTEM AS AN IMMIGRANT FOUNDER
February 25, 2026 | Virtual | 9 am
Join Startup Boston and the City of Boston for a virtual event designed for immigrant founders, international students, and new residents looking to get involved in Boston’s startup ecosystem.
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BOSTON.COM
Boston Frostival returns to reimagine winter with Ferris wheel, lodge wine festival
The citywide winter festival continues this February with new activations in Copley Square and along the Rose Kennedy Greenway. [READ MORE]
BOSTON GLOBE
Boston has given out 64 new free liquor licenses. Here’s how they’re changing the city.
This article spotlights the 64 liquor licenses approved by the Boston Licensing Board across 14 neighborhoods, including Comfort Kitchen, Ama at the Atlas, Jadu, and Gracenote Coffee's The Listening Room. [READ MORE]
BOSTON GLOBE
The James Beard 2026 restaurant and chef award semifinalists list is out. Here are the region’s nominees.
On January 21, the James Beard Foundation announced the highly anticipated semifinalists for its 2026 Restaurant and Chef Awards. The roster is vast, with a few notable Boston picks. [READ MORE]
WBUR
Giant eyes, see-saws and tentacles appear in downtown Boston
This article spotlights the third annual Winteractive, a free, walkable art experience featuring artworks and interactive play elements at 18 different sites, presented by the Downtown Boston Alliance. [READ MORE]
| | House of Culture Founder and Owner Patrick Petty and Creative and Digital Director Zoë Petty. | |
BOSTON BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: HOUSE OF CULTURE
House of Culture, a City of Boston Legacy Business, has shaped the style and culture of Boston residents for more than three decades. Founded in 1991 by Patrick Petty as Culture Shock on Newbury Street, the store was inspired by Patrick's lived experiences growing up in New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio and attending college in London, England. Culture Shock blended fashion, music, and art, as well as featured a DJ Booth and curated art collection.
In 1998, as the store evolved into a community and Boston staple, Culture Shock was renamed to House of Culture. House of Culture relocated to Columbus Avenue in the South End in 2005, where it has remained since. Its physical storefront will officially close tomorrow, January 31. While the storefront is closing, House of Culture will remain fully operational online, offering local delivery, virtual styling, and concierge services.
As House of Culture looks ahead, plans for growth, and continues to serve Boston and beyond, their plans require a larger space. They hope to bring back some of what they offered at their original Newbury Street location in the late 1990s and early 2000s to their next location, which will be announced later this year.
Stay tuned for an upcoming spotlight video on the Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion's social media where Patrick and his daughter Zoë share more about the legacy of House of Culture in Boston and what's next.
Learn more and shop with House of Culture at hocboston.com.
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Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion
1 City Hall Square, Boston, MA 02201
econdev@boston.gov
617-635-5729
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