December 17, 2010

By Hillary O’Rourke,
Globe Correspondent

With new light fixtures, repaired parking meters, fixed-up sidewalks, new trash barrels, and more than 100 trees lit for the holiday season, Boston’s glitziest street is finally back in action.

«Newbury Street is bouncing back in a big way ... it has never looked better than it does now,» said Tom Brennan, vice president of C. Talanian Realty, a company that owns and manages about 30 properties on Newbury.

According to the Boston Real Estate blog, Newbury Street, home to eight blocks of salons, boutiques, and dining, has more than 30 new shops that have recently opened, signed a lease, or are under construction from this past year, from Converse to Pinkberry to Forever 21.

This is certainly a change from what it had been about a year ago. An increase of businesses in the past couple of years either closed or relocated shops, including large chain stores such as the Gap and Pottery Barn and smaller retailers like Tess & Carlos and the Kidder Smith Gallery. The retailers just couldn’t compete with the enemy: economic recession. And because of it, gaping holes were left on the famous and historical street.

The companies have learned how to deal with their often-losing battle against the recession with the use of several tactics, sales and discounts being the most prominent. Newbury Street relies heavily on the buying power of shoppers and at this point, sales seem extremely attractive and appealing to those who have a strict budget to follow.