Assembly Row Assembles Outstanding Art Market
Assembly Row may be new, but it has big plans. Developer Federal Realty is in the process of crafting a whole new neighborhood, one of the largest mixed-use developments under construction in Greater Boston. By its grand opening next year, it will bring iconic brand outlet shopping, sought-after regional restaurants, a 12 screen AMC theater, a new T station, 450 apartments, LEED office space and an amazing renewed riverfront park to Somerville, Massachusetts. And it’s already making a name for itself across the state thanks to ASSEMBLED, a weekly handmade arts market taking place at the center every Saturday this summer.
Andrea Simpson, Director, Marketing & Tourism/Corporate Communications for Federal Realty, spoke with us about the inspiration behind Assembled.
“In May we kicked off ASSEMBLED to do three things,” she explained, “to begin fostering an organic sense of community within this new neighborhood, to help educate our friends about what’s coming and to begin drawing in customers from outside of our immediate market.”
With those customers, Assembly Row will be able to support a larger draw for its outlet shops. It will also have a strong reputation for supporting the arts. According to Simpson, Somerville has the largest per capita number of artists in the country, second only to New York City.
“Because of that, Federal Realty felt it was a natural fit to create an arts market as an extension of Somerville’s strong arts brand.”
Assembly Row has gone all out with ASSEMBLED, working with a number of curators in diverse art genres to make sure that each week delivers something different. Shoppers visiting the market for the first time will have plenty to enjoy, but repeat visitors will find new treasures every time they attend.
“A recent show in July was curated by White Barn Heirlooms of Massachusetts which focuses on transforming, recycling and repurposing timeworn, vintage and antique furniture and other items for the home. In August, one of our shows is being curated by Wicked Etsy and will feature some of the trendiest Etsy artists in New England displaying and selling jewelry, whimsical items for the home and funky wearables.” And just as on-trend, the final show on September 21st will feature a Steampunk theme as part of a larger annual Riverfest celebration.
Shoppers who visit ASSEMBLED have had much more than shopping to enjoy. Assembly Row has brought in some of the city and country’s best-known food trucks, may of which have visited Somerville for the first time with the market. The summer schedule is also filled out with fun summer events like fitness boot camps, a 5K race and Pet Palooza.
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Madison Capital
