Savor the Square
Savor the Square is a culturally-inspired economic development program that supports BIPOC micro-entrepreneurs, including vendors, musicians, and performers, through a curated platform that allows them to showcase their creative expressions and build new audiences. The program is in partnership with the Shaw-Roxbury Branch of the Boston Public Library and other local organizations and is part of broader redevelopment efforts in Nubian Square.
About Savor the Square
Savor the Square is a culturally inspired economic development and community engagement program led by The American City Coalition. At each Nubian Square anchor event, Savor uplifts and supports over 20 BIPOC micro-entrepreneurs by providing a curated platform to showcase their creative expressions, generate income, and build community through shared cultural and lived experiences. The program further procures goods/services from local BIPOC businesses. Held monthly from April through October on the plaza of the Shaw-Roxbury Branch Boston Public Library, each themed event features local talent, including musicians from Berklee College of Music and its alumni network, offering emerging artists greater exposure and connection to local audiences. In 2023, the program expanded to include the Greater Roxbury Book Fair, further enriching Savor’s cultural footprint and reinforcing its role as a catalyst for community vibrancy and inclusive economic growth in Roxbury and beyond.
Join Us for Savor the Square
This proactive partnership between TACC, Roxbury Main Streets, and the Boston Public Library is the implementation of a key recommendation from the Nubian Square Market Analysis and enriches the Square in four ways:
- Expands an amenity that sparks positive energy and fun in the community
- Activates a high-visibility public space by increasing the number of residents who visit Nubian Square
- Supplies healthy, locally-grown and locally-produced food to residents
- Boosts economic opportunities for Roxbury Main Streets and micro-businesses
Save these Saturdays for Savor the Square 2026 on the plaza at the Shaw-Roxbury Branch of the Boston Public Library
- April 25, Roxbury Arbor Day (12PM-5PM)
- May 16, Greater Roxbury Book Fair (9AM-5PM)
- June 20, Roxbury Family Celebration (12PM-5PM)
- July 18, Roxbury Cultural + Music Festival (12PM-5PM)
- August 29, Peace, Love, and Hope Gospel Fest (12PM-5PM)
- September 26, Shop Nubian Square Day (12PM-5PM)
- October 24, Honoring Indigenous Peoples (12PM-5PM)
Located in Nubian Square
Our Vendors
Product Showcase
Building on Past Success
Since launching in 2020, TACC has hosted 38 Savor the Square activations. Annually at seven themed events, Savor provides BIPOC micro-entrepreneurs over 125 free vending opportunities and a paid performance venue for local musicians and performing artists. TACC lowers barriers to participation by providing free vending, exposure to new audiences and customers, increased revenue, and promotional photography and videos for businesses; formal and informal networking opportunities facilitated by TACC resulting in increased marketing, promotion, product development, and business development skills.
In 2023, Savor the Square launched the Greater Roxbury Book Fair dedicated to celebrating the love and passion the Greater Roxbury community has for books and reading by connecting books and readers – authors to readers – in the Greater Roxbury community. The Book Fair creates a platform and spotlight for Roxbury-based authors and storytellers, giving them the opportunity to grow their audience and bring their stories to more readers; and builds up Roxbury readers and their excitement for reading, particularly Boston Public School students who will have the opportunity to meet authors from their summer reading lists.
In 2024, data collected from Savor the Square attendees indicate activating the Roxbury Branch Library has positive effects for surrounding businesses and the business district. Key data points collected from attendees (using a tablet, paper copy, or QR code) indicate Savor the Square’s growing impact and include: 75% of the approximately 3,000 attendees were residents from Roxbury, Dorchester, or the South End; 80.5% of attendees spent between $10 and $100; 90% of respondents indicated they would visit other businesses in Nubian Square before or after the event; 100% of respondents said they would return in the future to shop and/or dine in Nubian Square; and Net Promoter Score: 75.1 (a “great” score based on benchmarking standards across industries).
In addition to providing free vending opportunities and fostering community engagement and networking opportunities for local entrepreneurs, on average TACC invests $10,000 per Savor the Square activation in procurement from local Black and brown businesses. In 2024, this included: $10,500 investment in Nubian Square brick-and-mortar businesses; $11,000 investment in local musicians/performing artists; and $40,000 invested in local BIPOC businesses (e.g., equipment rental, marketing, photography).
Get Involved
To ask questions or get involved with Savor he Square, please email, contact us, or call at 857.308.3014.