Savor the Square

Bringing together food, fun, and entertainment in the heart of Roxbury!

Background

TACC is grounded in an inclusive and collaborative approach to neighborhood revitalization by encouraging investment opportunities in the community assisting with multi-sector and multi-stakeholder partnerships that focus public and private investment to increase economic opportunity and development in Nubian Square. The ultimate goal is to advance equity initiatives that result in effective systems-level change which actively disrupts a system of racial inequality and bias in economic advancement.

Savor the Square is one example of bringing people together and connecting local businesses with community members. It celebrates and leverages the history and cultural assets for social and business development, and expands neighborhood vitality.

Join Us for Savor the Square 2024

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:

1. Expands an amenity that sparks positive energy and fun;
2. Activates a high-visibility public space by increasing the number of residents who visit; and
3. Supplies healthy, locally-grown and -produced food to residents; and
4. Boosts economic opportunities for Roxbury Main Streets, and micro-businesses.

Savor the Square 2024 Schedule

Building on the Success of 2020 – 2023

TACC measured outcomes using exit surveys collected from market attendees; for market vendors, outcomes were measured using point of sales data and surveys. Overall, the outcomes reveal a demand and need for this culturally relevant programming that emphasizes community economic development in the heart of Nubian Square.

2020: In 2020, despite COVID restrictions, at each event over 150 attendees patronized 16 racially and culturally diverse vendors. The visitor exit-surveys indicate that: 51% of attendees were from the neighborhood; a 87% visited local businesses in Nubian Square; and 88% stated their interest in participating in Savor the Square events in 2021. Data points collected through a vendor survey include: Net Promoter Score of 46 (“great” score based on benchmarking across industries); 46% had revenue between $100-$300; and 100% interested in participating in Savor the Square 2021. Please read the full outcomes report here.

2021: In 2021, Savor the Square expanded to six monthly themed events from May to October. Each event was held between noon and 3 p.m., starting with Arbor Day in May and culminating with an Indigenous People’s Celebration and acknowledgment in October. Key data points collected from the market attendees (using a tablet, paper copy, or QR code) indicate Savor the Square’s growing impact and include:

Savor the Square 2024 will continue to provide entertainment for families, local vendors, and themed events and holidays such as Indigenous Peoples’ Day with local speakers and vendors that celebrate the intersection of Indigenous, Black, and Brown identities and histories in Roxbury. Please find additional information here.