Recent years have seen a renaissance of sorts in Downtown Cambridge, with new businesses and an emphasis on aesthetics. Helping to highlight all this is Cambridge Main Street, a volunteer-led nonprofit entity that is getting stronger and more influential after an extended period of relative inactivity.
Executive Director Margaret Knudsen
“The organization is essentially the champion for the downtown area,” said Executive Director Margaret Knudsen, whose office is located in the Chamber of Commerce on High Street.
Cambridge Main Street champions the downtown by amplifying businesses through face-to-face events as well as social media and digital marketing to its online audience of roughly 20,000 people. Knudsen and her volunteer team also promote the events others have downtown. Among the upcoming activities is the April 20 fundraiser at 447 Venue, the largest such event for CMS operating funds.
“The bulk of our funding is through grants that we apply for,” Knudsen explained. “So, Spring Fling is an opportunity to be able to raise funds for operations, since operations mainly are in allowable expenses for most grant applications.”
CMS will also be supporting a May 4 street festival led by merchants such as RAR and 310 Creative Design and Gift Gallery. Plus, the popular Taste of Cambridge will return in October.
It’s a healthy amount of activity, and Cambridge Main Street is here for it. Knudsen was hired in June 2022 after a long time without an executive director. She started out with a board of directors that had eight members, but it now has thirteen. Additionally, the board is beginning to reintroduce the committee structure.
Main Street Maryland is also getting more organized, as evidenced by the fact that CMS recently received its first letter of agreement with the state entity since 2018. Something that used to be standard, this agreement outlines the pillars of the National Main Street program that CMS must uphold, such as displaying logos on promotional materials and having information about the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. Another important part of the agreement involves downtown beautification, which is done through streetscape and façade improvement as well as lighting.
“Right now, one of the big things that we’re focusing on is extending the bistro lights from the 400 block of Race Street down to the 500 block of Race Street,” said Knudsen. “They’ll end at Simmons Center Market. That is a collaboration between the City of Cambridge, Cambridge Police Department, and Cambridge Main Street. So, we’re hoping to see those lights going up by the end of March.”
CMS is also conducting a wayfinding study with consultants, using a grant they received to evaluate the status of signage for pedestrians and drivers in the downtown area. With that study, they hope to be able to make recommendations to the city and also apply for grants to fund more signage.
“There seems to be a lot of discussion of ‘is there enough parking downtown?’” Knudsen said. “And a lot of people think, yes, there is. It’s just that it’s tough to find, or people are unaware of where it is and how to get to it. So, I think improved parking signage would be helpful for the downtown area.”
Obviously, parking is important if one wishes to shop downtown, including at the new businesses that will soon be opening. River Dog Outfitters, to be located across the street from 447 Venue, will offer e-bikes, sporting goods, and pet supplies. And Christopher’s Corner will be a food venue owned and operated by Buddy Christopher, former head chef at Palm Beach Willie’s.
Knudsen also wanted the Spy readers to know about an existing business that will be getting a facelift. This year, the Farmer’s Market at Long Wharf will have an extended season to begin in April instead of May. It will run every Thursday, including the one a week before Thanksgiving. And there will be a pop-up market on the Monday of Thanksgiving week.
“What is unique about the Farmer’s Market this year is that it’s going to be run by a volunteer committee of farmers who are actual vendors in the Farmer’s Market,” said Knudsen, who is enthusiastic about the activities being promoted by Cambridge Main Street. “It’s going great.”
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