Beacon Hill Business Association

About

The Beacon Hill Business Association (BHBA) is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to support and publicize various businesses located on Beacon Hill. The BHBA strives to represent the businesses around Beacon Hill, while improving and supporting the maintenance of the neighborhood. They sponsor positive projects and events for the education and benefit of the business community. The association also represents its members and acts as their voice in working with other individuals, organizations, and governmental authorities. At the same time, they focus on maintaining the integrity and importance of this unique and historic business district.

Location

74 Joy Street, 3rd Floor
Boston, MA 02114

History

The Beacon Hill Business Association was formed in the early 1980s by Tom Kershaw, owner of the Hampshire House Corporation. Since its beginnings, the association’s goals have remained consistent, focusing on the protection and marketing of the Beacon Hill district. Currently consisting of about 150 members, the organization is known for its various events, which have evolved over the years.

Events

Taste of Beacon Hill ===
(May)- The annual Taste of Beacon Hill is a gala featuring a variety of participating restaurants. This BHBA fundraising event allows attendees to sample food from many of Beacon Hill’s restaurants. For the 2008 Taste of Beacon Hill, the new twist to the event includes local celebrities.

= Sidewalk Sale ===
(Spring and Fall)- Beacon Hill is known for its killer sales. The June 6th and 7th Spring Sidewalk Sale is no exception. It’s a great way to get designer items at a much lower price. The Spring Sidewalk Sale is an annual event held by the Beacon Hill Business Association. Many of the retail businesses set up outdoor tables on Charles Street and adjacent streets (Chestnut Street, River Street, etc.). The 2008 Sidewalk Sale is taking place on June 6th and 7th (rain date, June 8th). Join us for a spring shopping stroll along the streets of the historic Beacon Hill business district, with your friends and family. Participating stores include (but are not limited to):

Rugg Road (www.ruggroad.com)

Moxie (www.moxieboston.com)

Linens on the Hill (www.linensonthehill.com)

Crush Boutique (www.shopcrushboutique.com)

North River Outfitters (www.northriveroutfitters.com)

Tibet Emporium

Pixie Stix (www.theredwagon.com)

Blackstone’s of Beacon Hill (www.blackstonesbeaconhill.com)

Red Wagon (www.theredwagon.com)

Flat of the Hill (www.flatofthehill.com)

Boston Art & Framing (www.bostonframing.com)

Savenor’s Market (www.savenorsmarket.com)

Koo De Kir (www.koodekir.com)

Holiday (www.holidayboutique.net)

=== Harvest Moon/Holiday Fundraiser ===
(October)- The annual Harvest Moon is a fundraising event where Beacon Hill businesses and residents come together to celebrate the upcoming holiday season. In past years, this cocktail party has included silent auctions, and for the past 2 years, square dancing.

=== Holiday Stroll

(December)- One of the BHBA’s events that has been around the longest is the Holiday Stroll. It is a marketing event featuring a Christmas shopping opportunity where visitors can stroll along the decorated streets of Beacon Hill. Each of the stores is open and offer shoppers refreshments. The festive atmosphere includes Christmas carolers, the lighting of the Christmas tree, and a photo opportunity with Santa Claus at the Hill House. It can even be a romantic evening with the horse and buggy rides through the snow.

Clean Streets

(April)- Clean Streets is a day of spring cleaning to celebrate the end of winter and to get ready for the summer. Sponsored by the Beacon Hill Civic Association, Suffolk University, and the Beacon Hill Business Association (BHBA), Beacon Hill Shines is a great opportunity to work together with neighbors to clean your block. This year, a Salvation Army trailer will be parked next to Savenor’s (160 Charles Street). Participants can pick up brooms, rakes, gloves, trash bags, and t-shirts at Store 24 (122 Cambridge Street) and Suffolk University’s Donahue Building (41 Temple Street). After the clean-up, join the Beacon Hill Civic Association (74 Joy Street) for Good Green Fun, where families and friends enjoy a free picnic lunch and learn how to “go green.”

Window Decorating Contest

(June)- Now in its second year, the Window Decorating Contest invites Beacon Hill shoppers to vote for the best decorated window. While 2007’s event was held the same day as the Art Walk, this year, chairmen Mark Duffield and Rebecca Penner, have chosen the week of June 14 to June 21. Anonymous judges and a celebrity judge from Fox 25 will choose a winner based on creativity and originality. Winner of the contest will receive a plaque. To help market the businesses on the hill, a map designating the participating shops will include a ballot for the contest. Shoppers can get their ballot validated in each of the shops, and at the end of the week, the validated ballots will get entered into a drawing for various prizes. This year, there will also be a prize for the person who gets their ballot validated by all the places on the map. While promoting the members of the BHBA, the Window Decorating Contest will also benefit the Jimmy Fund.
== Members
While the BHBA has about 150 members, Beacon Hill is perhaps best known for its variety of antique shops, hotels, museums, restaurants, and boutiques. At the north end of Charles Street, there are a number of unique antique shops, all offering different types of products. The designer boutiques include shoes and clothing for men, women, and children, while the gift shops offer a variety of impressive gifts. The restaurants cater to various tastes, ranging from Persian to Italian to all-American bistro styles. The well-known museums give visitors the chance to see colonial era buildings as well as beautiful Victorian-style mansions. Similarly, the hill’s hotels provide a range of accommodations, including a smaller, European-style hotel, a sumptuous Victorian hotel, a modern American hotel with meeting rooms and beautiful views, and a 100-year-old jail turned into a luxury hotel that features some of Boston’s most popular nightlife.

2008 Board of Directors

Officers

Karen Fabbri, Chairman, Moxie

Donna Petro, President, Cambridge Trust

Joe Green, Vice President, Store 24/Tedeschi Food Shops/Lil Peach

Susan Symons, Vice President, Infinity Portrait Studio

John Delano, Treasurer, Delano Insurance Services

Flavia Cigliano, Clerk, Nichols House Museum

Directors

Nina Castellion, E.R. Butler

Jim Demaria, Demaria & Associates

Mark Duffield, Blackstone’s of Beacon Hill

Matthew Freeman, Jackson Lewis, LLP

Michele Giacomozzi, Hampshire House

Ann Howe, Holiday Inn Boston at Beacon Hill

Rebecca Penner, Crush Boutique

Karen Cord Taylor, Beacon Hill Times

Ivy A. Turner, Ivy Associates Inc., Real Estate

Louise Venden, Charles Street Inn

Alex Voss, Marston & Voss Realty Corp.

Carrie Vuori, The Red Wagon/Pixie Stix

Carol White, Churchill and White

External Links

http://www.beaconhillbusinessassociation.org