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          Pacesetters
          Doing Business with Mass General Brigham

          Join us for our installment of the Pacesetters Doing Business series featuring Mass General Brigham on August 7, 2025.

          08/07/2025

          1:00pm - 2:00pm

          Virtual

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          BIMA
          2025 BIMA Summer Sizzler

          The BIMA Summer Sizzler is a chance to network with your digital media industry peers from the agency, publisher, and adtech community!

          08/14/2025

          6:00pm - 9:00pm

          Fenway Park

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          Talent
          Skills for the Future: How to Upskill Early Talent for Success

          Join Boston’s leading educators and industry experts to explore career-aligned high school programs, in-demand workplace skills, and innovative school partnerships driving student success

          07/17/2025

          9:00am - 11:00am

          Omni Boston Hotel Seaport

          arrow-go
          Read More
  • Learning & Development
        • Learning & Development

          • Overview
          • Call for Nominations
          • Insights
        • Transformational DEI Certificate

          This program is in redevelopment. Click this page for DEI resources.

          Read More
          Women’s Leadership Program

          Our Women’s Leadership Program enables you to take your leadership to the next level by arming you with the most in-demand leadership toolkit.

          Read More
          Boston’s Future Leaders

          Our Boston’s Future Leaders (BFL) program provides emerging leaders with a socially conscious and civically engaged leadership toolkit, as well as the opportunity to apply their knowledge through experiential assignments.

          Read More
          Authentic Professionalism for Early Career Professionals

          In this highly interactive workshop with Strategic Career & Leadership Coach Carole-Ann Penney, you’ll define your professional identity and develop strategies to confidently navigate workplace dynamics.

          Read More
  • Economic Inclusion
        • Economic Inclusion

          • Overview
          • Pacesetters
          • Resources
        • ...
          Economic Inclusion
          City Awake

          City Awake empowers young professionals in a variety of ways that encourages these rising leaders to stay invested in the region’s future success.

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          Economic Inclusion
          Pacesetters

          We are developing an ecosystem of corporations and partners with the influence and buying power to transform economic inclusion for minority business enterprises (MBEs).

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          Small Business
          Small Business

          Small businesses are the backbone of the Boston economy. Learn more about the resources available through the Chamber.

          arrow-go
          Read More
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          Read More
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          Read More
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          Read More
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          Read More
  • Our Networks
        • GBCC’s Networks

          • Overview
        • OUR NETWORKS

          Small Business

          Small businesses are the backbone of the Boston economy. Learn more about the resources available through the Chamber.

          Read More
          City Awake

          City Awake empowers young professionals in a variety of ways that encourages these rising leaders to stay invested in the region’s future success.

          Read More
          BIMA

          BIMA (the Boston Interactive Media Association) serves a vibrant community of like-minded professionals from agencies, brands, publishers, and ad-tech companies with business interests in the New England market.

          Read More
          Women’s Network

          For over 30 years, the Chamber’s Women’s Network has connected female professionals of all background and career levels. Today, our Women’s Network is the largest in New England, strengthening the professional networks of women each year.

          Read More
          Massachusetts Apprentice Network

          The Massachusetts Apprentice Network convenes employers, training providers, and talent sources interested in developing and implementing apprenticeship programs in occupations across industries and statewide in fields such as tech, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, and more.

          Read More
          Pacesetters

          We are developing an ecosystem of corporations and partners with the influence and buying power to transform economic inclusion for minority business enterprises (MBEs).

          Read More
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Taking Boston Nightlife to the Next Level

An Open Discussion with Boston’s Director of Nightlife Economy, Corean Reynolds

A ban on happy hours. Public transit that stops running before nightlife establishments close. Expensive and limited liquor licenses and cover charges. High costs of living that impact the nightlife economy. And laws that don’t always consider the cultural makeup of the city.

These are just a few of the challenges to navigate when we think about creating a city that we want to see, one that puts the same amount of energy into nighttime as it does the daytime –one that responds to the unique needs of Boston’s culturally diverse residents.

On the other hand, Boston has expanded its usage of outdoor and green spaces that foster community growth through activities like outdoor movie nights. With more than 150,000 college students who hang out along the Green Line areas of Allston and Brighton, Boston is seeing a shift in elevating existing spaces that can support its nightlife economy.

Showcasing its commitment to retaining talent and celebrating the cultural vibrancy of Greater Boston, the City has appointed its first Director of Nightlife Economy, Corean Reynolds, in February. She is one of only 13 people in the United States in this role. With a work history in urban planning and a vested interest in closing racial wealth gaps, Corean’s role is focused on, as she worded it, “what we are doing when we aren’t at school, home, or work, where we get creative, where we heal, and where we express ourselves.” Her role is beyond the physical establishments that make Boston a place to live, but rather, how nightlife will impact the quality of life for residents, and how it intersects with public health, transit, and more. 

Earlier this month, the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and City Awake held an open discussion with Corean and our young professional community on these topics.

Corean Reynolds speaking to City Awake attendees at Roundhead Brewing Company.
Using the S.W.O.T analysis approach that identified the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of nightlife, below are a few key takeaways that surfaced from the conversation.

 

One focus of the conversation was on ensuring that the youth (under 21, and even the 16-18 group) have spaces to gather for cultural activities and nighttime social events. While arcades are traditional spaces for youth, it is not always financially stable to just have arcade games. The event attendees suggested popup events with mocktails that could allow students to showcase their musical talents, events to showcase school pride (BC vs. BU nights, etc.) that could be incentivized with discount codes for the winners, and even opportunities for students to get involved in the nightlife economy itself via internships. 

There was also a focus on creating spaces that different communities in Boston want to see. One example was the large Dominican community in Boston that would like to see Hookah lounges come to the city so that they don’t have to travel a distance from the city to find one. Unfortunately, due to the Boston Health Commission ruling to ensure that everyone is able to work in a smoke-free environment, this may not be the easiest feat, but thinking of our diverse communities and what they are looking for from their nightlife experience was a focus of the discussion. 

Corean shared with attendees some next steps that she is working on with city leaders to mitigate some of Boston nightlife;s current challenges. Here are some of the areas she highlighted:

  • On the transit front, while the T is a regional transit offering run by the state, Corean is now on the MBTA board and can ensure strong cross-departmental cooperation. Additionally, private bus services (“night owl services”) and how to better utilize traditional cabs are a few other transit factors being examined. 
  • On the happy hour front, right now, it does not seem to be a priority for state lawmakers despite some efforts by Cape Cod Sen. Julian Cyr who thinks it will help Massachusetts remain competitive. Currently, a bill filed by the Senator would allow cities and towns to opt into offering discounted drink promotions during after-work hours. In Boston, Corean and her team are creating a committee in the bar and nightclub space to create initiatives that aim to find alternative solutions to the happy hour ban. One potential area of focus is increasing the number of establishments using the Bring Your Own Booze (BYOB) model, which is not widely utilized by businesses currently in the city of Boston. 
  • By and large one of the biggest concerns discussed was liquor licenses. While they should cost $2,800 annually, the demand for them and the limited amount available—which is about 1,400 by state law—has driven the prices as high as $600,000 (when buying and transferring one from a current licensee to a new business). Many businesses use these as an asset and investment, so some existing owners with licenses “don’t want to see their investment devalued by the introduction of new licenses.” (WBUR). Recently, there were hearings for 250 more liquor licenses for Boston, which would create a pathway to equity in owning them in neighborhoods with the least number of liquor licenses per capita (Jamaica Plain, Dorchester, Roxbury, Mattapan). This initiative would bring five licenses per zip code for five years, resulting in 250 licenses at the end of the five-year span. It would also work with residents to help them find space and get them primed to go to market if/when their license is secured. 
  • In addition to this specific initiative, there is also a reexamination of the license policy underway to make it easier for businesses to navigate the process in general. 
City Awake
Kaija Chalmus of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce leading a SWOT analysis exercise with attendees.

Not only are all these initiatives and new considerations a huge step forward for the City of Boston’s nightlife economy, but with Corean at the helm, Bostonians will be considered as new systems are built. Clear pathways will be in place to show entrepreneurs how to open space, ensuring that folks know the way to achieve cultural and community events (like block parties), that resources (such as the space grant program and technical assistance program currently in place) are widely known about, and additional resources will become available. 

Whether or not you participate in the club and bar scene after hours in Boston, the nightlife economy is so much more than that—it is what is available to the third shift hospital workers, transit for students, health resources, and so much more. 

A new night is dawning in Boston, and we can’t wait to see the changes ahead. 

 

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