Page 10 - Bristol Magazine Spring 2025

Live, Work, and Play

in Downtown Bristol!

From the City of Bristol Economic & Community Development Department
The momentum of economic development continues in
downtown Bristol with new people living, working, and play-
ing downtown. If you haven’t visited Downtown Bristol in a
while, we encourage you to do so to patronize the new and
longtime restaurants and brewery, entertainment venues,
unique shopping experiences, and businesses. The goal of
a revitalized downtown is to spur new growth, not only in
Downtown, but also in other areas of Bristol.
Living Downtown
Downtown Bristol now has more options for living, includ-
ing future options still to come. The first building of Centre
Square Village is complete with 52 new apartments above
retail space that includes dining and shopping. Construction
of the second building – a duplicate of the first building – is
underway and expected to be completed in the spring of
2026. Several additional apartment projects are planned, in-
cluding an effort to convert the iconic J.H. Sessions and Son
Building on Riverside Avenue into 82 workforce/affordable
apartments. Additional projects on Main Street and at Centre
Square are expected to launch in the future.
New streetscape improvements are scheduled to begin at
Working Downtown Park Street in the West End neighborhood this year which
In the last few years, the options for working in Downtown will enhance the entire gateway into Downtown Bristol. The
Bristol have expanded with new businesses which include: first part of this project will continue the streetscape improve-
Express Kitchens, KindCare Assisted Living, Wheeler Health, ments on Park Street to Muzzy Field, enhancing the look of
Bristol Adult Resource Center, Golden Years Adult Day Cen- this area along with making it more walkable. Additional
ter, New Cambridge Project, Iron Horse Sports Pub, Venta- improvements on Riverside Avenue will occur in 2026 that
nas Bar & Restaurant, and Eagle Environmental, Inc. to name include the addition of a beautiful streetscape and general
a few. roadway improvements.

Getting Around Downtown Having a Good Time in Downtown Bristol!
With more people working and living in the downtown area Downtown is coming alive with new food and drink options,
the City is investing in infrastructure improvements to make a host of community events on tap for the spring and sum-
getting around Downtown easier. The Hope Street Public mer, and entertainment for the whole family. Catch a show at
Parking Garage with 195 parking spaces, which will be com- Downtown LIVE at the Rockwell Theater, visit the seasonal
pleted for the summer season, will be used by Centre Square Bristol Farmers Market scheduled to open on June 21st, shop
employees and residents and open for the public to patronize at the unique gift retailers, or book a date for a unique enter-
downtown businesses at night and on the weekends. Addi- tainment experience. Finish with a great meal and a drink at
tionally, work continues on the new streetscape along North one of the growing number of restaurants.
Main Street in front of City Hall and Centre Square. Once
completed, the streetscape improvements and the repaving Visit https://bristolallheart.com/for-businesses/ to learn
of North Main Street will make downtown more walkable and more about all the exciting things happening in the All Heart
safer for pedestrians. City – from new development, to shopping, dining, and enter-
tainment!

10 Bristol Magazine - Spring Issue 2025