CambridgeSide

CambridgeSide (previously CambridgeSide Galleria) is an enclosed shopping mall in Cambridge, Massachusetts that opened in 1990.^[4] As of 2023^[update], the mall is anchored by TJ Maxx. Previous anchors include department stores Filene's, Lechmere, Macy's, Macy's Home and Children's, Best Buy and Sears.

CambridgeSide

Exterior of CambridgeSide (2018)
Coordinates	42°22′3″N 71°4′34″W
Address	100 CambridgeSide Place, Cambridge, Massachusetts, US
Opening date	September 13, 1990; 34 years ago (1990-09-13)
Previous names	CambridgeSide Galleria (1990–2017)[1]
Developer	New England Development
Management	New England Development
Owner	UBS Trumbull Property Fund
Architect	Arrowstreet[2]
No. of stores and services	80+
No. of anchor tenants	4 (2 open, 2 vacant)
Total retail floor area	1,000,000 square feet (93,000 m2)[3]
No. of floors	3 (2 retail, 1 future office)
Parking	Garage parking
Public transit access	Lechmere:   Green Line
Website	cambridgeside.com

History

The center was an outgrowth of the 1978 East Cambridge Riverfront Plan,^[5] which sought to revitalize the then-industrial district between Monsignor O'Brien Highway, Cambridge Parkway, and First Street. The east end of CambridgeSide is near the Museum of Science and the north end of CambridgeSide is near the MBTA Lechmere station on the Green Line E branch. It is also located along the Lechmere Canal off the Charles River.

In October 2018, it was announced that Sears would be closing in December 2018.^[6]

In January 2019, Macy's announced that the Macy's Home and Children's store would also be closing in mid-2019.^[7]

On December 27, 2020, Macy's closed permanently as part of a plan to close 46 stores nationwide.^[8]

On May 14, 2022, it was announced that Best Buy would be closing on June 4, 2022 which will leave TJ Maxx as the only anchor left.

Since September 13, 2024, the mall has hosted Harry Potter: The Exhibition. The exhibit features many authentic props and costumes from the Harry Potter films and the Broadway production. The exhibit also has interactive features and was created and developed by Warner Bros. Discovery Global.^[9]

List of anchor stores

Name	No. of floors	Year opened	Year closed	Notes
Best Buy	2	1998	2022	Replaced Lechmere
Filene's	3	1990	2006
Lechmere	2	1990	1997
Macy's	3	2006	2020	Replaced Filene's
Macy's Home and Children's	1	—	2019	Replaced part of Best Buy
Sears	3	1990	2018
TJ Maxx	1	2012	—	Replaced Borders, relocated in 2022

In popular culture

In 2006, the mall makes an appearance in the first episode of the PBS Kids series Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman.

Notes

• King, John (December 24, 1988). "The tide turns at E. Cambridge riverfront". The Boston Globe. p. 41.^{[permanent dead link]}
• Mehegan, David (September 6, 1990). "The Big Gamble: Can new Cambridge mall make it in gloomy economy?". The Boston Globe. p. 39.^{[permanent dead link]}
• Community Development Department, City of Cambridge. East Cambridge Riverfront Plan. City of Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1978.