richness shapes everything from the restaurant scene to public celebrations, creating what locals increasingly call “Lil San Juan.” “What makes us special is this diversity,” says Aaron Vega, Director of Planning and Economic Development for the City of Holyoke. “That comes across particularly in our restaurants, authentic Latino cuisine, both Puerto Rican, Dominican, and Colombian restaurants, but also a resurgence in other restaurants and bars that have come online.” In November 2024, the Massachusetts Cultural Council designated Holyoke’s Main Street corridor as a Puerto Rican Cultural District, making it only the second such district in the nation after Chicago. The designation recognizes decades of community building. Vega points to the Armour Yard activation as a prime example, where partners from Beyond Walls have created a placemaking destination with beer gardens, food trucks, and vibrant murals. “The most recent mural that was finished there was of Hector Lavoe and Bad Bunny, two iconic Puerto Rican musicians,” he notes. Beyond the cultural attractions, Holyoke maintains extensive parkland and hiking trails throughout the Mount Tom range, with two reservoirs offering additional recreational opportunities for a city better known for its industrial heritage than its natural amenities. A POST-PANDEMIC DOWNTOWN RETAIL RENAISSANCE Recently, Holyoke’s downtown has welcomed a wave of new businesses at the very popular Holyoke Mall at Ingleside that include Monsoon Bistro, Shaft Current Solutions, YJ Catering, Teo Contemporary Eatery, Glass America, Urban Coworks, and Casa de Pollo and Pickleball Kingdom represent just a portion of recent openings. The mall continues to be a very strong partner for the city and the mall’s success signals the growth Holyoke is continuing to enjoy. “There’s a combination of reasons why a business would want to move into our community, whether it’s accessibility, affordability, depending on the business, low costs of acquisition,” Mayor Joshua A. Garcia 115 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 11 HOLYOKE, MA
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