URBAN DESIGN ASSOCIATES
Nashua Downtown Master Plan
III Retail and Entertainment RETAIL DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL IN DOWNTOWN NASHUA is 30
Strategies
specialized and limited. Growth will depend largely upon
growth in other sectors, such as housing and entertainment.
Adding entertainment uses, recreational uses, regional attrac-
tions, educational uses, and other “off-hour” uses, will help sus-
tain the existing retail demand and create critical mass for
more retail opportunities.
Due to the regional concentration of discount retailers, and
national chains in the suburbs, Downtown Nashua should not
compete for such commercial development. Instead, Down-
town Nashua should seek a competitive position in a specific
retail market consisting of:
+ Downtown neighborhood-serving retail
+ Visitor and tourist-oriented retail
+ Daytime retail supporting Downtown businesses
* Selected, specialized regional retail seeking an urban set-
ting
* Retail serving the myriad uses proposed in the Master Plan
such as performing arts, recreational, educational.
To this end, the Master Plan recommends creating a second
retail node along Main Street South between Otterson Avenue
and Salmon Brook Park. Anchored by the recently renovated
Globe Plaza, now the Main Street Marketplace, the Main
Street South retail node will complement, but not compete
with Main Street North.
Retail and
Entertainment
Continued infill
initiatives and
construction of new
cultural, performance,
and entertainment
venues in the
Downtown will
provide nightlife to
complement existing
restaurants and
attractions.
