slides: 10 Booming Hipster Businesses in Worcester

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Monday, August 06, 2012

Lindsay Corcoran, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

The Futon Company is one of many hipster businesses booming in Worcester. Photo: Lindsay Corcoran

With the support of an emerging hipster community in Worcester, these local businesses are booming.

“It’s great to be a part of this growing retail community in Worcester,” said Candace Atchue, co-owner of Seed to Stem.

These businesses appealing to the young, funky, eco-friendly crowd range from bars and restaurants to consignment shops to tattoo parlors and salons.

Consignment shop owners said their stores fit with a variety of aspects of the hipster lifestyle with eco-friendly fashion.

“I think it’s becoming sort of popular or trendy with the younger, college crowd to buy recycled goods,” said Alexis Grace owner Leah Long.

Restaurant and bar owner Alec Lopez said the hipster market is stronger than even he expected.

“When we opened Armsby Abbey, we planned to be mainly a bar with just a small menu,” Lopez said. “The demand became so strong for our local, organic food that we’re going to be expanding our kitchen.”

While the hipster community may support these service and retail businesses in Worcester, it could have larger implications for the city's economy at large.

Seattle, named the top hipster city in the country by Travel + Leisure, has seen an economic boom as a result of their hipster community.

“We’ve seen a real boom in tech companies,” said Karin Zaugg Black, communication director for Seattle’s Office of Economic Development. Black attributed the boom to the influx of recent college graduates to the city. “They are attracted by the natural surroundings as well as the music, film and art scene here. The innovative culture is a real attraction to young innovative workers.”

With such a booming community of hipsters, Black said many major technology companies have chosen to create offices in Seattle, including Facebook and Google. She also said many of the young people in the city have also started their own companies.

Check out 10 of Worcester’s booming hipster businesses.