Downtown Franklin

Franklin is blessed to have a downtown core enhanced by a unique mix of strong private educational/charitable organizations, an MBTA commuter rail station and a diverse array of local businesses who all work together to make Downtown Franklin serve as a hub of the greater Franklin community.

$7 million facelift

The Downtown area of Franklin underwent a significant road and streetscape remodeling project which was completed in 2016.  For many long months in 2015 and 2016, construction equipment and road workers disrupted the downtown area.  The work made substantial improvements to the look and feel of the Downtown area. There are new sidewalks, new lighting, new benches and green spaces, and the crosswalks are now attractive red brick.  In a boon to shoppers, the parking meters were removed.

Most importantly, the new 2 way traffic flow has greatly improved getting to and around the downtown area.

Three factors help Downtown Franklin thrive

Downtown Franklin offers more in terms of shopping, services and things to do than what is available in the downtown areas of most other towns in the 1-95/I-495 region of Massachusetts.  That’s due to three key influences that help maintain economic activity in Downtown Franklin.

Commuter rail station

Franklin benefits from having two stations on an MBTA commuter rail line to Boston’s South Station (Forge Park/495 and the Dean College/Franklin).

The Dean College/Franklin station is located at 75 Depot Street in Downtown Franklin.

The people who use the station for weekday commuting and weekend trips to Boston add extra life to Downtown Franklin and support the Downtown business community.

Dean College

Dean College is a private, residential college in Franklin. Set on a 100 acre campus in Downtown Franklin, Dean has an undergraduate enrollment of just over 1,300, with about 1,200 full-time students.  90% of the full-time students live on campus.  Dean draws students from around the world and it is very stimulating seeing such an international student body walking to classes and throughout the downtown area. 

What the students bring to the Downtown area is youth, vitality and additional patronage for downtown businesses.  There are quite a number of banks, eateries, retailers and service providers in the Downtown area of Franklin, MA. 

Franklin Downtown Partnership

The Franklin Downtown Partnership is a charitable and educational organization dedicated to improving Downtown Franklin. 

The Partnership receives financial support via government grants along with membership dues and donations from Franklin businesses and residents.   The organization helps beautify the downtown with seasonal plantings and displays.  In addition, the Partnership sponsors several annual events that bring thousands of people to the Downtown.  These include the Strawberry Festival, Harvest Festival and the Holiday Stroll.

Browse the posts below to learn more about Downtown Franklin, Massachusetts.

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April 24, 2019
ArtWeek 2019 Franklin MA

Ten days of art, culture, and fun at Artweek in Franklin, MA

ArtWeek 2019 gets underway in Franklin, MA on Friday, April 26 and ends on Sunday, May 5.  It’s part of the annual springtime celebration of the […]
January 21, 2019
Franklin Cultural District Franklin MA map

Franklin Cultural District a milestone for Franklin, MA

The designation of an official cultural district in Franklin, MA was recently announced by the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC ).  The new Franklin Cultural District should […]
June 8, 2018
Santa Fe Burrito Grill Franklin MA

New Mexican restaurant serves excellence in Franklin

A new Mexican restaurant called the Santa Fe Burrito Grill has opened in downtown Franklin to long lines and rave reviews. Family owned and serving locally […]
November 27, 2017

Franklin MA Public Library looking great after expansion, renovation

The $10.5M renovation and expansion project at the Franklin Public Library in Franklin, MA has the library looking great, inside and out! The construction project added […]
May 25, 2017
downtown franklin ma

Downtown Franklin facelift’s striking success

It took over two years and $7 million, but Downtown Franklin, MA’s road and streetscape remodeling project was worth the effort and inconvenience.  For many long […]
July 25, 2016

Family fun at Franklin Cultural Festival

The Franklin Cultural Festival is a newcomer to the many annual festivals and fairs held in the Town of Franklin, MA.  This week, the second annual […]
April 12, 2016

Old Franklin town hall razed

It’s just a memory now! The old town hall building in Franklin, MA is now completely leveled, completing about 2 weeks of demolition work.     […]
March 7, 2016

New shopping complex coming to downtown Franklin

A new 7,900 square foot shopping venue will soon be taking its place in downtown Franklin. The complex of shops will be call Horace Mann Square […]
August 15, 2015

Family fun at The Wiz at Dean College in Franklin, MA

Dean College and the Massachusetts Star Players proudly present “The Wiz” in a series of live performances at The Main Stage Theater on the Dean Campus […]
July 30, 2015

Why support a Cultural District for Franklin, MA

Franklin, MA’s first Cultural Festival concluded Sunday, after five consecutive days of artistic performances and fun events staged throughout the Franklin downtown area. It’s great to […]
July 27, 2015

Franklin Cultural Festival a first for Franklin, MA

The inaugural Franklin Cultural Festival will enjoy a five day run this week from Wednesday, July 29 through Sunday, August 2 in a variety of venues […]
May 18, 2015

Downtown Franklin Beautification Day of community service and civic pride

Franklin’s Downtown Beautification Day is the town’s most visible annual community improvement program. The event is held twice a year, coordinated by the Franklin Garden Club […]
January 25, 2015

2015 should see 2-way traffic in downtown Franklin

A $7+ million road and streetscape improvement project in Franklin, MA will transform the downtown area later this year once warmer weather allows work to get […]
December 9, 2014

New live theater in Franklin deserves your support

Family fun for the Holidays awaits you at the live musical Humbug! being presented by the Franklin Performing Arts Center (FPAC) at THE BLACK BOX in downtown […]
March 26, 2014

Help shape the future look of downtown Franklin MA

On Wednesday April 2, 2014 an important meeting of the Franklin Town Council is being held at the Franklin Town Hall at 355 East Central Street, […]
June 5, 2010

Franklin MA Farmers’ Market offers great produce

The Franklin Farmers’ Market is sets up shop annually at the Town Common on Main Street in Franklin, MA.  The Market is held every Friday from June […]
January 11, 2010

Rare vintage photos of Franklin, Massachusetts (MA)

Did you know that Franklin, MA used to have a street car line?  Or that Main Street in the downtown area was once home to a […]
November 19, 2009

Union Street Cemetery, Franklin, MA

The Union Street Cemetery is a seemingly overlooked jewel of Franklin MA’s Downtown area.  Many people drive by this parcel of land at the corner of […]
October 24, 2009

Beloved gazebo on Franklin Common gets facelift

The graceful gazebo on the Franklin MA Town Common is getting some much-needed attention.  An puzzling original design flaw is being corrected.  The structure is getting […]
June 21, 2009

Franklin MA Gets $1 Million Grant

Franklin, MA will benefit from $1 million in new state funding for economic development and transportation infrastructure improvements.  The funds will be targeted to certain streets […]
May 18, 2009

Franklin, MA Beautification Day

Blue skies and pleasant temperatures greeted the early morning volunteers at the Downtown Beautification Day held this past Sunday in the Town of Franklin, MA.  The […]
March 14, 2009

Construction Delay Hits Franklin Center Commons

In a recent appearance before the Franklin Planning Board, developer John Marini announced that he has halted the planned 3rd stage of his Franklin Center Commons […]
February 9, 2009

Downtown Franklin MA

Downtown Franklin recently received a $7M+ facelift and the results are fantastic!  There are new sidewalks, new lighting, new benches and green spaces, and the crosswalks […]
February 9, 2009

What’s to Like About Downtown Franklin, MA?

Despite suffering from many of the adverse economic influences that have plagued “Main Street” America over the last 3 decades, the downtown area of Franklin, MA has a […]
February 9, 2009

Franklin Center Commons

Franklin Center Commons in Franklin, MA is a $30 million private investment in Franklin’s downtown by Canton-based developer John Marini. This construction is transforming the Franklin, […]
February 9, 2009

Downtown Beautification Project

In 2007, a $5 million federal grant funded the installation of new decorative street lamps, brick crosswalks and new trees in the Franklin, MA downtown area. […]
February 9, 2009

Franklin Downtown Partnership

The Franklin Downtown Partnership is a non-profit advocacy and support organization devoted to helping further revitalize the Franklin, MA downtown area.  It has an office at […]