Photo: Jay Willet/WBZ NewsRadio
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — A landmark in Cambridge has been restored. What was once known as the Harvard Square stop on the Red Line has been transformed into the Cambridge KiOSK. The renovated space will now house the Cambridge Office for Tourism while also serving as a public venue for exhibits, art classes, and more.
"You can do anything you want in here. They're hoping to have concerts and workshops," said one worker.
More than five decades after its opening in 1927, the stop was transformed into a newsstand in 1983, where it operated as the Out of Town Newsstand until its closure in 2019.
"This is where my mother would get her African American newspapers," said Mayor Denise Simmons.
Residents and community leaders attended the inaugural exhibition showcasing the history of print journalism.
"For me, its coming back home to a spot that provided inquiry, as well as comfort," said Mayor Simmons.
The $3.3 million restoration efforts began in 2021. The area surrounding the kiosk is still under construction and is scheduled to reopen in 2026.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Jay Willett (@JayWilletWBZ) reports.