As one of the most popular tourist destinations in the city — and a quick stroll from historic sites along the Freedom Trail, the New England Aquarium and the Financial District — historic Faneuil Hall is the perfect home of more than 100 businesses.
For more than 250 years, Faneuil Hall has served tourists and residents of Boston as a celebrated marketplace, with more than 100 shops and 17 restaurants. The marketplace is also home to 43 kiosks featuring “New England artisans” and their wares, according to the Faneuil Hall website.
Representatives from chain businesses said Faneuil Hall is a target spot for stores because of its historical appeal as the first marketplace of its kind in the country.
Betty Kahn, spokeswoman for Crate and Barrel, said the store in Faneuil Hall has been open for 29 years and has been successful at the prime location.
“[When we opened Crate and Barrel,] Faneuil Hall was the new destination spot in Boston at that time. It was definitely a ground-breaking enterprise,” Kahn said.
Kahn said the store attracts tourists and over the years, the store was expanded to appear “fresher” for returning customers.
Faneuil Hall expanded in 1826 to include Quincy Marketplace — constructed as a business hub and named after then-Mayor Josiah Quincy — which now houses more than 40 eateries. For international palettes, the Quincy Market Colonnade includes Steve’s Greek Cuisine, El Paso Enchiladas and local favorites such as Boston Chowda and Boston Maine Fish and Co.
Sam’s Café at Cheers — the inspiration for the TV series — has a second location in Faneuil Hall, as well, which offers live entertainment every weekend.
Tom Kershaw, chairman and chief executive officer of the Hampshire House Corporation — the company that manages Cheers — purchased the original property at 84 Beacon St. in 1969. Since then, Cheers has been one of Boston’s tourist spots, he said.
“Faneuil Hall marketplace is the number one stop for tourists in Boston,” said Jeanine Callahan, one of the Cheers managers in Faneuil Hall. “People come in because they see and recognize Cheers.”
According to Callahan, Cheers’ customers are of all demographics.
“We attract anyone from businessmen to families to college students,” Callahan said. “We are owned by the same owner as the original in the historic Beacon Hill area.”
Another native New England business — Yankee Candle Company — opened a store in Faneuil Hall in 1992.
“This was a life-long dream of Mike Kittredge, the founder of this company,” said Ann Hall, executive assistant to senior vice president of marketing for Yankee Candle. “Our store fits great in this location, as Yankee Candle is a New England-grown company and Faneuil Hall is a New England destination.
“We attract the female shoppers, but at this specific location it’s more a family destination,” Hall continued. “The average women shoppers are 25 to 55 years of age.”
Peter Faneuil, one of Boston’s wealthiest merchants, built Faneuil Hall as a gift to the city in 1742 and became an instant business center for merchants, fishermen and farmers, according to the Faneuil Hall website.
