Framingham
In 1837 the waterpower of the Sudbury River led to the relocation of a textile company from Lowell to Framingham. Other industries followed. Today, Framingham is home to the world headquarters for such corporations as Bose, founded in 1964 by Amar Bose, then an MIT engineering student and later an MIT professor; the original office superstore, Staples, which got its start in Brighton; and TJX, which operates the off-price retail chains T.J.Maxx and Marshalls.
Visitor Centers
MetroWest Chamber of Commerce 1671 Worcester Rd. Framingham, MA 01701. Phone:(508)879-5600
Shopping
Located on the site of one of the country's first suburban malls, the Golden Triangle is one of New England's largest retail districts. The longtime commercial area, on the Framingham-Natick border off SR 9, is anchored by Shoppers World (1 Worcester Rd.), an open-air center with such tenants as Kohl's and Nordstrom Rack, and the Natick Mall.