SPARC Selected for Needham Crossing Retail Development

Needham — A former restaurant site in Needham’s Gateway District is moving into its next chapter as developers advance plans for a new mixed-use project anchored by 8,500 square feet of retail space.

SPARC has been selected to lead the design phase of Needham Crossing, a mixed-use project planned for the former Acapulcos restaurant site at 1 First Ave. The property was recently cleared in preparation for construction. Fox and Hounds Properties owns the site and is partnering with Boston-based Feldman Development Partners on the development.

The retail component is expected to include a restaurant with outdoor seating, a quick-service dining operator, a technology retailer, and a banking or business services tenant. The project is currently targeting a 2027 opening.

According to the project team, the design effort focused on creating layouts that better align with the operational needs of prospective retail tenants, including service access, back-of-house functions, and floor plan flexibility.

“The SPARC design team has turned our project around and is the main reason it will be the showcase to the Needham Crossing Gateway,” said Rick Feldman, president of Feldman Development Partners.

Project officials said earlier planning efforts did not fully address tenant operational requirements, prompting a redesign aimed at improving leasing potential and tenant readiness.

“We are pleased to partner with an architecture firm like SPARC which understands what is required for a retail environment to thrive,” said Jamie McManus, president of Fox and Hounds Properties.

Once completed, the project is expected to reactivate a long-vacant site at one of Needham Crossing’s primary entry points while adding new retail and dining options to the Gateway District.